Frozen Memories – 1.8 Bridge
Hidden Past – Back Cover
Ingrid – Meet Again/Kiyori's Last Stand
Chapter 9: Forged in Blood
5 July 2058
Arendelle
Pine District
One PM
A group of soldiers were scattered in the courtyard of the barracks in the Pin District. They'd heard rumors of the Crazy Wolfe, the same guy searching to eliminate them, the surviving soldiers from past battles with him, and also with Xeir and others had regrouped along a route from their main headquaters in the Pine District, all the way t othe Palace Gates itself. The Palace had a bridge connecting it to the Arko and Marketplace districts. But they had a route that could bypass the Marketplace and leave the people in it alone.
At least, that was the plan. They had all prepared to take on Mark, Once word got out to the local gangs and merc groups, even Shadow Mist Sect lent some soldiers to the Honor Guard. Who then dressed their lent soldiers in the Honor Guard uniforms.
Nobody knew what to expect, it was Mark Wolfe after all. The man was prone to weird breakdowns and temper flares.
Around the headquarters were dozens of Honor Guard soldiers. Hidden among the trees and buildings they could get inside of. "I heard he killed a few bosses" Said one of a pair of soldiers watching the old man.
"Yeah, he's crazy to attack us here. There's what, us mercs, thugs, footsoldiers, every single one of us highly trained. He wont stand a chance" Said another
The group chuckled. "They say he's the Crazy Wolfe. I do not think he will go after four hundred of us here." Said the first.
"Where are you going ?" Asked a third to his fellow who was starting to sneak away.
"I gotta take a piss, you think I wanna piss myself here in the street ?" Said the soldier before heading off to take a leak in the nearby trees.
Other soldiers chattered among themselves. Mark was crazy to attack them at their headquarters. It was suicide really, was Mark in the mood to die ? Or was it something else entirely that was motovating him at that moment ?
They would never find out. At least, not right away. "I hear he is a young fellow, was even married to the old queen, Elsa" Said a soldier to his fellow
"Yeah, I heard that too, I think I remember the wedding too. It was strange," Replied his fellow. "Rememmber that strange wash of energy from the wedding couple ?"
"Aye, not just that, but the sense or renewed energy from it too" Said his fellow.
"You felt that too huh ? It felt like I was just fresh off the bed of sleep to hit the gym!" Said his fellow. The two soldiers went quiet as they thought they heard footsteps, turning their systems on, the two men turned to scan the area around them. Very briefly finding nothing.
Two further soldiers debated why they were even there to begin with. "Why are we here ? Why are we risking our lives to fight this guy ? You saw how he fights!" He said to his fellow.
"You dummy" The other soldier said. "We're being paid through the nose to help out. They got what ? One hundred Honor Guard, two hundred common soldiers ? They needed us and our guys to help them out."
"Four hundred, against one crazy Wolfe" Said the merc
"Mhm, and according to opur contract, the pay will be great when we take him down." Said the second merc.
"If we take him down" Corrected the first,
The second merc looked at his fellow, then rolled his eyes and nodded, "Alright fine, If we can manage to take the fucker down, we get full pay for doing just that, happy ?"
"Much" Replied the first merc. Both men went quiet as they studied the trees around themselves. Everything had gotten eirely quiet.
In the barracks courtyard an old man sat upon a stool. He had his sword at his left hip, with it there was a second blade. There was a good dozen men standing around in a loose formation. Yet with enough movement they could cover a lot of ground.
A young man, younger then most of them, the old mans grandson, sat next to the old man on his own small stool. His swords upon his hip. "You really think he will come to us ?" The young man asked
"He will, and when he does, we will destroy him!" Said the old man. He offended us with our defeats one too many times. We will end him here!"
"Or we will end ourselves here" Taekito grumbled. He was upset to even have this old man, this... grandfather, the old fool, as their leader. He followed the High Priest, hook, line, sinker and copy of Angling Times and remade the Sword Corps from what it originally was into a thug army of the Honor Guard.
"He comes here, he dies" The old man replied. He and Taekito regarded each other carefully, The old man knew that this young man, the former General Taekito in the former Sword Corps under the Wolfe, had his ass handed to him twice. Once by a girl under his command, and then once again by the Wolfe himself!
A older merc nearby spoke up thoughtfully. "He's late, did he get cold feet ?" He asked as he started pacing
A fellow Honor Guard soldier shook his head "I highly doubt it." The soldier said "It is possible he might be planning a sneak attack. He did the same to our last patrol if you remember."
"Yeah, even blew our transport" Another soldier said. "The only one we had, boom, gone."
"You've seen his face before, Right ?" Asked a third soldier to the merc
"Yes" Said the Merc, he didnt like talking about it, "He looked..."
"He looked like what ?" The soldier pressed for answers, not realising he was making the other soldier shit himself out of fear
"He looked..." There came the sound of a loud farting, "Ah fuck I gotta take a dump" the soldier stumbled off. A few moments later and the man fled the area entirely. There was no way he was gonna die that day.
Pacing, Taekito turned to the old man. "It is running late, shouldnt he be here ?"
"Be patient." The old man replied, "The man is full of tricks. That is why we are strategising this in advance."
All these soldiers, all of them survivors of him, and the others, Taekito grumbled in thought. He stood from his post and walked off, taking a good two dozen of the soldiers with him.
"Where are you going ?" Asked the old man. Leaving at a time like this ? Impossible!
"To get something to eat. You think I'm gonna wait around and let the Wolfe whack me ? Forget it." Taekito said, him and the others then headed off, away from the coming carnage. But had Taekito remained, he would have been able to witness the death of the hated old man in one clean slice of a sword from above.
Mark Wolfe had arrived. By the most unexpected means possible. Using the rooftops he had run the whole way from the Marketplace den all the way to the Pine District's Honor Guard headquarters. Alone, with no help, he had easily dropped and felled the Old Man
But by the time Mark had taken out the group at the main barracks for the Honor Guard, Taekito was long gone. Across the kingdom. Not caring that the old man was dead.
When the High Priest had remade the Sword Corps into the Honor Guard, and then filled its ranks with poorly trained and hot headed thugs instead of properly carefully trained soldiers. Taekito had seen all his work, and all of the Wolfe's work begin to crumble before his eyes.
Before the year was over and Mark returned to his memories, Taekito's own unit were the only few that were loyal to the original ideals of the Sword Corps. Forge the honor guard, Taekito had told his men. They are nothing more then thugs.
And so with Taekito and his menwanderingh the kingdom, doing what the Sword Corps original did, in this case acted as a proper police force and helped those in need in various districts such as the Greensky and the Turntao Districts.
The mercs scrambled to their feet when they saw the old man fall. "Wolfe!" Cried one as he ran into view of Mark. Who simply just stood still, seeming to be lost entirely in thought.
"How did he get here ?!" Cried another, sword drawn and ready to defend himself as he watch Mark calm look around.
"He must have snuck in by a back way!" Said a soldier. Sadly he was wrong.
"Impossible, we've got the enteries watched! We would have known if he showed up!" Screamed another. Their swords ready they angled for Mark
"Do not let him get away!" Cried others as they filled the street around Mark
"Kill him, kill him at all costs!" Cried someone apparently in charge as the courtyard was swormed as Mark calmly stepped from the fallen body of the old man. Katana held loosely in hand, yet easily to bring up to strength and defense as the soldiers made a half circle around him.
Soldiers stepped up behind him. "Get ready!" Yelled a few of them
"Take him down!" screamed another.
Mark looked around calmly at the circle that surrounded himself. Each of the soldiers had no idea what was about to happen. They all carried katanas. Just like him. They were all going to fall
"Lets get this started" Mark mumbled. Moving through the courtyard Mark cut down anyone in his path. It was not long before he had the attention of other soldiers. Moving fast he had to time things right. Keep the soldiers focused on himself. And then his aunt and kids could place the swords in their locations.
At least, that was his plan. He knew plans always never worked as hoped. Hence why his attack was so swift and sudden. The attack couldnt just come naturally, so he had taken to the rooftops to get to the place over the courtyard without a sound. And then he had waited.
The time for waiting was over. Soldiers trailed around him, some tried to attack, he blocked, one yelled a war cry and struck, Mark easily side steped and slashed the mans stomach, his guts spilling to the pavement as another man ran at him, he easily blocked and smacked the man in the ass.
Two down, more to go.
He moved through the street. The path was laid before him, and it was lined with soldiers. Moving rapidly Mark struck, poarried and began a dance of death. It did not take long for him to get into a whirlwind of raw power and skill against a few of the soldiers.
But that was when he noticed that some of them wore merc coloration patterns. And these mercs he knew were not from any known soldier unit. But men paid for by money. And that meant they had no real honor. But some of them Mark saw were young boyish looking fellows.
Perfect, lacking in experience the way they held themselves. As Mark went through their numbers and slowly lowered their ranks to nothing. The blood upon the street began to mix with the stormwaters into the rivers and thankfully not into the drinking waters.
Surrounded with a wall behind him, Mark counted how many were within reach, an inexperienced one, and two others. One of which rushed in blindly, screaming a warcry, Mark caught his arm, stopping the young man cold. Twisting he wrenched the katana from the attacker and launched the attacker back the way he had come. Throwing the blade after him, sticking him like a pig.
The other was more reserved. But the inexperienced thug simply stood unsure of what to do. Mark looked between the two, and before either could react, his sword arm swung, bonking the inexperienced soldier dead in the crown of the skull. Blood spurted with a soift THUNK and the body sank to the ground and laid still.
Getting forced one on one he traded blows briefly with the remaining soldier. His Honor Ghuard colors wet with the blood of his fellows. He swung at Mark, catching his sword on his own, Mark span him about, swiftly slicing into his neck and sending the thug to the pavement in a heap of torn cloth and blood. The Honor Guards sword crashed to the pavement next to his lifeless body.
Mark looked about and saw he was alone, Finally. He spotted the mark left by his cousin. An energy drink, and another sword were under the mark that Irie had left. Mark downed half of the energy drink, then grabbed the new blade, unsheathing it he set the sheath aside and examined the sword.
Perfect.
A fresh ready to use sword in hand, and his lost energy returned, Mark sighed and headed into a structure, or at least tried to. "Wolfe!" Cried a voice as three experienced thugs showed up. "Finally! We found you!"
One of them screamed a battle cry and surged forwards, only to get tripped up by Mark and sent flying through a window, dead before he hit the glass. The other two didnt stand a chance as Mark parried the blade of one, then twriled about and forced the second attacker to stab his fellow before he too lost his head.
Mark landed on his feet. Three more down. Didnt his aunt say there was something like four hundred left ? How many had he killed already ? He shook his head, it didnt matter.
"Wolfe!" CRASH! Something smashed into the beam to his left, Mark ducked from the splinters that exploded from it and looked atwhere the attack came from. A big burly thug stepped into view, he swung a ropedart, but it was on a chain not a rope. The massive man span the chaindart expertly in his hand. A very evil look in his eyes.
"Oh come on" Mark grumbled in Draconian. He felt the barest hint of gravity's hold on his body weakneing, speeding his movements up to keep him from getting too tired.
CRASH another beam exploded. The thug cackled madly "I take your head, I get rewarded!" He screamed, he struck again, Mark dodged around another beam, "Stop moving and let me stick you!" The man swung his chaindart and caught it stuck on the beam as he went around it.
Only to run himself on Marks sword point, a bit of blood splattered onto Marks face, but he didnt care. The thug fell to the floor of the structure dead. Mark shook his head and stepped out into the street.
There was a bridge nearby, he headed for it, it was after all that route to the Palace. The Honor Guard had a barracks in each district along the route from the Pine District to the Palace District. The only problem he felt he was going to have was a bit of a tussle in the Marketplace, but Blackmane had seen to it that the tussle was limited to a set of alleys.
Just as he neared the bridge a swarm of soldiers appeared on either end of it. Mark sighed, this was going to get old fast.
He stalked forwards, A soldier ran at him, screaming another loud wail of a warcry. Mark side stepped, his sword slicing through the mans stomach, another man came running at him also screaming, he too went down as Mark sidestepped.
A third man ran at him, he too fell with a sudden halting scream before collapsing. Two more followed him, five men all ran to their deaths. Mark moved like a master at his craft. It was not often he simply got to enjoy himself during a fight. It was actually rather rare to do just that.
Spinning about he blocked a strike. "Finally!" The soldier said, a merc really. "I kill you, and my men work for me, we go home happy!"
"Do you ?" Mark asked him, spinning about he smacked another two soldiers, both of them inexperienced, they were easy for him to spot with their unruly mop of hair, on their heads with dull thuds of his sword.
Turning back the two masters, so to speak, hammered each other briefly, it took a bit to wear the man down, but Mark moved on as the man sank to his knees, dead. Mark moved on. Flinging blood with every movement as he struck down his enemies. Mark ran foirwards, an old watch tower, built of wood. Perfect!
Running forwards he struck, cutting into the support post with a loud and rather dull THUDD noise as her struck one, then the other post. The tower, loaded with soldiers. Struggled briefly for balance as Mark fought more on the street.
Jumping lightly upwards, Mark struck and took down a body before getting onto another tower. One man he stabbed in the face, the man fell dead to the floor of the tower, the other man he stabbed in thr stomach before flinging the fallen sword at another soldier.
Moving quickly Mark jumped from the tower to the toppled beams of the other tower and continued to fight, cutting down soldier after soldier. He ducked for cover as gunshots rang out. An arrow was fired, he turned, moving his sword he cleanly cut the arrow in two. It shot into two other soldiers.
He flipped the bird at one of the shooters before dropping back to ground level. The soldiers around him scattered briefly as he fought with one, moving down a line he dealt out pain and punishment to each Honor Guard before finding another respite site and taking a brief breather in the shade.
He was breathing hard as he took a long drink of the energy drink left for him, judging by the mark made it was Severian who left two swords for Mark to pick from. Mark breathed hard, working carefully to catch his breath as he did so, he spat out some water onto the chosen sword, the used one he set aside.
He stepped forwards and briefly examining the sword in the light of a slit in the doorway nearby. "Found him! He's in here!" Called out a voice, suddenly three Honor Guard thugs stormed into the structure. Mark saw that one of them was inexperienced, or at least showed him the easy to spot haircut was more then likely the Honor Guard style for the men, the women he had yet to face, then again the only women he remembered in the Honor Guard were his cousin and the woman named Rien Johnston.
He fought back one guy, stabbed another, then thwacked the last one dead in the forehead. The bodies all hit the floor at the same time. Mark growled and kicked out the door. Back onto the street he watched another dozen soldiers swarm his location.
He settled into a stance and waited but a heartbeat before striking, yes, those thugs seemed to have their lowest ranked members with the mop of unruly hair style. Mark thwacked first one, then another Honor Guard newbie as he started to think of them before moving towards the more skilled looking soldiers.
Within a minute, all twelve soldiers were dead in the street. He ambled on. Entering the Turntao's District edge along the border of the Taelieon and Wolfe Districts. Mark ducked into an alley once he was sure the street was clear and found another marked site that Diamond had left for him, though she used Dianas mark to denote the new sword, and also the fresh energy drink.
Mark guzzled the drink, then leaned against the building, catcdhing his breath. He heard voices and stayed out of sight. "Where is the Wolfe ?" Cried a soldier as they scrambled on the street only meters away from him. Mark stayed where he was, drinking in fresh air, and also good energy drink.
"Find him! Dont let him get away!" Screamed apparently a commanding officer type. The soldiers scrambled through the street, looking into various buildings to try and find a trace of Mark.
One soldier however was disheartened in the whole affair, he knew it was entirely in vain. "We cant do this" Said a soldier, "Lets give up and go home!" He started to leave as Mark darted behind another building, the two never saw him.
"What did you say ?" Asked the officer, a sharp commanding tone in his voice caused the soldier to stop in his tracks.
"I said us going against the Wolfe is suicide, lets go home!" The soldier replied, he started to leave. Mark smiled from where he was hiding, finally someone sensible enough to see waiting for him or trying to fight him was a death note signed sealed and delivered.
"Stop right there!" Said his commander, the soldier stopped, "Are you a coward, or a soldier ?" the commander, nothing more then a common street thug given a soldiers uniform and officers rank.
"I am not a coward, but I am not going to throw my life away!" The soldier retorted, he took another step to leave.
"I said to stop you old fool!" The officer shouted, and the soldier finally did. He turned to look at his commanding officer, the younger petty thug of a man regarded him carefully. "Ah, thinking of your wife huh ? She's pretty so I hear" The soldier did not want to hear anymore and took another step. "AHA! I knew it, you're wanting to flee the battle and go off with her somewhere ?! I knew it! You're just a horny coward!"
The soldier felt a snarl building in his throat. "Dont worry" The commander said, he walked around the soldier. Though the man was older then the young impish thug. "We go after the Wolfe, should you die, I will look after your wife"
The soldier had heard enough. "Shut up" He said, a sharp hint of anger in his voice at the thug of a commander. Mark rolled his eyes from his hiding place.
"What did you just say to me ?" Asked the so called officer. Clearly upset that this soldier wanted to flee. "You think you can mouth off to me ? WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME, Answer me you dog!"
The soldier regarded the thug entirely. This time saying clearly. "I said, shut up" he said it a bit louder then before as if the officer hadnt heard him, but Mark heard him just the same in the alley he was hiding in.
Yes. Mark thought. Someone worth having on my side. He was sane enough.
The commander started laughing. "And if I do not shut up ? What will you do then ?" It was clear the commanding officer was getting to his soldier, the soldier however had more fighting experience and knew that going after Mark was not the best idea.
Mark found himself having a very bad taste in his mouth because of the commanding officer. Looking through a broken window, unseen by either man, he was able to get a good look at the soldiers, one was older, clearly more experienced and smarter then he looked. The other, clearly a thug with little to no training, given a sword and uniform and suddenly the ego overgrew itself.
The older soldier drew his katana and leveled it at his commander. "I'll kill you, you say another word!"
The thug scoffed at the soldier "I've seen your sword skills, you wouldnt last two seconds with me" The commander replied haughtily. Never expecting what to happen happen. "I never did like you anyway. Once you're dead, I'll take care of your wife." He drew his sword.
The older soldier screamed a challenge and settled into a stance, both fighters were ready to fight it out right then and there. But it was the arrival of Mark himself, colliding with the older soldier, the insubordiant soldier, sending the older man to the ground.
The commander saw Mark and recognised him. "Wolfe! I'll kill you, you mother fu- gurk!" the commander lost his adams apple and fell to the street dead as Mark didnt even bother to settle into a stance, he just swung his sword and took out the mans throat.
The soldier, who wanted to leave and not face Mark, who Mark could see cared for his family and was infact the smartest man in the district at that moment because he was the only armed soldier not gunning for his head, scooted backwards. "Please dont kill me!" The man cried. He did not want to get killed facing Marks relentless sword skills.
Mark waved at him. The soldier didnt know what he meant until Mark said "Go on, get out of here, go back to your wife. Keep her safe." Mark knew when to show mercy. And for that the soldier was greatful, because Mark remembered his face. And could find him again. Calling as the soldier passed him for safety, Mark asked simply. "Wait just a brief moment. You're the smartest man I have found in this unruly bunch. Tell me, where do you live, I might need your services later."
The older soldier smiled softly. "I live in the Tourntao district, Master Wolfe." he replied truthfully. Mark nodded, and patted him gently on the shoulder.
"Go" He said to the soldier, "With this order. Take care of your family." The soldier breathed a sigh of relief, sheathed his sword and scampered off. Mark smiled, ne needed soldiers like that for sure.
Once the soldier was gone, he turned back to the street. There were more soldiers to take down waiting for him. He could see the palace in the distance. A soft smile on his face, about that moment he felt that Xeir could be fighting or trying to get to, the High Priest. At least that was what he hoped.
He ambled forwards calmly, sword ready, all of his enemies were in front of him. Again the group ran at him one at a time. First one, Mark ducked to his left, his sword going to the right, slicing open the stomach of one soldier, then ducking to the right while his sword went to the left he sliced down ther stomach of another soldier. By the time the group had stopped, over half of them were dead in the street just by him walking side to side.
Mark stabbed one man, let go of his sword, then used the other mans swsord to stab another man before grabbing his own sword back as the first mans body fell to the ground in a heap. Blood stained the streets but it would be washed away in the new rain that was coming.
Mark drew his gun and fired six rounds, just as another soldier fired six rounds, the bullets smashed into each other at nearly point blank range. Mark cut down another soldier, then another. This was getting stupid. An endless fight ? Was it really supposed to be that long ?
Mark didnt care, he had time to kill, literally. Moving soldier to soldier he passed from the Turntao District into the Wind District and noticed the headband color change of the Honor Guard.
He then remembered that each district had its own headband color for the Honor Guard, and also the armband, he thought back to his cousins Sword Corps colors, they were the Arendelle flower patter sure, but the colors were actually that of the Wolfe family. Regardless of her linage and alliance, Sapphire was a Wolfe, and she wore the colors with pride.
Pride was not part of it. Mark had hoped Sapphire could have been informed. But he was not the one to do the informing, thankfully, his aunt, Shadowmane was able to get in touch with the Council and inform them that Sapphire was needed in Arendelle.
For a very personal reason.
That alone had her full attention, and she went back to the Mortal Realm with Shadowmane to see what she had to do. And that was when she was told of Marks plan.
Mark had no idea what was going on back at the Den, he was in full battle mode by that point. Moving quickly and deadly he danced among the soldiers. Smacking down one, then another. A few he thunked on the heads, and others he simply stole their swords and they ended up flying.
Mark himself didnt care much of where the soldiers ended up, the cleanup crews would see to them soon enough. His plan at that moment however, was much different. He neede to eliminate the Honor Guard, in a way he was also destroying the original Sword Corps.
But he knew he could remake it. So it was not a total loss. At least, with Sapphire back, and the merc he had just saved moments before. Mark was sure he could properly restart the Sword Corps. Maybe even get some Dragons into the ranks too in order to keep it pure.
He struck down more soldiers. They fell in waves, another energy drink was found, but no sword with it. He didnt care, but he needed the drink anyway.
He kept moving, into the Greensky District, the district before the Marketplace Distrct was the Port District. And the Greensky District bordered both districts to where it met the bridge to Arko, and then from there, the bridge to the Castle itself.
Greensky was a massive district, spread over a good chunk of the kingdom, at times Mark was tempted to split the district into new smaller districts. But it was the design of the districts that kept it together.
Soldiers swarmed from doorways and archways in Marks path as he entered the new District, Greensky District's colors were a pale green band of color on a black background.
"Wolfe! Dont move another step or we'll kill you!" Screamed a soldier.
Mark just looked at the guy confused. He had never seen him before. "Who the fuck are you ?" He asked the man in a calm tone. The man didnt asnwer as Mark continued to walk forwards into the district.
"We warned you!" The soldier screamed, at that moment, two of them darted forwards, one got smacked hard on the head, the other had his guts on the street. Mark picked up the fallen sword. Now using two blades he snapped out one, and blocked with the other.
This went on for another few minutes before Mark finally launched the sword like a javilin and the soldier it struck fell dead in the street. Mark contihnued to fight, smashing into one soldier, using a door as a shield before stabbing through it and impaling another soldier in the neck.
A swing of the sword and Mark had the next soldier in two pieces, another in a screaming heap as he lost his hand. Finally was an explosion of raw energy as Mark somehow set a fuse on fire and a group of soldiers exploded and went flying. Mark cut down three of them as they flew in his direction.
Mark ambled on, entering the last stretch of the road to the castle, Mark was beset upon by a swarm of soldiers. He easily whacked one, then another. A third he slit the throat of before heading up a flight of stairs and easily slicing out the throat of another soldier. Finally he was on the streets once more and ambling along.
He found another place for a respite and took a brief break, he sat on a low stool and took a long drink of the energy drink left for him. He started counting. "There has to be more then a few hundred already ? How many have I killed so far ?" He tried counting, but lost track after one hundred and fifty three.
He took another long drink and signhed, setting aside the bottle he got back to his feet. He still had soldiers to kill
He stepped into full view of who was left. A good two dozen soldiers waited for him. He raised his newly gotten sword towards them. "My name is Mark Wolfe!" He called to them, "Let any man among you, who wishes to save his own life, flee. Because I will let none of those who attack me to live!"
Two men broke rank and bolted for safety. Fortunately, those two soldiers were Assassins, they had the mission to aid Mark, and were dressed similar to the Honor Guard in order to be unnoticed while delivering the respite point.
Four in succession ran at Mark, the first went down, his left arm missing, the second went down, his body in two, the third went down, his hip spewing blood, only to stop midscream as Mark ripped out his throat.
The last smashed into Mark, the two locked swords briefly and fought for a moment before Mark broke the hold and the two split apart. The soldier fell, his body split down the middle
Seeing their fellow split in such am anner, disgraceful. The rest of the soldiers forwent tactics and swarmed Mark. Mark blocked and parried strikes and blows easily, Grabbing up a fallen sword and using two once again in each hand. He smashed one man through a window, another man smashed into a wall and laid still.
Soon there was no soldiers left, and he spotted one a ways off. He headed in that direction. He remmebered there was a gate ahead that was for offical use only. That gate lead to the Bridge interoir for the Bridge to Arko and also the Bridge to the Castle.
Mark smiled, he was nearly finished.
There was a soldier waiting for him near a gate, the gate that lead to the Bridge to the Palace. The soldier saw Mark arrive. "I was wondering what was keeping you, hoping that the others hadnt worn you out." The loner said
Mawk faked a yawn, which ended up being real and asked "Are you done yet ?" He was clearly bored with the monolouge about to happen from the soldier and wanted it done fast.
"You destroyed us, and yet you still stand" the soldier said to him. His sword drawn and ready for use as Mark simply stood looking at him.
"Not entirely, you're still standing" Mark replied, a insult, and yet also a wisecrack from his wiseass of a mouth. It began to rain. The soldier drew his katana.
"I will kill you for all you've done!" The soldier screamed as Mark sighed, the rain pelting the ground around them as both men began whaling the tar out of each other. Briefly the soldier sent Mark sprawling, and yet Mark easily regained his feet. "Why wont you die ?!" The soldier asked as their swords locked, sparks flew as energy exploded around them.
Finally Mark broke the lock and swung his sword, easily staying out of reach of the other mans blade as his sword connected hard with the man neck. The soldier stumbled as the rain slowly came to a stop. Dead.
Mark took a haggard breath, then another, then a third. A dozen and a half soldiers, all with katanas drawn, advanced on him in a circle. Mark sighed and shook his head. "You never learn do you ?" He asked them, he received no answer as one of them screamed something and ran at him.
The fight was renewed at that point, Mark easily blocked and ducked strikes and parries. Easily weaving his way around the soldiers as he took them down one by one. A pair of soldiers ran at him, first one then the other fell to his blade. He caught a third screaming soldier and wrenched his sword free, using two swords he snapped about, whacking rapidly, one sword blocking ,the other striking, and vice versa.
Soon, none of them were left alive. Mark reached over to where the scabbard to his current sword was at, and put the sword away. And picked up the last sword placed next to it.
The new blade had a knife hidden in its hilt, perfect. Mark smiled seeing the shape of the blade within the hilt. Hidden and strong. Deadly and fast he could easily use this in a certain way. A way nobody would expect
Four Hours Later
Arko District Bridge
Palace District Bridge
Mark sat upon an outcropping of rock, water flowing around him on the beach in two a split of the river that joined the fjord. A soldier stood at the bridge to the Palace. "Why ? Why did you destroy the Honor Guard ?" The voice dripped with malice
Mark never looked up. "Is that what they were ?" He had a tone of either spite or something else in his voice
The man drew his sword and stepped forwards. "Where is your honor ?! Your sense of duty ?!"
"Honor... duty ? Huh..." Mark scoffed. "I could ask you the same of yourself" Mark replied, he stood up. The soldier took a half step back, Mark sensed it and called out "Do not retreat." He looked at the man. Calm brown eyes edged in bronze stared at him. "Come and get it" Mark said, the group of soldiers, the last most loyal Sword Corps soldiers, swarmed at him
Mark trailed his right hand along the swords hilt. A blade was folded into the pommel. He flicked his fingers and the blade sprang into view.
The first struck, Mark easily blocked, spinning his sword about he slit the man in the throat. The man fell as Mark span to face another, cutting off his arm and most of his nose. Spinning about he slit another man in the stomach, his innards pooled at his feet.
Mark counted the last remaining members of the original Sword Corps, not incliuding the three he had just killed, there were twenty three left. And then the former leader.
He blocked the strike of another and jabbed him in the jaw, the man collapsed in a heap choking on his own blood. He blocked a strike from another, and kicked another man aside. He span about and stabbed another man in the heart, the man went spinning away to the rocks and laid still.
Five down. Mark then forwent counting down and span about again, catching another man in the stomach and punching him in the face. He span about, blocked a strike with the small blade, and used the scabbard of his sword to send a man stumbling away
Taekito watched as Mark felled his men so expertly. Every move Mark made only enhanced his speed slightly. It was as if Mark was as graceful as a dancer, and just as deadly as a scorpion. Hence how he got his name in the CIA. But Taekito did not know that. Taekito only knew that Mark was crazy, the Crazy Wolfe.
There was a reason Mark was considered to be so crazy. Rumor in the Honor Guard was that Mark had tried to fight the High Priest, Kiyori. And failed. He was referred to by the High Priest, and then the Honor Guard as an Enemy of the State. Which then allowed the Honor Guard more access and rank pulling over normal soldier patrols in the kingdom as a whole.
But as Taekito watched Mark whittle down his remaining troops. Those loyal to the original Sword Corps cause itself. The same cause that Mark created when he first made the Sword Corps to begin with. It made Taekito poause in wonderment.
Why was Mark destroying what he had created ? Was it because the High Priest had tainted what he had made ? Or was it because Mark wanted to eliminate a rotted tree down to its very roots ?
Or was it something more personal ? Something that made an inner desire manifest to ensure mutal combined destruction on whomever wrong Mark Wolfe ?
Or perhaps it was something much more interpersonal to Mark, something he himself had still not yet come to terms with ? But also somehow had come to terms with the same event as a whole ?
Blocking a strike as Taekito watched in shocked stillness, Mark cut the leg of an attacker and then when the man went down nailed him in the chest. Spinning his sword about, he blocked a strike and nocked another man iun the face, sending him stumbling.
Seven tried to strike him at once, Mark span his sword around rapidly, the small blade made contect seven times and all seven attackers fell to the ground dead as Mark sighed, took a breath, and relaxed, setting his sword on his shoulder, still sheathed he counted how many were left, a handful. Out of twenty six men, only six were left.
He turned the blade so it aimed out, the sheathed sword upon his shoulder before he ducked a strike and used the shealth to manhandle the soldier to the ground before kicking him aside
Knocking his blade against another mans hand, the soldier dropped his sword, only to get the blade to rake down his face, he sank to the ground dead.
Mark blocked a strike, and locked swords with another, there were five men left. The man he locked sword to blade with pushed him back. Mark smirked and twirled his sword as if rolling it. The bladed handguard cut the fingers then the hand of the attacker. As he went down, Mark smashed him in the face, he was dead as he smashed down on the rocks.
Another man tried to strike, but Mark went high as he went low, forcing the man to drop his weapon Mark nailed him in the throat, the next man in line also snak down to the ground, his throat smashed by the sheathed weapon.
The last three men tried to make a stand, but one sank to the ground as Mark cut off his arm, then smashed into the last two, trading blows briefly before sending both men crashing into the water where the current had its way with them both.
At the end of it, Mark drew his sword after keeping it sheathed and taking down the remaining members of the original Sword Corps. Beheading the last soldier as their leader watched him. Putting away the blade, he smiled when he saw a woman on the bridge railing.
Sapphire had finally arrived. Just as he had promised her, when he had found the man who directed the attack on their home, who haunted her dreams. She could fight him.
Looking at the silver eyed man, Mark still smiled. Taekito snarled at him. "Who are you ?!" He asked, he was close to advancing on Mark. But he was uncertain if he should do so, even with his metal encased arm he doubted highly he could stand a chance against the Crazy Wolfe and survive.
Mark simply just sighed and smiled, putting his sword away. Including its folding blade, and then went to a rock to sit down. "I am not the one you should worry about" Mark replied. He looked to where Sapphire was waiting upon the bridge rail "She is"
"What ?" Taekito asked as he turned to see who Mark meant by 'her'
Sapphire launched herself from the railing, sword drawn and aiming to strike Taekito in a downward slash attack, Taekito barely blocked her landing as she came down on him full strength.
The rocks under him cracked with raw energy. Taekito pushed her off and she landed lightly on the rocks nearby. "It took me a while" Sapphire said. "It took me thirty years to figure out. It was you." She said to Taekito.
He just looked at her dumbly. What did she mean it was him ? She pointed at him. "Your silver eyes, haunting my dreams. Haunting my nightmares." Sapphire told him. She pointed her sword at him, "You were the one who orcrestrated the attack upon our home thirty years ago!" She said to Taekito
He settled into a defending stance as she leveled her sword into an attack stance. "I will end you. Murderer!" Sapphire said to him.
Mark saw that Sapphire still wore her original Sword Corps colors and rank, Captain Sapphire Wolfe of the original Sword Corps. He smiled, it was good, He knew then why his cousin kept seeing silver eyes, the silver eyes of the man who masterminded the attack on their home on her birthday.
That man was Taekito, the same man that for a while, Mark had leading the Sword Corps. And it seemed, now that Mark inspected the dead around him. That he still had loyal Sword Corps members, well, had was the keyword. Mark and Sapphire had new plans to go forwards with. But first, everything old had to be destroyed so they could be made new again.
He sat back on the rock and watch as Taekito shouted a battle cry and lunged forwards, Sapphire easily blocked his strike and thrust with her own. The two traded blows briefly as Sapphire backtracked to keep Mark out of harms way. Taekito followed her every step. Their swords rang and sparks rained on the rocks around them as Mark watched.
In her time in the Never, as it was called, she had learned clearly from various masters, all of them skilled and even better, long lived. Sapphire and Kiyomori both were once more back in the world. And as Mark watched he became aware of the beauty he witnessed before him.
Taekito was a brutal man when he was second in command of the Sword Corps. Mark had left the man in command of the Sword Corps while he was away on a contract given to him by his aunt, which started in Madrid, and ended up in Sacremento. Mark regretted even taking the man on in the first place.
But now he could see how the man fought. Since it was Sapphire, the two of them were really whaling the tar out of each other.
"Its a good show" Came a voice Mark sorely missed. "Better then I thought it would be. Sapphire is learning" Hearing Kalda made Mark smile
"You survived ?" Mark asked silently as he watched his cousin flip backwards, landing on a log she kicked the massive stone by her feet towards Taekito, an explosion of purple energy caroomed off her foot as it connected with the stone. Sending the thing flying at Taekito who easily batted it aside.
"Yup, yI see that ou did too." Kalda replied, he appeared in the form of a legless ghost next to Mark, the two of them observing the fight betweeen woman and man. "Though you still cant rely strictly on yourself."
"And my armor ?" Mark asked, never taking his eyes off his cousin. The two fighters at points looked as if they were standing stock still when their swords locked. Energies between them danced madly.
"That will be a bit of an issue, you see" Kalda said simply. Mark looked to him, clearly he was exepcting an answer from his closest more then likely sanest friend. Kalda did not seem to want to try to explain it, but he did his best "Whatever the High Prest threw at us, whatever kind of magic that was, not only was it enough to take me out of the fight and help you, but it also too the armor you made too. But I see you were able to get some new digs. They look roomy and they look good." Kalda had a hint of jealous tone in his voice
"It does the job, for now" Mark replied. He wanted his own armor back, Irie was a good armor maker sure, but he wanted his own armor. His armor that he made on his own. "When will it come back ?"
Mark caught a stone thrown and tossed it into the water as Kalda replied. "Soon as that formation is destroyed, the sooner you get your armor, and that idiot bird, back." The Silver Dragon said, another large stone was thrown, it halted in mid air as Mark was once more able to use gravity to control things again.
Mark then sneezed at the onset of dust and the rock exploded. "Sorry about that" Kalda chirped before disappearing. Mark smirked as Sapphire and Taekito danced their dance of death.
Swords rang clear as stones were hurled between them. Picking up a fallen soldiers sword, Taekito ran for Sapphire, who easily dodged one then parried away the other blade. Snapping out his wrist, Taekito threw the second blade he had picked up, but it did no good as Mark caught it clearly in the air.
Taekito frowned. He didnt like this, but Mark was not attacking, only the girl was. The girl who, "of course" Taekito said after a few moments of swords getting whacked. "The girl who broke my nose and had to be regulated to the Arenas! The wolfe girl daughter of a whore!"
"Ooooh, bad choice of words" Mark mumbled, hearing clearly what the man was saying, he was trying to set Sapphire off. And all he did was fuel her movements. Someone had taught Sapphire to use her anger as a form of fuel to keep her going, not let it over come her.
"I remember your mother, dont you ?" Taekito said, the two locked swords briefly as he spoke, he leaned on his, Sapphire bent backwards only a bit, a low grunt was heard. "A whore in the brothel, why you were supposed to guard the queen I will never know. But you cant guard her now. Because the queen is gone!"
Sapphire smirked. He stared at her with evil eyes. "I remember those eyes" Sapphire finally said, he was confused. A whack was heard as she suddenly thrust her head forwards, catching Taekito in the nose, breaking it, hard. The man fell back screaming in rage. Sapphire stood up, the brief respite gave her a chance to catch her breath.
"I know your eyes, murderer" She said again. He snarled, blinking away the pain his nose weeping blood. "You are the one who killed my father." She said. He looked at her confused. "On the day of my birth. Thirty Years ago"
He snarled and attacked, ignoring his bleeding nose the former generasl and soldier whaled the tar of each other some more until the mans suit was in tatters, collapsing in a heap moments later.
Sapphire paced just out of his reach. "Every year of my life, death and destruction woke me up, on my birthday. But only that day. And at the end each nightmare, I always saw one thing staring at me. Your silver eyes." She said to him.
He got to his feet. Spitting out a busted tooth, Taekito snarled. "You'll never live to see another minute!" He swung at her. She ducked and span about, catching him with the flat of her sword. He stumbled forwards before Mark.
Looking up at Him as he struggled to get his breath he said to Mark. "What are you waiting for ? Why wont you strike ?"
"Because if I did, she would never get the closure she seeks." Mark replied, he moved a large stone over so he could sit down and enjoy the rest of the fight. Taekito tried to attack Mark, only to get kicked in the face and sent sprawling back towards Sapphire. Who was waiting for him.
The man spat on the ground and scrambled to his feet, going low he scampered madly at her legs, Sapphire danced just out of his reach, grass, sand and rock exploded from every sword impact point as the two settled back against each other, trading blows quickly with their swords before once more breaking apart.
A good few meters apart the two took quick breaths and Taekito struggled to stay on his feet. He swayed, mostly from blood loss. It was giving him a headache. He steeled himself, set his sword arm and howled a charge before getting knocked back easily by Sapphires block.
Stumbling he wailed another war cry before catching his sword on hers, she danced a bit and twisted his sword aside harmlessly before grabbing his hand and twisting himself around before kicking him in the pants. Sending him flying in a heap. "You know, I was hoping I could fight a master swordsman, instead I get you. You're weak, just like you were when I punch your lights out before you sentenced me to the Arenas!" Sapphire screamed at Taekito
Taekito laid on the ground, he grunted and pushed himself to his feet. Sapphire was skilled, someone must have taught her. But he had no idea who could have taught her.
He looked at her, Sapphire settled into an attack stance, her sword held loosely in her hands. She made the come heither motion. Taekito grunted and ran at her, the two locked swords briefly before she tripped him up, but not before he was able to get a whack or two in with his fist.
Sapphire kicked heard and split them up. Seeing stars briefly from his hits against her face she shook her head and blinked as Taekito hit the ground.
Struggling to his feet again Taekito grumbled. "I cant believe this!" He stumbled but stayed on his feet, he pointed his sword at Sapphire, "You're nothing but a vagrant girl, a soldier who could never follow orders!" he shouted at her.
Mark sighed and shook his head, calling to his cousin he said "He's mocking you Sapphire, I'd kill the fucker"
"Oh I plan to, I just want to play with him a bit more" Sapphire replied, Taekito wailed something and charged, the two traded blows and parries rapidly, too fast for Mark to full track before they broke apart.
As they jumped away from each other the ground around them exploded into dust and broken rock, grass and dirt flew everywhere. Mark raised a hand to shield himself.
Looking over his raised arm he saw Sapphire and Taekito standing, swords in a defensive stance before Taekito growled and darted forwards as Sapphire finally shriekd something. A single word was all she shrieked. "Die!"
The two connected with such an explosive energy burst between them that Taekitos katana blade broke, a third from its tip, the blade snapped, Sapphires blade digging deep into his chest, nearly cleaving him in two before she settled against him.
Taekitos arms went limp as blood gushed from his wounds. He gurgled.
Mark never heard what his cousin said as Taekito gurgled and choked on his own blood. She wrenched her sword from his chest, and stabbed him in the heart. Pulling her sword from his body she saw it was undamaged.
"Yaeko Wolfe's last sword ever made" Mark said speaking up, breaking his cousin out of her memories. "I once said it was dull, as was your senses and training. But now, I'm glad to see prove me wrong."
Sapphire sighed, it was over. Taekito was dead. She staggered back, briefly losing her footing and landing against Mark who easily caught her. "Hey now, dont faint on me just yet." He said to her. She tried to smile but all that came out was very tired gasping of needing to breathe. "Take it easy, take a breathe, breathe in, breathe out. Thats it. Allow your body to expend the pent up energies within itself." He told her
Sapphire did as she was advised. Letting her body expell all the pent up energy, she started to cry, It was over. It was finally over.
After several minutes and Mark closing Taekitos sightless eyes. "Thank you, Mark" Sapphire said.
"For what ?" He asked her as he turned from the dead to look at his cousin
"For letting me take on the killer, the man who attacked our home, on my own." Sapphire said, She stood up then, "You were right, I feel I have closure for the nightmare that has been my life."
"I think there is only one way to ensure that" Mark told her.
"Right, when my birthday comes, we'll find out if I wake up screaming" She told him. Mark smiled, the two hugged. Sapphire looked at the bloodied water. "Is this going to be an issue ?" She asked him
"We do not drink it, so I do not see why it would be" Mark said to her.
"Good, because I want to go swimming" Sapphire said, she handed him her sword as the blade disappeared as if by magic. "Dont wait up for me" She said, she then headed for the waters edge where it was deeper then it looked.
Mark turned and headed for the bridge as Sapphire dove into the crystal clear part of the water to take something of a bath. Mark said nothing of the armor rusting, since the armor only had scant pieces of metal in the cloth.
Stepping up onto the bridge Mark took the green gloved hand that was offered to him as he saw Asami offering to help him up. He saw a crowd had gathered on the bridge. With Asami was his aunt, almost all of his kids, and a few Assassins. "All this for us ?" He asked, meaning himself and Sapphire.
"Mostly for her" Asami said, he was slightly upset that Blackmane was present, but she had insisted. "But also for you."
He turned to his aunt. Blackmane had a smile on her face, she looked a hell of a lot better too then he last saw her. "You did good, and so did she, Sapphire is learning, you think she will get over the nightmare now ?"
"That remains to be seen. We'll know more in the next month." Mark replied.
Blackmane took in his condition. "You need a bath. Give me your sword and hers, and go swim in the river. Asami can go with you, unless you want Irie to go ?"
Mark had to think carefully on his next words, but then he said with a smirk, "Why not eveyone, its summer after all so the water should be great ?"
Asami smirked, she wanted to go swimming. "Does that mean we can build a pool for the Den ?" It was of course Tamond who voiced the question. Blackmane smirked, but it was Asami who asked to Mark
"What do you think ? Should we swim in a pool or in a river ?" Asami had a glitter to her eyes that Mark hadnt seen since they were children in Egypt.
"A pool sounds good, remind me find to a pool builder in Oslo when this is all over would you ?" Mark replied, for the moment they would swim in the river.
Blackrock Temple
Bridge to Nowhere
At that same moment
"There it is" Tiri said pointing her ice bone tail up at the structure leading to a blank space in the air. The room looked well lit, and well kept. As if repairing the Formation had also repaired an cleaned up the room it was attached to. "Is it just me or is it lighter in here ?" Tiri asked
"Its lighter in here" Xeir replied. She thought carefully on her next move. There had to be a way in order to do exactly what was needed next. And that meant to aim things forwards to the next step. "How high you think that bridge is from here ?" Xeir asked her sister
"From look of it, maybe a kilometer, maybe two, at most four" Tiri replied. "What's your plan ?"
"We're gonna have to fly it." Xeir said simply, there was no able straight way to climb up, and there simply was not enough time to even attempt to climb. So flight was their only option.
"Fly ?" Tiri asked. She remembered the last time either of them flew more then a few dozen meters to about a half kilometer off the ground in the Mortal World. "You remember the last time we flew anywhere ?:
"As a dragon, yes, after fighting Kethend, we came here, and. You remember" Xeir said to her. She didnt like remembering the past, but this was worth remembering. "We had appeared from nowhere, one second we were in space, fleeing for our lives, next thing we knew, bam you woke up in the snow and... I was born in a humans body.
"Your Nothing" Tiri then realised. They had flown before, and quite well too. Tiri then nodded, relenting, Xeir was right. "Flying it is. We're going to have to make this quick, look" Tiri saw the portal open, the High Priest had entered the Star Formation Chamber.
It was now or never.
"Lets go." Xeir said, Tiri nodded, and disappeared, shattering like glass she reformed on Xeirs body. A flicker of energy and Xeir had her draconic body back once again. The massive Silver Dragon stretched briefly, and spread her wings.
The Silver Dragon smiled and pushed off from the ground, her energy built up as she flew. She climbed through the air her great wings pushing hard and fast, moving the air serenly and quickly. Silent sounds of the windo assaulkted the two, icewraith and Silver Dragon.
It was farther then Tiri had thought. Four kilometers and they were still flying towards the Bridge to Nowhere. "OK I am pretty sure we're stuck in a downdraft!" Tiri said in Xeirs ears.
"Quiet!" Xeir hissded, another pump of her wings and Xeir was able to clear the bridge. They were four and a half kilometers up into the air by that point.
"LOOKOUT!" Tiri's voice rang in Xeirs ears again, Xeir twisted in the air and barrely landed as a human woman on the bridge as a sheet of golden light seared from the black rock walls of the Temple. "Oh no. the Formation jarred the defenses into action! There's no way we'll be able to fly out of here when the High Priest is killed!" Tiri crowed
Xeir sighed, breathing hard as the two women were on solid ground. Four and a half kilometers into the sky. This templke was insane. "Alright, we got this far. Lets get that Formation portal opened. Shall we ?" Xeir said looking to where the portal cut the bridge into nothing at its peak.
"Right" Tiri said, the two women stood side to side. Settling into a stance as they let their magic build up. Tiri twirled and held her hands to Xeirs shoulderblades as Xeir let the magic hit the portal.
The doorway was going to open, and forcefully if need be.
Inside the Formation's chamber on its balconey, Kiyori focused his internal magic and watched the formation begin to shift around. There was no time to lose! He knew his enemy was enroching on his location. He knew his time was limited.
He just needed more time. A lot more time.
Time enough to ensure he had what he needed to begin in full strength.
The portal behind him began to crack. The Arendelle castle hallway began to fade and break as something was forcing the original portalway to open to somewhere else.
He needed more time! He twisted his wrist slightly, bands of green energy flowed from his hands. Swirls of leaves and otherwise danced and formed a backwards running clock.
The portal behind him began to close, gone was the Arendelle castle hallway. In its place was darkness, inky blackness met his eyes whe nhe looked in to the portal at the end of the Bridge.
"Who dares ?"! He called towards the inky blackness
There came no answer.
He stopped the clock and returned it to normal movement. He had all the time he needed.
Within the bridge to nowhere, Xeir and Tiri relaxed, the portal became ink black, ringed in purple and pink, white and yellow, gold and blue. Red and silver. It danced with the colors of the shards.
Lowing her hands Tiri saw the portal was active. "It worked!"
They never heard Kiyori's call.
Because sound had been stopped, along with time.
Xeir lowered her hands and examined the portal, gone was the swirling smoke pattern the portal maintained, in its place was a ink black field. She went to it and studied it briefly for but a moment. This was where things were going to get quite interesting.
Xeir reached for the portal surface, and felt slight resistance. Like static on her skin. "Do you feel anything ?" Tiri asked her
"Yeah" Xeir replied, "Static, almost like a screendoor back at the house" Xeir tried to describe what she was feeling, but that was as close as she could get.
Tiri tried to touch the portal, to feel some form of resistance, but her body hurt the closer she got to it. "Ok, that's weird, normally I cant feel any pain, but touching that feels like I am sticking my arm in a lit bonfire" She said
"Wonderful" Xeir grunted, the two stepped away from the portal. "You wont be able to go through. But I can, I can part the portal." Xeir said
"Looks that way" Tiri replied she was clearly upset that she could not join Xeir to fight the High Priest.
"It seems that Starmaster devised this plan to begin with. I can go through, but you cant, it was as if he wanted me to to do this." Xeir said in thought.
"But at the time we were one person, you. I was you, you were me, we were one one body, one soul. So why wont it let me through too ?" Tiri said, looking from Xeir to the portal swirling and dancing before them.
There was no real way for Xeir to take Tiri with her, even if she wore her like armor. Xeir sighed. "I dont want to do this without you. But I might have to. Go back to Mark and the others. Find Kalda, use him as your anchor point and go to him. If I dont survive this, you'll know." Xeir said as she turned to the portal.
"Wait!" Tiri said, placing a hand on Xeirs arm, the woman turned to look at her. "Are you sure you want to do this ? We can go back to the Mythic Realm now, we can open a portal there from here, and leave, we dont have to do this. We can go back to Mom as if nothing here ever occurred!" Tiri said to her.
Xeir had to agree, it was incredibly tempting of an offer. Gently taking both of Tiris hands in her own, Xeir sighed softly, "Tiri, you were my body, I was your soul. You are now you own person, just like I am my own person, you have your own soul, and I am mine." Xeir let out a breath. "If the portal will not allow you to go through from this end. Find the portal at the Arendelle castle, and enter in that way."
"I think I can do that, according to some of the old Honor Guard we still had on our side, Anna and Sapphire, the gate remains open when the Formation was in use. Should be easy to find if you can keep the guy distracted long enough." Tiri said, she already liked how Xeir could plan on the fly.
"Good" Xeir said, clutching Tiris bone fingers. "Find Kalda, or Mark, or whatever the hell he calls himself. Tell him what I told you, find the Formation's doorway, As soon as I go through, that door should reopen" Xeir told her sister.
The two hugged then as Tiri nodded. It was not going to be easy, but she could make it easier then it looked. "I'll find you, I promise!" Tiri said, Xeir smiled at her. Tiri broke the hold and dove over the side of the bridge, Xeir ran to the rail and looked down as Tiri disappeared from sight. Xeir could not even see the bottom.
When there came no answer from the ink black portal, Kiyori turned his attention back to the Formation and focused on it, using its power, accepting its power into his body. He could wrest his fate from its initial path and change it to something more sutible. Something that he wanted it to be.
But he had no idea what to expect. He knew he was going to fight someone on that balcony, a woman in silver. The damned dragon herself that had dogged his every step, and stayed constantly out of his reach.
Did she know where the portal was ? Had Xeir managed to get to the portal inside the castle ?
Was she the one on the other side ?
No, Kiyori had to remember, Xeir had never been inside the Arendelle castle, so she could not know where the portal to the Formation was located. But he had no idea that the portal was also somewhere else in the kingdom, and that portal she had found, and unlocked.
Xeir however was on the other side, but not in the castle. Tiri long gone from the Blackrock Temple by that point as she regarded the inky blackness.
Xeir sighed, her scales formed upon her body then. She did not have long. Not much longer then. She focused, and stepped forwards. A hand went to the swirling ink black portal.
A brief resistance.
Then it felt like touching water.
Ink black water dancing on its side never spilling.
Xeir smiled to herself. Of course it had to be a waterlike feeling. First the screendoor feeling, then the water. But the screendoor prevented Tiri from entering, but it felt resistence briefly from Xeir, then it allowed her to pass through freely.
Xeir stepped to the portal, and put her face in it. Inside the portal was bright energy and light. But it looked and felt like she was sticking her head in the water and opening her eyes. She put her leg into the portal, then her other leg and hand.
Within seconds sdhe was transported across time and space
Kiyori had no idea who was coming. As Xeir silently stepped into the Formation's chamber the portal shifted, returning to show the hallway and wall of Arendelle. Silently she took in her surroundings, the awe of the formation was indeed beautiful, the Star Shards had indeed repaired it.
But the Star Shards also did not give it justice of seeing the Formation on its own. She smiled however seeing Kiyori, by himself, working with the Formation. Trying to harness its energies, to use to his advantage.
He never heard Xeir enter the Formation chamber.
He had no idea she was there.
He thought he was alone. But he knew he was going to fight someone, himself ?
He was not alone.
Not anymore.