Duke:
"Heart!" I cried out as I shot up in bed in the late hour of the night.
My heart pounded in my chest as I looked to find her missing. Panic overtook me as I jumped from the bed and rushed out the door. I'd fallen asleep while reading after a long day. Heart had been wide awake and wanting to spend time with her brother, so I'd gone to relax in our room.
I tried to regain my composure while searching throughout the halls for her. To my relief, suddenly their voices trickled into earshot as I drew near the galley. My racing heartbeat settled when I found her sitting with Nosedive, laughing as he told her about a prank he had tried to pull on their brother that afternoon. She had a cup of hot coco in her hands, and Nosedive was pouring himself a cup, "Marshmellows?"
"I think you're addicted to them Dive," Heart giggled a bit.
Her twin gave a shrug while pouring a few into both of their mugs.
I leaned against the doorway of the galley, just watching them a bit calm down without her knowing. It had been a long while since I'd had a nightmare, even longer since having one that shook me like this. Closest I could recall were the nights of phantom pain when I'd first lost my eye. Perhaps that's why I felt so on edge now. Looking back on it, I realized I couldn't recall the nightmare itself. Yet still a lingering dread kept me from going back to bed.
All I knew, was that I was trying to reach her, but I couldn't move. She called out to me, yet I was unable to grasp her hand or pull her back.
Watching her didn't seem to help as I thought it would. At least not enough to make it go away. Instead I folded my arms over my chest and tried to figure out what would have caused this. Nothing out of the usual had happened that day. We'd stopped a bank robbery a few hours prior to me turning in for the night, but that was par for the course with us. The only thing that came to mind was how much we'd been going through as a whole the last few months, as a team, and for her and I. With more answers found it spurred more questions. Now she didn't just have magic, but she was a dragon. She didn't just have abilities with electricity, but crystals as well. Yet we knew there was still a great deal locked away for her.
A few enemies had already tried to target her because of this, from Dragonus trying to use her as a power source to Protorious recently trying to experiment on her. Even Falcone had reared his head trying to steal what I held so dear with or without the ability to hop worlds.
Was that it? We now had an idea of what was chasing her before. Though Shadow hadn't been able to break through yet, we weren't exactly sure of what to do if he ever did. We didn't even know what it was he wanted other than magic to feast on. Could he do more with it if he got a hold of her? Perhaps it was this that spurred such a night terror.
Maybe this was why I watched her as I did now. While I leaned against the wall still, Heart turned around in her seat and locked eyes with me. I did my best to stifle the shudder that tried to run through my lean frame.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Nosedive commented while grabbing another mug, "Some hot coco could help with that?"
"Sounds good," I admitted while forcing myself to unlock from this rigid stance and walk over to them.
While he poured my drink, I wrapped an arm around Heart's shoulders to pull her into a hug of sorts.
"Duke, what's wrong?" Heart asked.
When I pulled away, I kept a hand on her shoulder as I took a seat beside her.
"It was just a nightmare angel," I assured us both.
I wanted to hold her still, to shield her from whatever it had been. Instead I settled for having a drink with her and her brother. I knew I'd be up for most of the night at this point, but as long as she was safe beside me, I didn't mind at the time.
"What are ya doin' up so late anyway?" I asked them curiously.
Nosedive then shared the prank he had tried to pull on Wildwing earlier that evening, and how he had run behind Heart for safety from their brother. I shook my head listening to them, smiling a little finally. Though I could tell that Heart wasn't fully convinced, she let it go for the moment.
"I'm okay," I tried to assure her again.
Nosedive then yawned a bit as he looked at the clock, "When did it become 3 in the morning? We have practice in a few hours and I'm going to be a zombie for it."
"I don't know how much better I'll be," I admitted.
Though as we talked, I did find myself cheering up a great deal. Hearing her and Nosedive tell me about pranks he'd had her pull back on Puck World drew out a laugh here and there.
At practice I actually did better than I thought I would despite losing most a night's sleep. Perhaps my nights of staying up late on a heist had given me that sort of endurance. Catching criminals here on Earth had kept me in that flexible sleep pattern as well. Seeing her watch from the side gave me a boost on top of it. Nosedive found some extra energy as well we'd noticed.
"I think we're about ready for the game Saturday," Wildwing said, "maybe another practice in between just to tighten things a little more?"
Just as we finished changing in the locker room we heard Drake One's alarm rip through the building to catch our attention. In no time at all we were in the Migrator heading into town towards the given off energy readings on our scanners. There we found the problem, as well as the source. An apartment building was on fire, caused by blasts from Saurian weapons.
"Were you just bored?!" Nosedive demanded as we hurried out to defend the people running from their burning home, "This doesn't even make sense for you!"
A small army of drones marched through the streets, lead by Siege and Chameleon blasting at the apartments as people scrambled for their safety. We heard sirens drawing near as firetrucks tried to get to the area.
"What was even your plan?" Mallory questioned as we began fighting back.
Siege looked to Chameleon, nodded, and then continued firing. Just what were they up to? Even as far as their schemes went, this was odd for them. Were they after something and causing a commotion to distract us; or maybe just stirring up trouble for the sake of it?
Just then we heard scream coming from high up in one of the buildings. A small child was crying for their mother. The mother, carrying two other children ran up to us in horror, "I thought he was right behind me! Please save my little boy!"
Fire rose with every moment, and we heard a cracking in the material of the building. We had to think fast. Grin, Wildwing, and I hurried over to the building to be met with billowing smoke. Mallory, Tanya, and Nosedive made short work of the drones and held back their lizard commanders. Heart was hurrying over to us as I attempted to get through the smoke, figuring her and I could move through the building with our slimmer frames. However the heat of it was overwhelming as I tried to dart in as Heart grabbed my shoulder.
"We can't wait!" I yelled.
"I know, but..." she looked up at the window.
She let out a quick breath as her hands balled into fists while looking over the building structure again.
"I can reach him," she told me as she closed her eyes and braced herself for a split second, grasping my hand.
Just then her wings emerged, ripping through her back, and tearing the shirt and vest of her gear. Without a second thought she took flight. We watched, hoping against the odds that she could reach him as the building suddenly began to cave in on it's self. We heard the little boy cry louder as the building began to shift. Heart darted through the smoke and flames, reaching her arms out to the child. Smoke grew thick around them, puffing out a black cloud that wrapped around the two, and the building started toppling down in on itself.
"No!" The mother cried out as Wildwing tried to hold her back, "Sammy!"
The woman clung to our team captain, while her two other children hugged Grin's knees out of fear. They shielded the family from the smoke, pulling them back a bit.
"Come on Heart..." I breathed as I watched the skies still.
The battle had come to a pause, all of us seeming to want to know this outcome. Though Mallory, Tanya, and Nosedive held their blasters ready in warning. I'd barely noted the saurians had exchanged looks of shock when Heart's wings had unfolded from her small frame. This was the first time she'd really shown any sort of magic to the wide public, let alone control it.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breath as the smoke started to clear. Firefighters did what they could to kill the flames and start assessing the damage to the people around and property alike.
Then I noticed as something began to show amidst the dark smoke and wicked flames falling away. Though a bit torched, a pair of wings blew the smoke away from them as Heart began to descend towards us, carrying the little boy safely in her arms. She was shielding his head from the smoke with a small crystal shield encasing them in a smooth, translucent sheen that moved with them. Finally she reached us on the ground, coughing harshly as she knelt down on the sidewalk before us. Wildwing and the mother hurried over to her.
"Sammy! God bless you!" The mother wept with joy and unbridled relief as Heart held out her son to her with a smile on her smoke stained face.
"He's safe," she assured as the mother took her son into her arms, trembling as she did.
"Thank you!" The mother said before hurrying over to her other two children waiting with Grin still.
I'd been watching in an odd frozen awe when I heard Wraith's voice snicker, "What an interesting development? It seems the rumor we heard was correct."
By now Tanya and Mallory had made scrap metal of the hunter drones. Siege and Chameleon had seemed to surrender. The fires were nearly put out, and the people were dispersing to be taken care of by medics, or relocated as they took in the sight of their destroyed homes for a few moments.
"You're learning to control your magic," Grin noted proudly to a still coughing Heart.
"I just reacted," Heart said.
"I'm proud of you sis," Wildwing said as he offered her a hand up.
In my distraction, I didn't notice Wraith's telltale wisp of smoke shifting passed me. In that moment of pride, I had turned to make sure Heart wasn't hurt. As I did, I barely heard the elder saurian give an order to Siege, "Fire!"
"Duke!" Heart cried out as I turned just in time to avoid the hit, but not in time to notice as Wraith finished making his path to Heart, and grabbed her by the wing while everyone was taking in what was occuring now.
"So you are a dragon?" Wraith taunted in his question as he held Heart by her outstreched wing.
"Let her go Wraith!" Wildwing ordered sharply.
"I'm afraid I need her for studying," he feigned an apology, "Besides a dragon doesn't belong with ducks does it?"
He gripped her wing tighter in his wizened hand. When I went to move he gave a laugh, "I wouldn't try anything."
Energy began to spark around Heart defensively, until Wraith pulled at her more. This sudden, sharp tug on her wing forced her pause in her movements.
"It would be a shame to tear such beautiful wings," he told her, causing the electricity around her to come to a stop, "It would be like ripping wings off of a tiny butterfly."
"Let her go Wraith!" I warned in a growling tone.
I could see pain in her eyes as he twisted her wing in response still.
"Duke! Guys!" she attempted before he silenced her with another tug on it.
If we moved he pulled further.
"What do you want Wraith?" Wildwing demanded, keeping a distance so Wraith would ease his grip on her.
"I think I have what we need for now," he said as though he had actually thought it over, tapping his chin with a bony finger with a wicked chuckle.
With that he nodded to his comrades as they teleported away. Heart tried to let out a quick shock of energy to get him to release her, yet his claws instantly dug into her wing to force her to shut down a bit.
"Duke!" She called to me in one last try, but I was helpless to do anything without causing her such pain.
Seeig this, Wraith snickered as they both teleported away.
"Heart!"
"Sis!" Nosedive yelled out, panicked.
"Can we go one adventure lately without losing her?!" Nosedive demanded in growing aggravation, "Why do these creeps suddenly want her so bad?!"
"You know why!" Mallory exclaimed.
I looked to our leader, who was clearly just as worried as his younger brother was. His mind ran a mile a minute behinnd the fixed gaze of the mask.
"Unfortunately our foes see a high value in Heart due to the power she's just learning of. Her learning to control it still makes her vulnerable to their greedy grasp," Grin answered the blonde drake beside him.
"Why didn't I stay close to her?" I asked angrily.
"Guys, getting angry won't help her!" Tanya suddenly snapped, pulling us into focus, "We can track her before they take her comm! Now let's go get our teammate back!"
After doing a quick check on her homing signal, before it cut out suddenly, we were off!
Heart:
I felt my back aching as Wraith held my wing out still; preventing me from moving as long as he kept a vice like grip on it.
"I've brought a new friend Lord Dragonus," he offered with a snicker as Dragonus entered the room.
I tried again in vain to get free, "I'm no friend of yours!"
"Perhaps not, but you are still going to be of use to me," the Saurian Overlord snickered as he walked over to us.
He reached down and grasped my shirt collar with his curling claws, tearing some of the fabric at my throat. He forced me to look up at him, knowing how much I hated this and him. Once more I was a coveted artifact to weild, like the Star Sword or other such weapons of enchantment.
"It seems the information I gained about you was accurate, and rather helpful," he continued.
"Information? From who?" I demanded.
He chuckled in a low cruel voice, "An old friend of yours. He's been looking for you for quite some time now. We've made an intriguing deal in fact over you."
Fear crashed over me like a tidal wave, my eyes widened as I breathed out, "Shadow?! How?!"
"That isn't important. All you need concern yourself with is the part you're going to play in my take over of this miserable mudball!"
"I will not play any part than try to stop you lizard lips!" I yelled, forcing my fear down somehow.
Dragonus laughed wickedly as he strolled over to an all too familiar device I now noticed had just been brought in by Siege, "You won't have a choice in the matter!"
Wraith had kept his claw on my wing to keep me from getting free still. When I tried to jump up, he was sure to twist the all too new wing to make me writhe on the floor. I caught myself on my hands and my knees, looking up at what was to come.
Dragonus loomed over me, telling me what he planned to do now, "This will not only enhance the magic you have in your body, but will reshape your mind with the raw energy coursing through you. I'm not letting you slip away this time! You have those scales, and so you belong with us! In your new embraced state, you will help me rend those ducks apart!"
He then began his countdown to signal Wraith to move out of the way. I struggled to break free, but the Saurian warlock twisted my wing again. Rendered helpless by their hold on me, pain shot through my shoulders and back when I attempted to fight even still. I was then forced to crumble to the floor with a sudden jerk of my wings, being stretched back from my shoulder blades, as the ray was fired. Only a split second before it hit did Wraith release me. By then it was far too late for me to even get up and try to do anything.
An unwilling scream tore from my throat as my body grew scorching hot, reacting to the magic surging through it upon impact. My bones began to crack and shift within my flesh, taking on a new frame . My muscles bulked up, and my limbs took on a stance more like a cross between a lizard and a human, making me crouch down as I tried to get up. Burning scales covered my once pale skin, rapidly washing over me much faster than they ever had before in my changing back and forth thus far. My teeth sharpened in my shifting jaw. Horns emerged, curling slightly from my forehead, before twisting and spiraling. Claws grew from my nails, but much more wicked and thick than the ones I'd had thus far.
This transformation was rapid, unnatural, and more overwhelming than even my initial attempt at a change before. The magic I was growing used to began to overpower my senses, becoming raw, wild, and overcharged. In the nearby monitor I cold see my reflection as my pupils became slitted, and my eyes darkened like deep blue gems. My wings grew wider, overlapping with my arms as they then melded into them, becoming more like those of a bat or a wyvern in nature. A twisted spiked tail lashed out, stretching from the base of my spine like a whip seeking something to strike. Electricity danced around me, and crystals began to protrude from random locations along my arms, legs, back, and neck.
"No! This isn't me!" I tried to scream as my voice grew distorted, coming in and out as a harsher growl replaced it, "I belong with Duke and the others!"
With this plead to my senses drowned out, my mind began to warp. Control I'd barely begun to have slipped from my grasp. Fear and anger began to take hold instead. Growing intense and stripping away my sense of self. I could feel a burning in my stomach as I growled, energy sparking with my breath and what was left of my voice, "Duke!"
Who I was began to erode away, my memories becoming a winding labyrinth that I couldn't navigate the longer this went on. I looked up at the ones before me, trying to place who they were to me. A crimson scaled being towered over me as I knelt down on my claws and knees. Tears stained my scaled face, but I couldn't remember if it was from the pain lingering through me, or something else.
"Much better!" the red looming figure snickered in a triumph I didn't understand, "When our adversaries come looking for us, you will be there to greet them. With you as our new allie, we can't lose can we? Help me conquer this pathetic world, and I will gladly consider keeping you, unless you'd rather be sent over to Shadow?"
I felt myself trembling at the mention of that being's name. Without memories, I knew I didn't want him to get a hold of me.
Duke:
"Did they want us to find them?" Mallory asked when Heart's signal suddenly came back on.
We were on the very outskirts of the city heading towards the mountains, about where the assault platform had long ago been cleaned up.
"They must be using her as bait," Wildwing about growled as we approached what looked to be a lookout tower.
"So what do we do?," Nosedive asked, "We can't leave her in there!"
"It's likely a trap, but if there's a chance she's-"
"They wouldn't jus' kill her, she's far more valuable to them alive if they want to lure is in," I barely held my own temper at Mallory's mention of the alternative.
"Trap or not we need to get her out of there," Wildwing said.
"I'm getting a twisted aura from within this place," Grin told us.
"The Saurians?" Mallory pointed out.
Grin shook his head, "This is much different from them."
"Could be a new monster they're luring is in to fight," Nosedive mentioned, "They probably have our sister in there with whatever it is!"
"I'm not waitin' anymore!" I snapped as I got up from my seat to head out of the Migrator.
"Duke we need a plan!" Mallory tried to tell me, "We're all worried about this, but you need to keep a cool head about this."
"I am," I assured, and I was. What coursed through me at the moment was a quiet fury pulling me into motion. I hadn't felt something like this in quite some time.
"Then what do we do? They're expecting us either way. Those creeps knew we would rush over to get her back," Nosedive spat in agitation, "They were ready for us as soon as we got to that fire!"
"We need to cause a distraction for a smaller group to get in and get Heart out," Wildwing suggested.
"So we draw them out so the smaller team can sneak in then?" Mallory asked.
"Who will be on which team?" Tanya asked.
"I'm goin' in," I said, refusing to be told otherwise.
"That's a given," Wildwing tried to say with a smile, "I think Tanya and Dive should go with you. Mallory, Grin, and I will be the distraction for you three. Just get in, find her, and get out. We'll figure out Dragonus's plan and how to deal with it once we have our teammate back!"
"Alright," I agreed.
We parked a bit away from the building, using the mountain side as a cover for the Migrator. Then we headed out in our groups of three. Wildwing, Mallory, and Grin took duckcycles to draw their attention, while the three of us snuck along the barely formed path leading to the Raptor. Though before we'd left, Wildwing had placed a firm hand on my shoulder. Seeing the shared concern on my face, he offered the encouragement that he could, "Duke, I'm counting on you to get everyone out safely, including yourself. Get my little sister out of the creep's claws!"
With a nod and a confident smirk curving my beak, I'd stepped out with Tanya and Nosedive.
"Dragonus!" Wildwing called out to the raptor as they drove up to it, knowing they knew some of us were here at least, "Let our teammate go!"
Like clockwork Dragonus's three henchmen appeared before us. The three on bikes grinded to a hault and prepared for the fight surely to come.
"So you've come to find your little lost duckling so to speak?" Wraith taunted.
"Isn't that sentimental?" Chameleon mocked.
"Where is she?" Mallory demanded as she aimed her blaster at Siege, ready to fire.
"You'll see soon enough!" Siege couldn't keep from chuckling as though he'd heard a joke.
"What did you do?" Wildwing demanded, losing his temper as he caught the armored lizard's tone.
"We wouldn't want to ruin the surprise!" Chameleon shrugged before shifting into his ring leader get up, "However...introducing!"
Until Siege jabbed him in the ribs, "Quiet!"
"What are you creeps up to?!" Mallory questioned.
With that the lizards opened fire. Siege took the lead of the charge with Mallory taking her own shots in return. Chameleon shifted into his musclebound form to charge up to Grin, the two locked in a grapple. Wildwing raised his ice shield just as Wraith slashed at him with his blade of flame weilded in his wizened hand. In the commotion Grin nodded towards our tucked away position.
"Alright, let's move!" I ordered in a quiet, but focused tone.
Nosedive and Tanya both nodded respectively as they followed behind me.
We slipped inside the front doors, and noticed right away that there weren't any hunter drones to bar our way. This should have been our first warning. The next should have been the rather quiet trek down the hall.
"What in the...-?" Nosedive trailed off as we neared the signal our comms lead us to.
We looked ahead, finding ourselves not at a cell, but right at Dragonus's command chamber. The doors were open, luring us inside. However, we paused with shared unease. I looked to the others, and motioned for them to wait. Nosedive drew his blaster and held it ready. Tanya double checked the readings on her omnitool. With them ready to back me up, I slipped inside the darkened room. I knew he was waiting for us in some way, but if there was a chance he had her with him...I couldn't leave her to wait. Although I hoped that maybe he wasn't paying attention to the door with the others drawing his attention to the monitors near his throne of sorts.
Some luck seemed to be on my side as I looked to see his back to me. I knew better than to attack. What was more important was finding her at the moment, and getting her out. I should have known it wasn't that easy. When there's something to covet, there will be a guard of some sort. However, what if what's being coveted is the guard? Or rather, what if a guard isn't needed to keep such a treasure hidden away? Better yet, what if the guard is the...?
I could hear something breathing above where I stood. Glancing up while holding my own breath, I would find large wings wrapped around a hidden form. This figure clutched the rafters much like a bat with their clawed feet. I took a careful step back against the wall, hoping I was still shrouded in the black of the chamber. With this I was able to look up better, thus getting a clearer look at the one shielded by their wings. A wave of dread washed over me as I caught a glimpse of familiar blue scales gleaming from the lights given off by the large screen at the back center of the room.
I nearly breathed her name, but caught myself as I remembered where I was. Then I glanced at my silenced comm as Heart's comm tried to reach out to us. Yet something told me not to answer it. That instinct was right as I looked to see Dragonus turning in his seat and looking up. A wicked grin curled his jaws as he glanced upwards, "It's time child, I hope you're ready?"
The Overlord sneered straight at me, after glancing at the signal on her comm that told him right where I was I realized.
"We've been expecting you," he snickered as he rose from his throne.
Giving up the attempt at stealth, I stepped forward and demanded, "What did ya do Dragonus?"
As he took a step closer I drew my saber. He paused in his approach and just laughed, "I think you can see for yourself can't you? Even with one eye, surely you've noticed her?"
He looked up as I did as well. With a sneer he called to the figure cloaked in her wings, "There's someone here to see you. However, this is hardly the time for guests, would you show him the way out?"
Upon command, her wings began to shift. A tail lashed out from her upside down frame. With a twist and a jump, she dropped from the ceiling, turning just so to land upright on her claws. Then she partially stood, pulled into a slight hunch from the frame of her wings pulling her slightly off balance. She clearly wasn't used to the new form she'd somehow been reshaped into. I looked on with my remaining eye widened from shock that shook my very core. Finally she lifted her head up, and I found my stomach turning when a pair of darkened, reptiliatin eyes glared up at me, gleaming in the dark.
"Heart?" I breathed in disbelief and growing anger.
"So you do recognize our new recruit? Even with these scales she's been forced to hide while among you ducks?" He scoffed.
"What did ya do to her?" I growled, my voice shaking in anger as I stared down the Overlord.
In the moment I didn't care that it was suicide to challenge him in his clearly well made trap within his fortress. He raised a crimson scaled brow as he taunted, "All I did, was help her embrace what she is. She had this power all along it seems, but it was locked away. Now it courses through her freely."
"The DNA Accelerator!" I heard Tanya gasp under Dragonus's continued explanation.
I briefly looked over my shoulder to give a nod, signaling for them to go and find it. Though I could see the reluctance in their eyes to leave me in this situation, they gave a nod and hurried off deeper into the ship.
By now I was looking back at Heart, trying to find some trace of her besides some of her remaining features. The long, wavey strands of ruby and burgundy hair were still held back, but with a thick black band rather than the ribbon I'd given her. Her face was still mostly human, but covered in her scales. Her small frame had been bulked up by the surge of magic coursing through her, causing the fury I saw building within her.
"With her on our side, where she belongs, you won't be able to win will you? You wouldn't lay a finger on her, would you, you meddlesome drake?" he taunted, drawing out more of that fury in me with every word, "Of course you could try, and show her what you really think of her like this!"
Before I could answer, he looked to Heart and gave the order, "My dear, would you take care of this intruder?"
Heart, standing adjacent to both of us, looked from him to me. Her reptilian, gem like eyes darkened from the given command. Though it was less in a puppeteered manner than it was a blank, quiet anger. They were lost and focused at the same time somehow. It was now that I noticed her new armor, structured to fit her new frame that wasn't sure if it were more human or dragon. She wore leotard that covered most of her frame in a deep violet. Over that were metalic segments of crimson that shielded her shoulders, lower back, and legs. Her arms were left bare along with her upper back due to her wings being more batlike in function now.
"Heart," I lowered my saber and offered my free hand to her, ignoring her early warnings of flexing out the claws grown from her fingertips, "Come on, let's get out of here."
Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she glanced at my hand. With a flash of rage igninting in those darkened sapphires we would both hear Dragonus order, "Dispose of him!"
I hopped back just in time as Heart lunged at me, narrowly dodging the claws that nearly grazed my chest. With another swipe I again jumped away, rolling into a crouched position. I looked up to see Heart staring down at me with those lost, angry eyes.
"Heart?" I attempted, "It's me-"
In that instant the swift, heated flow of blood started to flow from the marks now raked across my left cheek. My jaw clenched up as I tried to ignore the pain in my face. I glanced up at her, and I saw her faulter for a moment as she took in the scratches she'd just made. Yet that second was short lived as I found myself having to duck down to avoid her this time.
"Heart! Snap out of it!" I called to her as I dodged her advances, "It's me!"
I then realized through this so far, Heart hadn't said a word. She simply did as she was told. I tried to look and see if there was anything causing this. Slipping around behind her as she took another swing, I couldn't see any sort of device or anything that would effect her head. Nor were here eyes altered as Phil's had been when under their control. As she turned around to defend herself from an attack I wasn't giving, I quickly ducked down briefly to then grab for her shoulders.
"Heart! Listen!" I snapped as she tried to pull herself free from my grasp, "Heart, you're not their allie! Ya belong with us remember?!"
"As what?!" She finally growled, "As some human? I fit as long as I don't have these scales right?!"
"Heart-?!"
I jumped back as she went to grab for me in turn, trying to pull herself up so she could kick me in the stomach. In this motion I let her go briefly to then hop back and call to her, "That isn't-!"
"That is exactly why we had to rescue her from your flock, and why she is quite eager to show her gratitude!" Dragonus scoffed at my attempts to reach her.
Dragonus glanced at Heart as she steadied her stance, still getting used to how she moved. When she looked up towards me again I noticed the energy beginning to spark around her. A wicked grin crossed the overlord's maw, "Show me how thankful you are by rending this drake apart..." he added in a chilling tone to her, "Unless of course, you'd rather see Shadow again?"
I watched as fear flashed in her gem like eyes at the mere mention of the being's name.
"Heart!" I then called to her, unsure if the girl I knew so well could really hear me or not, "Listen to me! I know you're in there sweetheart! You're not his weapon!"
Still, however, she lunged at me in that growing fury and panic. I jumped out of the way, sidestepping her claws this time. Then I managed to grab her by the wrist, and I watched as she tried to wrench it away from me, "Let go!"
"No! I'm not goin' to fight ya Heart, but I'm not givin' up either! You're not our enemy! You're not one of them!"
"Then what am I?!" she demanded, "Some sort of monster to keep hidden away?!"
"Of course not!" I attempted as I caught her other clawed hand now flying towards my face.
She continued to pull and kick at me to try and get me to release her. As I held her tightly still, I could now see just how much he'd warped her. I could see the gems protruding from her skin. Her bulked up frame, though still fairly quick, was clumbsy from her having to get used to the new balance forced on her body. More than that, I could see how it was warping her by looking into her eyes, and seeing the anger in her being forced to the forefront of her mind. She knew and didn't know me. She wanted to run, but couldn't now. So she fought. She struggled to get free, shoving those jagged gems along her arm into my hands to force me to let go. Once she did she balled up her fist and punched me. Nursing my chin briefly, I tried to think of what to do.
As much as I hated to, I darted down the hall, back towards the others. In seconds I heard her trying to chase after me. I'd also heard her stumbling into the walls when she needed to slow down to make a turn or avoid something, until she got used to moving. When she did, I about felt her at my heels. Luckily I made it out to the others still having their fight before Heart caught up with me. When she lunged at me from behind I took a leap of my own and managed to evade her. With this she braced herself while sliding along the dusty terrain outside the raptor.
Now everyone else could see what had happened to her, exchanging looks of shared confusion, horror, and anger. I noted that Tanya and Nosedive hadn't made it back out yet. I'd hoped that Dragonus would find our scuffle more amusing to watch instead of wondering where the two were.
Heart scrambled to her feet and glared up at us. I turned and locked eyes with those dark sapphires filling with bewildered rage.
"Heart?!" Wildwing exclaimed before having to deflect a shot from Siege.
"You like our new friend?" Chameleon laughed while looking over, "She's quite the firecracker isn't she?"
"What did you do?!" Mallory shouted.
"That explains the twisted aura I felt," Grin said as he watched Heart trying to balance herself better, "It's like she's trapped inside herself in this new shape."
Wraith let out a dark chuckle, "Trapped? I'd say she's more free than she ever was with you ducks! The Accelerator allowed her magic to emerge stronger than she could ever manifest with your lot holding her back. Everything she is doing isn't without her choice!"
"Then ya wouldn't have to threaten her with Shadow!" I snapped as Dragonus teleported to the front of his ship, standing behind Heart as she tried to steady herself a bit more to fight again.
"All that magic in her has been amplified, clearing her mind from any distractions and..." he gave me a wicked grin, "removing the lies woven to control her."
"Now she'll see how you really think of her, not that it matters to her by this point! She's finally allowed to show what she really is!"
I looked to Heart, finding anger and fear fused in her eyes as she tried to speak, her voice growing distorted from the electricity engulfing her throat now, "Leave our kind alone! Stop hunting us!"
"Heart, what are ya talkin' about?-"
"Just leave us alone!" She half roared.
Dragonus raised a brow at this while we tried to figure out what Heart was referring to in the first place. While I watched her, I sheathed my saber and tried to approach her with hands out for her to see. Yet by now she was done with giving off warnings and lunged at me as soon as I drew near. Her open hand wielded a five pointed set of dagger like claws that threatened to slash at my chest as I hopped back again.
As I avoided Heart's attacks, the others were forced into their own battles again. To make things harder a few small droves of drones marched out. All the while Dragonus laughed and tried to direct the draconic woman I was struggling to fight back against.
By now she'd stopped trying to talk, focusing on the task of striking at me. So far I was able to keep out of reach of her advances. Yet with every second spent this way, the more I saw her being drowned out. Gone was the love in her eyes, the spark of adventure, the familiar warmth when she looked at our teammates. Instead her eyes screamed with frustration, fear, and anger; all blending together into an increasing blind fury in this overcharged state. Sometimes when she moved, her body betrayed her with it's bulk, causing her to miss or stumble and then have to rebalance.
"Heart, listen to me!" I attempted while dodging a swipe from her spiked tail, "We're tryin' to help ya!"
"I don't...need...your help!" she half growled in a voice charged with energy, sounding almost amplified in a way, "I want to be this! I want to embrace this magic! You want me to hide away!"
"No I don't!" I shouted as I caught her wrist again, this time pulling her into me in the same motion to grab both now, "Heart! Stop! I'm not goin' to fight ya!"
"Then that should make things much easier for us!" Dragonus snickered as his men continued their onslaugt with the drones.
"Let go!" She shrieked as her tail lashed out, striking my side with the spikes jutting out from it's end.
I tried to hold onto her, but my grip faultered as the spikes bit into my flesh. I released her and she then lunged at me before I could react. My back buckled as it made contact with the ground as she pinned me down under her warped frame. I tried to slip out from under her, but quickly felt a seering pain in my chest as she raked her claws across it. Then she gripped my shoulders, digging those same claws into them as she glared at me, "You will not use me again!"
"Heart! Duke!" Wildwing called out as he and the others tried to reach us by pushing back the drones that marched on around us.
"That's it! Tear him apart! Show him what you really are!" Dragonus ordered.
"Heart!" I tried again to reach her as her claws dug deeper into me, causing me to yell out as they sank further through feathers and flesh.
For a moment I felt her hesitate as I cried out. It were as though I had startled her. I looked to her as her claws faultered for just a moment before she tightened her grip again. Her eyes narrowed with fury as she growled, "You won't get near them or me again!"
"Heart what are ya talkin' about?!" I attempted while trying to pull her hands off of my chest.
"Stop calling me that! It doesn't mean anything!" she shouted.
I looked up at her in shock to this declaration. The name I'd unknowingly helped her hold onto...didn't mean anything?
Heart's voice had grown distorted again as she struggled to keep me pinned down. Yet I could see the pain in her eyes, and I heard the anguish in her rapid breaths as her frame was pushed past it's normal structure. I could also see the scratches in her throat, left by Dragonus's claws before he'd done this to her. Without this though, I knew she'd fought. I believed she'd tried to withstand it until it overwhelmed her so. It still did, that surge of energy coursing through her to bring her into a further frenzy. The magic we'd been trying to help her understand and control was now overtaking her. As it did, her body continued to shift in subtle ways at first. Her scales hardened, her grip grew stronger, her horns twisting slowly. Before long she was clutching my shoulders as she was forced to curl up atop of me.
"It...it doesn't mean anything! I don't need...I can stay like this...!" her voice came in and out, as did a conversation that sounded like one she'd had before, "I have to...! I can't...!"
"What are you doing?!" Dragonus demanded now, "If you don't follow this one order and shred him apart, I will call upon Shadow and let him take you off my claws!"
She shook her head, the base of those horns pressing roughly against my chest before she pushed herself up. Anguish filled her eyes as she glared at me, forgetting all that I was to her it seemed.
"Heart! Don't listen to him! We won't let Shadow take ya!" I tried to reach her.
Her voice was being warped further now, her mind falling further away as she begged, "...Don't...Shadow...Dragons...I...can't...let...them...! Stay...away...please...don't...!" Her claws dug into my shoulders even deeper now in her panic.
I cried out as the claws of her left hand dug in still to keep me from reaching up. Her right hand rose, preparing to swipe down at me again. With every moment the magic in her warpered her. With every second her form continued to shift into more like that of a true dragon. Yet not like the one she knew as her mother. This frame was uneven, too strong and yet clumbsy when she moved between human and dragon stances, the energy in her drowning out her senses as she tried to maintain some control. She glared at me, blaming me for allowing this to happen to her. At least...that's how I saw it.
"Heart! I won't let Shadow take ya away from us! I know I let ya down this time...but I won't let him get a hold of ya...jus' listen to me...Please Heart!" I attempted through pained breaths, slipping my right hand out from under her.
"Odd words considering she is about to rip you apart, unless of course you wish to fight back?" Dragonus snickered.
"Heart!" I ignored him and pleaded to her as I caught her by the wrist once more, "Heart, stop!"
"Let go!" she shrieked as she tried to wrench her arm out of my grip.
The others all looked on, each of them calling out to her in what seemed to be a jumbled up mess to her. She shook her head violently, as though their voices only swam in her head. Her brothers, our friends, all of them tried to reach her. She began to recoil in her attempts to pull away from me.
"Heart! Fight this!" Mallory shouted before deflecting another shot from Chameleon with her own.
"We're your teammates my friend! We've been with you every step of the way through all of this!" Grin attempted while shoving a drone into two others, "We all support one another and band together! Helping you discover your magic is no exception!"
"Sis! You're not one of them! You belong with us, whether you're a dragon, duck, human! Whatever, it doesn't matter!"
"You're not theirs Heart!" I breathed while looking up into her eyes now swirling with confusion.
"So I'm yours right?!" she questioned while her flesh beneath her scales gradually grew hotter and hotter.
"Of course not Heart!" I snapped while holding onto her arm still, not realizing that in a way...that was the wrong answer as her eyes widened.
I had meant she wasn't ours to control, that we weren't using her as our weapon. Yet what she was asking, was far different.
Heart's form grew intensely hot as she kept me pinned beneath her. Yet I could see the tears brimming her eyes as her frame was pushed from the tensing up muscles beneath her scales. Something in her was building up. Energy began to spark around us again, lashing at anyone that drew near to try and help. She took in a deep breath as electricity was noticed around her shifting jaw that became more like that of a dragon bit by bit.
I yelled with a sudden realization as she began to open her energy charged mouth, "You are mine Heart! I love ya!"
Her eyes widened as though in shock from my words. At the very last moment she could, she raised her head and let out a wicked charged breath of rapidly dancing electricity that would have cooked me alive. Some of the streaking sparks still struck at me, as thought discharging from her changing form. These brief contacts with her magic were enough to leave small burns scattered over my hand that refused to let her go. Even now it held firm as I looked up at her.
Yet when she looked back down at me, I could see she was barely there. She raised her other clawed hand again, striking the left side of my chest this time, just above my heart, and dragging out another cry as her claws seered my feathers and flesh. This was enough to cause her to freeze up as my voice drowned her ears.
"Kill him now!" Dragonus's roar rang in our ears.
Of course Dragonus would want me gone first. If I couldn't reach Heart, who else could? Though we were all a team, he knew if he could sever Heart's and I, then he could rip her away from the others. Her brothers calling to her, Grin's words of guidance, Mallory and Tanya's pleadings of concern. If I didn't get through to her now, it was a strong possibility that we would all lose her.
"Heart!" I choked out through the pain washing over me, "Heart don't listen...to him...! Listen to me...for your sake love...please...!"
"She can't hear you anymore boy! Stop trying to save your feathers!" Dragonus mocked.
"Heart...that's not it...You're losin' yourself darlin'..." I managed to reach a hand to her moistened cheek, caressing it and catching the tears that fell, "Heart I'm so sorry...I should have been beside ya...I should have been able to keep this from happenin' to ya!...But...as long as I'm breathin'...I won't give up on ya..."
"You see? He only wants to possess you," Dragonus taunted as Heart's eyes flashed with hatred as she glared at me, "He wishes to control you!"
"Heart! Dragonus is twisting Duke's words!" Grin called out to her as he tried to reach us, "Duke, above anyone, would want you to make your own choices again! You're our teammate and friend!"
"Heart! I know you're in there!" I tried again, adrenaline pushing me on as I focused on her, "If...if you're holdin' back...then a part of ya...a part of ya knows who we are...You are mine...an' I'm yours love..."
"If you don't kill him now I will call upon Shadow right now!" Dragonus bellowed.
In response to his name I watched as tears welled in Heart's darkened eyes. She knew she wanted to prevent Shadow from coming to claim her, but somewhere she also knew she couldn't follow his command. She raised her claw over me again, but held it in the air as she shook with fear.
"The dragons...!" she tried to say..."The dragons don't want...don't want to fight...! We...want to be left alone...I have to...protect them...alone...I have to...!"
It then clicked. These were echoes from her past. Her mind was shifting, as though she could see her usually locked away memories through her eyes. The magic in her was drawing forth the self she once was. The Heart that fought for a world she was outcasted from, for simply having compassion for those others couldn't understand. In that moment I wondered what battles she had endured on her own? How many scars did she end up with trying to prevent them for others? Who had she turned to when she felt lost? Did they comfort her when she crumbled? Did she let herself fall? Who looked out for her while she protected the dragons of her world?
"Heart...ya don't have to fight alone...ya know that sweetheart..." I told her, "I won't let Shadow take ya from us...from me...trust me..."
"...Duke...?" she asked as though she'd been trying to find me, and yet was still looking at the same time.
In spite of everything Heart's mind was still lost somewhere in this new, ever twisting shape. A part of her held on, waiting for someone to reach her. She looked down at me as she cried. Finally her grip loosened and I was allowed to sit up. She watched me nervously as I was forced to press a hand against my chest to try and stop the flow of blood that poured from the gashes she had made. My teeth clenched and my eye shut tight for a moment as I tried to push past the stinging.
"What are you doing?!" Dragonus demanded.
"Shadow...please...don't let him control my...shadow...!"
My eye snapped back open when I heard her like this. I found Heart looking to me, and then to Dragonus with panic in her eyes.
"What are ya talkin' about Heart?" I asked her.
"I don't want...to be...controlled...please...Duke...!" Her voice shook with fear, growing louder in her panic.
I reached out and pulled her close to me, "I won't let anyone else hurt ya Heart."
Dragonus then let out a snarl of frustration, quickly pulling our attention to him, "You have 5 seconds to prove your worth to me girl before I end his life for you. If I get to 0 then you will be handed over to Shadow! However, if you do what I ask, then I will protect you from him."
"Until she's of no use to you anymore?!" Wildwing demanded, his anger breaking through his usually collected demeanor.
Dragonus's count down began. Heart's body continued to warp and shift with the tension and magic coursing wildly through her veins. It were as though I were trying to hold her together.
Then suddenly something in her seemed to snap as he took aim at us with a sneer in his eye and his ray on his wrist charging up. Before I could hold her back, Heart pulled away and leapt towards the approaching Saurian. In that second she was attempting to knock him down, grappling him by the arm and neck. Energy burst out around her, striking him as he snarled in rage and surprise. Her claws scraped against his blood red scales, leaving the lightest of dents in his shoulder.
"Heart!" I cried out while scrambling to my feet.
"How dare you?!" Dragonus bellowed while trying to pry her off of him.
"You will not take him from me, and I will not be controlled by you!" Heart shouted with her voice continuing to fade in and out with growls and energy amplifying that fury.
Dragonus tried to grab for her, but it seemed her changing frame was difficult to get a firm hand on for him as well. As I watched in horrorific awe, I could see her becoming much more like a dragon with every second. Yet she wasn't shifting into the majestic form that she may have taken naturally by choice. No, this form was twisting her into a creature with as much a shattered mind as she had a dishuffled body. She was lost, even in her direct attack, clinging to what little she could in these intense emotions.
As I tried to hurry over to her, Dragonus was finally getting a hold of Heart. His claws grasped for her arms, his own jagged digits cutting into her arms as he pulled her off. Still she kicked and swiped at him, while he blocked her attempts.
"Heart! Stop!" Wildwing shouted, "Dragonus let her go!"
This time the battle had come to a pause. We were all in shock of what was occuring. No, Heart wasn't storng enough to take on this threat. Though she did get a good swipe in at his face, startling him enough. He snarled sharply, lashing out with his free claw while the other held her by her right wrist. Anger flashed through me as those razors on his hand left marks through her scales. Yet still she tried to retaliate!
"You're more trouble than you're worth!" Dragonus bellowed.
"Heart!" I pleaded as he struck her once more, slashing at her chest before tossing her across towards me.
Before she had a chance to push herself up I tackled her, this time pinning her down as she kicked and writhed to get free. Quickly I managed to once more reach a hand to her face as I tried to keep her from breaking loose, "Heart stop! Look at me!"
She looked up at me, trying to remember who I was it seemed. I forced myself not to waver as I caressed her cheek, "Heart, it's okay. Please stop."
"NOOOOOO!" She shrieked desperately as energy erupted from her, lashing out.
"Heart! Duke!" I heard Wildwing cry out as I shielded my face with my arm.
In the commotion Grin had run over to help me grapple her so she couldn't attack any further. This time she finally gave up, and instead crumbled to her knees while he held her by her shoulders now. As I reached out to defend and console her I heard Nosedive called out, "Duke!"
I quickly looked to see him and Tanya with the dna accelerator.
"Tanya, do somethin' quick to help her please!" I shouted back, desperation clear in my voice.
Tanya wasted no time activating the device, aiming it at Heart as she found what she needed. With that she flipped a pressed a button, withdrawing the excess energy around her back into itself. Grin had been forced to let her go as she changed back. Even I found I couldn't approach her right away. Heart gradually began to transform back, losing her twisted features. Her claws reverted back. Her scales faded away to reveal her pale skin beneath her falling apart armor. Her red leotard was torn at her chest and legs from Dragonus prying her off of him. Her jaw shifted back. Her wings broke away from her arms, returning to their usual position. Her eyes were the last part of her to transition into the sapphires I knew so well as she looked up at to me through her tears.
"Heart!" I cried as I quickly knelt down in time to catch her as she collapsed.
I ignored my own injuries as she clung to me. In turn I held her tight, not registering the oncoming threat as I did. Before anyone could give out a warning, we were all sent flying back, with Heart falling out of my arms. I just managed to look to see it had been Dragonus, shooting out his stun ray at the group of us, just before I blacked out.
I fought to open my eye as I suddenly heard Heart yell out in pain. Turning my head I would see the others struggling to get up, the effects of the ray gripping our bodies. Heart too, found it difficult to fight back as Dragonus ripped her away from my hands. I managed to look up though as he held her up, and I felt the dread I'd shaken off before take hold.
Dragonus stood, seething with anger, as he gripped Heart's wings from behind her back. She struggled to get free, but his grip tightened to force her to cease these attempts.
"Let her go Dragonus!" Wildwing ordered as he tried to push himself up, his limbs aching from the sensation left in him.
Dragonus ignored him, and looked straight at a very worn and weakened Heart, laughing through his rage, "I sometimes pondered over why you kept such a weakling human with you all the time. When I found out she had magic it all made sense. Though now I wonder what use you would have for her if she didn't have that magic?"
"Heart didn't have magic when she joined the resistance!" Wildwing yelled, his voice bubblign with rage of his own.
"It doesn't matter if she has magic to us, she's our teammate all the same!" Nosedive assured.
"Really now?" Dragonus mocked as he sneered at Heart writhing to get free in his claws.
He then placed his free claw on her shoulder and slowly began to push her forward, away from his other claw grasping her wings, "It does offend me that this pathetic human has such scales similar to our own, and even more so these wings to mock us with!"
The sudden realization of what he was attempting hit me, and I tried to shove myself to my feet. I grasped at the dusty ground to gain some sort of purchase to push myself up. Yet my injuries coupled with the lingering stunned grip I was in kept me from me moving much. I shook my head, begging for my body to obey what I needed it to. When it didn't listen, I looked up and begged, "Let her go!"
"Why don't we test that sentiment of yours? Why don't I make her as she was? If you say she doesn't need to have wings..."
"Let her go!" I screamed to no avail.
Dragonus shook his head, "Save your groveling drake, for it won't save her, and neither will you!"
With that Dragonus gripped Heart's shoulder in an iron claw, ensuring she couldn't slip out from this.
It happened quickly and so slowly all at once. As I scrambled to get up still, it was far too late. We all watched in near frozen horror, all of us scrambling to do anything we could to stop it, as in one swift motion her wings began to tear in their weakened state. Heart screamed, as though her very core were being pulled from her body. My blood ran cold in my veins throughout my entire body as I watched my nightmare bleed into reality. In this instant, he jerked his claw back and her wings were torn from her back. A blood curdling shriek was drawn out as he rended them from her shoulder blades, nearly deafening all of us.
Ignoring Heart, Dragonus tossed her wings to his feet, and then held her up a moment longer to show the example he'd made, "That takes care of this insult! Now do with her what you will!"
With that he tossed her to the ground, with another scream erupting from her lungs as her body made impact with the rough terrain. Her wings beside her now began to dissapate as though they could no longer exist. Blood began to pour from her back.
"Heart!" I cried out as Dragonus began to turn away, and I at last broke free of my trapped state to scramble over to her.
"I could have destroyed you myself just now. However, I want to savor this victory a bit," he assured us as I slid to a hault in the dirt before him, shielding her with my own body if he changed his mind, "I'll let you all live for now. However, with your little magical advantage gone, I assure you I will win the war now!"
He and his henchmen teleported away and the raptor took off into the air on it's auxillary power. Then it faded out of sight to land else where before they ran out of the energy to fly.
However, I wasn't paying any attention to this as I looked down to see Heart convulsing from the shock her own body was in, "Heart!"
"Heart stay with us!" I called to her as I tried to lift her up.
My hands brushed her rapidly cooling skin. Sweat beeded on her forehead as she drifted in and out of consciouness. Fear gripped my heart as I cradled her carefully in my arms. My shoulders and chest burned from their own injuries, but I barely felt it as I tried all I could to keep her warm and from slipping away, "I've got ya! Jus' stay with me sweetheart!"
Wildwing wasted no time getting everyone gathered to us. Tanya was instantly at our side it seemed, shouting with exact direction of what we needed to do.
"Duke, keep talking to her," Tanya quickly said as she went on to instruct the others.
Grin had to pull her from me to hold her more securely while Tanya tried to stop the bleeding with several cloths. It was now that we took in just how many gashes were cut into her arms and legs, not to mention a few on her chest. While they'd missed vital points, there was a great deal of blood on the ground and staining her suit. Looking down I noted it had stained mine as well.
"Heart, we're right here darlin'. We're goin' to get ya home an' everythin' will be okay," I assured her, not daring to let my voice shake.
Panic wasn't an option as we hurried her to the Migrator and began doing whatever we could to help her. Mallory took the wheel in order to rush us back to the pond. Nosedive called to his sister to keep her awake. Grin held her steady. Wildwing and Tanya did what they could to stop the blood pouring from the wounds.
"Heart, don't let go. Please! Stay with me sweetheart! I know ya can hear me somehow! I've got ya! We've got ya!" I tried to keep talking to her, fearing she would slip away if she couldn't hear us.
"Open your eyes girly-girl!" Nosedive called to her as Tanya brought over fresh clothes from the cabinet.
Tanya looked over Heart carefully, making quick notes and giving short orders for us to follow.
"Keep her warm!"
"We need to stop the bleeding with these cloths!"
"Hold her up so we can bandage her!"
"Heart listen to us, we're taking care of you, okay?"
It all happened so quickly. Everything felt automatic as we all moved and listened to what Tanya said. The whole time I held onto Heart and tried to talk to her still, not knowing if she was responsive to my voice or not.
Soon we were rushing her to the infirmary inside the pond. Once there, most of us were forced to wait outside the infirmary while Tanya opperated on Heart's back. Only Grin and I were allowed to assist. Grin stayed at Heart's side to keep her from shaking or trying to jump up. While I remained at her head, doing all I could to stay connected to her.
When Tanya went to begin sewing up the wounds, Heart began to jerk and fight. Her eyes flew open as she pushed and trembled, not knowing where she was. Grin held her down, but still she pushed.
"Heart!" Tanya called to her, "Heart, you need to let us do this! Stop!"
Heart cried out, her voice strained, as she struggled. Her hands tried to find some strength to push up with. Finally I clamped my own down over hers, calling to her firmly, "Heart! We are here with ya! We're tryin' to save ya, but ya have to let us! I'm right here with ya, an' I'm not goin' to give up on ya, so don't ya dare give up on me!"
At this Heart paused in her fight. Her breathing grew rapid and sharp for a bit, her heart racing on the monitor. As it did I caressed her hand while resting my other over her hair, "Please Heart..."
At first she glanced up at me as I brushed the hair out of her face. Then she began to fade out until she finally lost consciousness. With this Tanya focused on her work while Grin and I gave whatever support we could. Outside the infirmary I could hear Nosedive pacing, Wildwing talking with Mallory, and Phil worriedly asking them questions on what had happened. Yet I didn't take my gaze off of Heart, begging her not to leave...
I watched as Tanya sewed up the slashes in her shoulder blades made by her torn off wings. The deeper of her claw markings were also stitched up. All of her wounds were cleaned, dried, and then dressed. Then Tanya hooked her up to an IV to begin transferring blood, "Good thing we were able to obtain some reserves for such a situation. Kleghorn's been helping us with these matters for when these things happen."
All I could do was nod my head at this point. Her heartbeat was weak and her skin still chilled.
"Come on Heart," I breathed, "Don't leave me now...I..."
"She seems to be accepting the blood. It just depends on her will to live," Tanya informed me gently, "And knowing her."
Tanya offered a smile to try and console me.
When the transfusion was done, the others were allowed in. I'd offered a jersey to put on Heart to make sure she was warm. Tanya kept a close watch of her vitals on the monitor while explaining to the others Heart's situation, "Her heart beat is going, but it's very weak right now. Usually she would have healed some with her magic by now, but I think she exhausted herself this time. It's going to take a while for her strength to come back. She's still in the crisis stage. We'll need to keep someone in here and be on standby."
"All that magic was warping her," Grin mentioned grimly.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Nosedive asked frustrated.
"Be there for her, as we always are," Tanya said shakily, "It's not just her body under such turmoil, but her mind too. She's hanging on, but by a thread I'm afraid."
I looked to Heart fearfully as I sat beside her. My wounds had been bandaged as well by now thanks to Grin's help, but I hadn't been worried about them myself. Our teammates tried to talk to me, but I wasn't in the mood to listen.
"...I let her get taken from me," I breathed, "I let her down..."
"Duke-"
"I messed up! I should have been beside her, or stopped Wraith from takin' her!" I yelled.
I felt myself caving in as I watched her lie there so still. My heart burned as I felt how cold she was still. Behind me I could hear the others murmuring, trying to figure out what to say. However, they ultimately decided to step out, with Tanya ushering them and then waiting just outside. It seemed she knew better than I did...that I was breaking down. Once the door was closed, I turned back to Heart with tears I'd held back welling in my eye as I shakily caressed her face.
"Don't give up. Please don't leave us... we can't...I can't lose ya...love" my voice trembled as I spoke to her silent form, "I need ya to stay with me sweetheart...more than I can ever tell ya...Please...give me the chance to protect ya as I swore I would...I love ya Heart..."
For a moment I was silent, as though I were hoping against hope that I would hear her respond. Yet the only answer I got was the heart monitor still beeping slowly. With that I crumbled to my knees, trembling and holding her hand tightly as I cried beside her, "Heart...don't leave me..."