Warriors: The New Era.
Chapter Sixteen: The Mad King's Return.
Part three of the Scourge arc, the arc where our heroes band together. You'll enjoy this one.
Scourge looked out at the city, atop his new tower.
The city was burning. Men and women not even part of his cause had taken up to his call.
It wasn't just Bloodclan members. Ordinary citizens had taken arms and drowned themselves in their sexual desires and selfish whims. What they saw, they wanted.
Scourge chuckled to himself.
Bone stood beside him "You're not planning to jump are you?"
"Dat depends," Scourge smirked "Do I sometimes think of killing myself just for the hell of it? Yeah. Am I crazy enough to do it? Yeah. Maybe when my job is done, and my dreams of a pure world are fruition. Maybe then I'll be curious enough to jump."
Bone sighed "As long as you pay me, and I get shot at, I'm in."
Scourge grinned "She's coming. I can feel it in my scrote."
Bone turned to leave "I'll alert the guards."
"NO!" Scourge yelled "Do not stop them! Let them come for me."
"Sir?"
Scourge's metallic arm converted into a cannon, glowing red with lasaric energy. His eye glowed red, steam erupting through the prosthetic socket "I can take them. Let them come."
Poppyfrost skewered the last enforcer, planting her Sword deep into her gut, before sliding it out slowly as the enforcer last her life.
Jayfeather growled "Here we are. You sure this is where Scourge is?"
"I sense his presence here," Ravenheart revealed "His mind is easy to spot. Find the mind filled with naked defenseless women and dead corpses on dinner plates..."
Sparkpelt shuddered as Poppyfrost smirked "He'd have wanted a view to see the destruction he'd created. Seeing as how this construction tower is the tallest building, AND closest to the center square, he'd have holed up here."
"I get how she would know," Breezepelt pointed at Ravenheart "But how would YOU know, Poppyfrost?"
Poppyfrost scowled "Because it's what I would do."
Sparkpelt loaded up her Repeater, and grinned "Well then let's kill him."
"Kill all of them but don't kill Scourge," Poppyfrost snapped, much to the protest of the team. She held her hand up, silencing them "He knows too much about Sol and Rock. Killing him would be a waste of information we can take for ourselves."
Crowflight nodded "There is wisdom in that."
Jayfeather scowled, nostrils flaring "No there is not! What if he escapes again? We should kill him!"
"See reason, we can use his knowledge," Lionblaze confronted.
Jayfeather, seeking out of the daze, nodded and grinned "Yeah...yeah we can use that. Sorry."
Before Lionblaze could question, Tigerjaw had slapped his shoulder "So...This little man is my equal?"
"Little?" Lionblaze scoffed "Bitch, I can lift this whole planet with my pinkie."
"An exaggeration," Icecloud smirked "He did try."
Lionblaze groaned in embarrassment as everyone chuckled.
Poppyfrost hopped over the caution tape guarding the construction building, and smirked "No guards. It's a trap."
"Our next move?" Crowflight asked.
Jayfeather smirked "Spring the trap."
"That's your plan?! Attack Scourge head on, and hope for the best?!" Crowflight said wild eyed.
"Yeah, get with the times kid," Ivypool flipped a knife and slipped it into it's sheathe.
As The gang pushed through, Crowflight was left standing in shock, as Ravenheart patted his shoulder "Improvisation, bro. This ain't the militia anymore."
Crowflight scoffed as he followed after.
Poppyfrost stopped in her tracks, looking at the surrounding buildings. She turned to Sparkpelt and whispered in her ear "Lead them in the trap. I'm going search the perimeter for any tricks."
"I thought you said it was a trap? Of course there are tricks," Sparkpelt asked confused.
Poppyfrost nodded "Go. Make some noise while you're at it."
BANG!
BANG!
Sparkpelt had already shot the two enforcers beside Scourge's throne, as the rest of the team fled through the opening, weapons ready and powers glowing.
Scourge sat at the throne, eye glowing, and teeth grinning.
Sparkpelt pointed her reapeater at Scourge's head "ON YOUR KNESS, SCOURGE!"
Scourge smirked "No I don't think I will."
Jayfeather snarled, as he began to glow blue "This ends now, Bastard! You die today!"
"No I don't think I will."
Sparkpelt raised a brow, as Tigerjaw smirked "ENOUGH GAMES! COME HERE TINY MAN! BEHOLD MY STRENGTH!"
"No WAIT!" Sparkpelt warned, but Tigerjaw was already bowling past like a truck.
He charged at Scourge, expecting to make contact with the man, but he slid through him, instead crashing through the throne, and falling down a hole in the flooring, crashing through the next dozen floors.
Tigerjaw hit the ground, groaning. He looked up to see the hole he made in the last seven floors. He hit his head against the ground in exhaustion, only to fall another floor.
Sparkpelt snarled at the holographic deception in front of her "Makes sense that the coward wouldn't fight!"
"No I don't think I will."
"Crowflight! Analysis!" Ravenheart screamed.
"In order for a hologram to work, the projector would be close by! A remote controlled projector range can be from 100 to 200 yards!"
"No I dont think I will."
Icecloud bit her tongue "Somone shut it off."
Lionblaze smirked "No I dont think I will. Hehehe."
Jayfeather found the projector, crushing it with telekinetic power.
Breezepelt dropped his defenses, looking out at the nearby towers "Could we have gotten a wrong tower?"
Sparkpelt shrugged "I don't know! This place makes sense! The construction tower doesn't have exterior walls, so he'd have a 360 view of the city! That what he would have wanted!"
Icecloud holstered her gun "Well, should we look in another tower? We've got the time, it's not like the bombs have a timer."
Crowflight held his hand up "Actually yeah they do. Fifteen minut-"
He stopped talking when everyone stared at him, annoyed. He slipped his hand down, regretting his pessimistic outlooks.
Breezepelt wasn't focused on them, and was busy squinting his eyes at another tower.
Ivypool shrugged "I can use a speeding spell that Dovewing taught me. I can search everywhere in a two mile radius right now?"
Jayfeather nodded "That's a good idea."
Breezepelt widened his eyes at a man on the top of the tower he was focused on. He looked at him, seeing the faint outline of a waving hand, before lifting some big cylinder.
A fireball shot out of it soon after.
"Maybe we could-"
"TAKE COVER!" Breezepelt dove to the ground.
The rocket landed several floors beneath them, obliterating a support beam.
"IVYPOOL!"
Before she could start running, the building began to tilt, and the floor began to curve.
"HANG ON TO SOMETHING!" Crowflight yelled.
"HANG ON TO SOMETHING!" Jayfeather yelled.
The building toppled over in a heap of dust, with everyone inside it.
Scourge watched the building tilt and crumble like a gingerbread house. He snickered. He didn't see any green blurs exiting, which means he must have gotten Ivypool.
He set the RPG down, loading it up just to be sure. He aimed it back at the rubble.
He saw some of the rubble moving, and quickly shot another rocket at it.
The explosion rocked the dirt. Nothing would be left.
Scourge wasn't so sure.
Especially when he heard the unsheathing of a sword.
Scourge facepalmed with his metal hand "How in da world did you get outta that?!"
Poppyfrost smirked "I never was in it."
Scourge dropped the RPG and turned to face his rival.
The two stood at nearly equal height, Poppyfrost was perhaps a little taller. Poppyfrost held her sword in one hand, and a revolver in another.
Scourge unclasped a crowbar from his belt, and Poppyfrost recognized it "Is that the-"
"The same crowbar you used to blow my balls out? Yeah, it is," Scourge winced, the memory of the pain not a comforting thing to remember "Figures it should be the weapon I use to bludgeon your brains into a pulp of juice."
Popyyfrost raised her gun, ready to fire at Scourge, but the Australian was already in action. He dropped to the floor, rolling out of the way of the bullets, as Poppyfrost unloaded all six shots. He sprang back up to his feet and chuckled the crowbar at her, to which she ate full force in the head.
As she hit the ground, Scourge grabbed the Crowbar off the floor and swung downward on Poppyfrost. But the queen of beggars lifted her sword to block the strike, and quickly slashed across Scourge's gut, as he rolled away, clutching his stomach.
Poppyfrost got to her feet, and swung the rapier, aiming at Scourge's head, but the Mad King caught the sword with his prosthetic arm, and hit her right in the chest with the crowbar, and then once more in her side.
Poppyfrost roared in pain, then broke Scourge's grip on her weapon, and stabbing him in the upper shoulder. She slashed downwards across his face, cutting a scar right through his one good eye.
The blood stung Scourge's eye, but the eye was more or less intact.
Scourge held onto a face of pure anger and rage "Oh...my queen...you got me pretty good."
Poppyfrost was tackled to the ground by Scourge, as he flipped a smooth Bowie knife through his fingers. He sunk the knife at her neck, only for Poppyfrost to grab his wrists, stopping the knife from inching closer into her neck.
"I am so close, and I will not be stopped by YOU!" Scourge yelled, blood dropping into Poppyfrost's face "I GAVE THIS ISLAND THE FREEDOM TO SINK DOWN INTO THEIR SELFISH WHIMS! AND YOU'RE TRYING TO STOP ME! WHY?! I THOUGHT YOU WANTED THIS? AMNESTY FOR YOUR PEOPLE! THE FREEDOM TO DO WHAT YOU PLEASE!"
Poppyfrost felt the knife tip touch her neck as her strength depleted "For me? You did all this for me? I'm flattered!"
Scourge scowled "YOU'RE NO BETTER THEN ME! YOU AND I ARE EXACTLY THE SAME!"
Poppyfrost spit in Scourge's blood stained eye, and shoved him off with her last remaining strength. She rolled onto her feet, and with her right foot she chucked her sword back into her right hand, with Scourge's knife now in her left hand "I don't RAPE young women! I don't MURDER helpless infants."
"I DO!" Scourge giggled, parrying a strong blow from Poppyfrost.
Scourge laughed and began to sing. But with each note, he sounded more demented, more furious, more insane.
"Been here before a long time ago, But this time I wear no sandals, Ages past I gave all you people, Food and water!"
"Three feet tall so very small I'm no trouble, I bring thunder lightning sun and the rain, For all the people in the land!"
"A message of love I bring you from up above, All good children gather around, Come join your hands and sing along"
"They call me mad the swine, I guess I'm mad the swine I've come to save you, save you, Mad the swine Mad the swine, So all you people gather around, Hold out your hands and praise the Lord!"
Poppyfrost was unnerved "STOP SINGING AND FIGHT, YOU FUCK!"
"WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT ME?! EVERYTHING YOU ARE NOW, IS BECAUSE OF ME! YOU LEFT YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE OF ME! YOU BECAME A STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN, BECAUSE OF ME! YOU BECAME A MESSIAH TO LOST SOULS, BECAUSE OF ME! EVERYTHING I DID, MADE YOU STRONGER! MADE YOU A WOMAN YOU ARE TODAY! SO YOU SHOULD THANK ME!"
"Thank you?! THANK YOU?!" Poppyfrost saw red, as she prepared a flurry of blows onto Scourge "Okay..."
"THANK YOU FOR HUNTING MY FRIENDS!"
Poppyfrost's sword clashed against the crowbar, and Poppyfrost shoved Scourge back. The Mad King almost tripped over the edge, but he dodged a blow and moved to the side at the last second, only for the sword to curve and slash him across the chest.
"THANK YOU FOR RAPING ME!"
She swung the sword so hard, the crowbar flew out of his hands. The sword was raised up, to which Scourge caught it before it could spit his head in half. As he gripped the steel blade with his metal arm, Poppyfrost sunk the knife deep into his gut, as Scourge grimaced in pain.
"THANK YOU FOR KILLING INNOCENTS, AND KILLING MY PEOPLE!"
She kicked Scourge to the grounds, holding the sword to his neck as he crawled away "You are beaten!"
Scourge began to chuckle as he realized something "You're not going to kill me?!"
Poppyfrost shook her head only for Scourge to laugh harder.
"You just cant let me go, can you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force," He pointed at himself, and then at her "Meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren't you, huh? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won't kill you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever."
"You'll be in a padded cell forever," Poppyfrost argued.
"Maybe we can share one," Scourge offered, laughing, as he stood up, hands on his head "I am the Mad King, and you are the Queen. This city is going to hell. There is nothing you can do. I activated the bombs before we fought. The countdown is started. Even when I lose...I win."
Poppyfrost snarled and punched Scourge in the jaw "You bastard..."
"Come on, do it! Avenge the lives yet to be lost!" Scourge egged "You think I'm a monster? How many men have YOU killed? How many, JUST TODAY?!"
Poppyfrost held her sword high, as Scourge dropped to his knees, eyes erratic "THAT'S IT! No compassion NO MERCY! DO IT!"
Poppyfrost held the tip of the blade at Scourge's throat, as Scourge closed his eyes in preparation...
The blade dropped.
Scourge shot his eyes open "What?! WHAT?! DEW IT! KILL ME!"
"There never were any bombs, were there?" Poppyfrost sighed, sheathing the sword.
Scourge looked at her, and then slumped his shoulders down in defeat.
The two stood there, silence overlapping the two's thoughts and emotions.
"No."
Poppyfrost smirked, looking at the sky "Well played then. Well played. You've gotten the good people of this city to drop down in horror over a lie."
"Fear, is the only thing that people understand," Scourge grumbled "One day, you'll learn."
"One day, perhaps. Today? No," Poppyfrost smirked, grabbing him by the shoulder "Now come on. On your feet!"
Scourge complied and snarled "So now I'm sent to prison? They can't hold m-"
BANG!
Blood shot over Poppyfrost's face.
Scourge's good eye bulged.
His chest began to gather a large red spot, seeping through the undershirt he wore.
Scourge gasped and gulped for air, looking at Poppyfrost.
"What?"
Scourge fell forward into Poppyfrost's arms, as he choked on blood. She caught her rival, and fell to the ground, ad Svourge was much heavier then her.
She looked up to see a tall brute of a man. Black Combat boots with black cargo pants. His hands were covered by black gloves. He wore a black military garb, and his armor that reached to his arms and legs, chest included, looked almost mechanic. A small tube went through where his heart should have been, leading into the brother's gut. With each step he took, a whir of mechanical noises erupted, maching every step make it sound like he was a terminator, closing in his prey.
In his arms, was an ARX-150.
The man held the gun up to Poppyfrost's head, as she stared down the barrel.
For the first time in a long time, she felt fear.
The Soldier's finger touched the trigger.
And the door to the rooftop kicked off it's hinges got both of their attention.
Tigerjaw stomped out, a confident smirk on his face, as the rest of the team burst through, weapons ready, as the man lifted his gun to Tigerjaw and pulled the trigger.
After Three Seconds of bullets bouncing off of Tigerjaw's chest, the Soldier lowed his gun, and wrapped across his shoulder.
He grabbed a small grenade from his back, and dropped it to the ground. As he walked away, smoke shot out of the grenade.
As Jayfeather dissipated the smoke with his powers, the man had already disappeared.
"AFTER HIM!" Poppyfrost screamed, holding a dying Scourge in her arms.
Scourge spat, his eye tearing up "Did he get me?"
Poppyfrost patted Scourge's shoulder, flipping him over so he could look at her eyes.
Poppyfrost never had actually noticed hole cold and lonely his cerulean blue eyes were "Yeah, he got you..."
Scourge's jaw quivered, and he began to cry "I don't want to die...please, please, I dont want to die."
Poppyfrost sighed, as the rest of the group looked on. They wanted to give some comfort to the dying man...but said man was a murderer...
"You brought this on yourself," Jayfeather muttered, walking away and through the door leading up to the rooftop.
"You don't deserve anything more," Crowflight followed after.
Ravenheart opened her mouth to say something about respecting the dying, but held her tongue. She followed after.
Lionblzae didn't even spare him glance. He followed after.
One by one, everyone left Scourge in his misery.
Except for one.
"Why aren't you leaving me to die?" Scourge asked.
Poppyfrost smiled sweetly "Like you said...everything I am, is because of you. You made me who i am today. Thank you."
Scourge chuckled "No ones ever thanked me for anythin...I..."
He felt a tear roll across his cheek.
"Is that Rain, Pumpkin?"
Before Poppyfrost could dry her eyes, Scourge's head sunk to the floor, eyes staring into oblivion.
Poppyfrost wiped her teary eyes shut, and closed Scourge's, solemnly humming.
"Leave this life for a lasting peace, down among the dead men."
Scourge was dead.
The soldier watched from afar, from another rooftop.
"Goodbye, Tiny."
The man left the building.
AND THERE GOES THE AUSSIE!
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!
OY OY OY!
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!
OY OY OY!
A good sendoff for this sicko.
But is it permanent? Am I not bringing him back? Or will he show up again, bigger and badder?
Well, I'm not telling.
Who is this Soldier? What does he want? Why did he kill Scourge? Find out soon...
Adios.