Chapter 32
Decisive Battle of Roaring Flames
It was beautiful music. Some may have called it dark, haunting and depressing, but she loved it regardless of what the ignorant fools might think. It was soothing, erasing, and to her, it was everything. All she wanted was to listen, alone and at peace. To mourn her losses in solitude. To muse on finality for eternity. But they wouldn't let her. Disrupting the song, with their clanging steps and ugly voices. Constantly calling out to her with some nonsense name.
"Sayaka!"
That name, that strange name. Their irritating voices, disrupting the harmony of her concert hall. They would die for that.
"Sayaka!"
Why did they keep calling her that? Her name wasn't Sayaka. It was…
"Sayaka Miki, wake the fuck up!"
"Wha-?" Sayaka's eyes shot open. Her vision was blurry at first, but it quickly began to clear. Kyoko was now leaning over her, looking frustrated. She leaned away as Sayaka sat up, only to get a splitting headache. Thankfully, it didn't last long. None of her injuries did. Healing powers were awesome like that.
She then looked around, to find that they were in a cage, suspended from the ceiling of a cavern. Chains bound both of them.
"What the hell? What happened?"
"You tell me. You were supposed to be keeping watch."
"I was!" Sayaka said.
"Well then you really suck at it!"
Sayaka tried to remember what had happened. Kyoko was asleep. She was keeping watch on the entrance to the cavern. Things had been quite, then she smelled the scent of something burning. She had dismissed it at first (they were in a volcanic wasteland), but it had started to grow stronger.
Then she heard footsteps, and must had reacted too slowly, because that was the last thing she remembered before waking up here.
"Ugh..."
"Yeah, walk it off. So who captured us?"
Sayaka sighed. "Don't know. They must have snuck up. Didn't get to see them. Where are we?"
"Dunno. But our odds aren't looking good." Kyoko indicated towards another corner of cage they were in.
Sayaka turned, and then jumped with a minor shriek to see a skeleton lying next to them. Not at all helped when it's jawbone detached from it's skull.
"Some brave hero." Kyoko said.
"Shove it." Sayaka started struggling against her chains.
"What are you doing?" Kyoko asked.
"Trying to get in to a position to summon my sword to cut the chains."
"Careful, you might cut yourself."
"So?"
"Whoa! And you say I'm an edgelord!" Kyoko said.
"Well if it comes down to that, I can regenerate. You can't." Sayaka kept struggling. The chains were rough, and cut into her as she attempted to shift, though those wounds healed quickly.
"Alright. I think I've got it." Sayaka said, managing to shift her hands into a position she thought would work. "Stand back."
"I can't stand."
"Then scoot back!" Sayaka said.
"Alright, alright." Kyoko tried to shrug and failed, before awkwardly slinking back to the other side of the cage.
Sayaka steeled herself. This was probably going to hurt. A lot. But once she recovered, she could then cut Kyoko free and then they could escape. So she took a deep breath, and prepared to-
Before Sayaka could do anything else, the cage opened. Both girls (plus the skeleton) went tumbling out of it, spinning wildly, before coming to an abrupt stop, less than a meter above the ground. Well, save for the skeleton who smashed into the ground, broken bones scattering everywhere.
"Ow…" Kyoko said.
"Are you okay?"
"Maybe you should be more careful about where the sword goes."
"That wasn't me. I didn't summon a sword yet. The cage opened on its own."
"What? Why would it do that?"
"Because I willed it." A voice said. It was deep, and the mere sound filled Sayaka head with thoughts of burning. The area was hot already, but at that voice alone, the heat skyrocketed.
"What was that?" Kyoko asked.
Then the chains turned them around, and Sayaka gasped.
Before her was a towering figure seemingly made of flame. A massive horned crown was on his head, and the figure sat on a throne, examining them.
"Who are you? Why have you come here?" He asked. Again that voice. It felt like her ears were on fire by just listening to it.
"Where the hell are your manners?" Kyoko said. "Who even are you?"
The figure growled. "I am Surtr, King of Muspelheim. You have intruded into my domain without permission. Brought harm upon my subjects."
"You're subjects? What the hell have we done to them?" Kyoko shot back as various fiery figures approached out of the smoke and shadows. "I've never seen these weirdos before in my life!"
"Kyoko..." Sayaka reprimanded. This really wasn't the time to start antagonizing people.
"Have you now?" Surtr said. Then, Sayaka's attention was drawn to a cavern in the distance, and a pair of glowing eyes. Then, she heard a growling sound, and out of the darkness stepped the dragon from earlier, chained to the floor.
"Crap..."
"Are you kidding? That things your pet? Well then you should get a muzzle on it because that overgrown lizard attacked us out of nowhere you-"
"Kyoko Sakura, shut the fuck up!"
"What?! Are you just going to lie back and take this bullshit?"
"Kyoko! Shut up and let me talk, you're only making this worse!"
Kyoko scowled. "And you're-"
"Um… You're majesty." Sayaka interrupted. What the hell was Kyoko's issue? "We're sorry. We were never supposed to be here. Our ship crashed. It's an accident."
"Perhaps..." Surtr said. "Or perhaps you are spies and assassins, sent to attack my kingdom and holdings."
"What? No! Were not-"
"It's irrelevant." Surtr said as the fiery creatures drew closer. "You will die here."
"If I might interject." Said a voice.
"Huh?"
All of a sudden the crowd parted. Three figures approached, escorted by more of the fire demons. One she didn't recognize, a blonde man in armor and a cape. The next was familiar. She couldn't place her finger on it for a moment, before realizing that it was Ramuh, though he looked differently to how he had appeared previously. The third, she recognized all too well, in that pink dress.
"Madoka!"
"Sayaka! Kyoko! You're safe!"
"I believe safe is a matter of perspective here." Kyoko said.
Surtr scowled. "Thor, son of Odin."
"Surtr! Son of… a bitch! You're still alive? I thought my father killed you, like half a million years ago?"
"I cannot die. Not until I fulfill my role in this World and lay waste to your home."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard the stories. Asgard up in flames, falling into ruin. And you Surtr are at the center of it."
"Ragnarok. When my crown shall be reunited with the Eternal Flame, I will be restored to my full might. I will tower over the mountains and bury my sword deep in Asgard!" Surtr said.
"Wait… that's a crown? I thought it was a big eyebrow."
Even considering the situation, Sayaka couldn't help but giggle at that comment. For Surtr's part, though she couldn't see anything but fire in his eyes, she got the feeling that he was rolling them.
The fire giant's attention shifted, passing over Madoka and focusing on Ramuh.
"Why have you brought another Esper into my midst? Why are you here, Ramuh? Is this girl your summoner?"
"He's an Esper?" Madoka asked.
"Surtr here is a manifestation of Ifrit, Esper of Fire and Ruin." Ramuh explained. "And to answer your question, I am here at her request. To support them."
Ramuh clearly meant business. His voice crackled like a storm, making Sayaka's ears tingle.
"Bah! Then why have you come, Asgardian?" Surtr demanded, turning back to Thor.
"For them." Thor said, gesturing to Sayaka and Kyoko.
"So you admit to sending these assassins into my midst."
"They're not assassins!" Madoka objected. "They wound up here by accident."
"It matters not." Surtr said, standing up from his throne. Sayaka balked slightly at just how tall he was as he strode towards them, blazing sword in hand. The giant positively towered over everyone else in the room save the dragon in the distance. Perhaps a good 3 or 4 stories tall. "You will all die here, today. All will suffer. All will burn."
"I beg to differ." Thor said. "I'll stop you."
"You cannot. The day of Ragnarok may be yet far off, but it is inevitable. I am inevitable."
"So they say. To be honest, seeing you grow really big and set fire to a planet would be quite the spectacle." Thor said. "But it looks like I'm going to have to choose option B where I break these girls free, knock that tiara off your head, and stash you away in Asgard's vault."
"You cannot stop Ragnarok. Why fight it?"
"Because that's what heroes do!" Thor said with a grin as he held out his hand behind him.
Nothing happened.
There was an awkward silence.
"Wait… I'm sorry. I timed that wrong."
"Oh, how ironic that the old man has a better grasp on time." Ramuh snarked.
"Can you two stop?" Madoka asked. Sayaka knew that Madoka wasn't one to get irritated easily at all, making her wonder how much Thor and Ramuh had been sniping at each other.
"Wait for it." Thor grinned.
Now, Sayaka heard the sound of something crashing in the distance. Steadily, almost rythmically. Boom. Boom. Boom.
Then, there was a flash as a hammer crackling with electricity burst through the wall into the room. It smashed into the chains binding Sayaka and Kyoko, perfectly shearing through them sending them falling to the ground. Sayaka immediately rose to her feet and cast a healing spell on Kyoko, finishing her work from last night. She then donned her costume and formed two cutlasses, dropping into a fighting stance. Kyoko followed suit, forming her spear, while Madoka summoned Crystal Clarity.
"You've made a grave mistake, Odinson." Surtr slammed his sword into the ground. Then there it was. That watery sound, as dark corridors formed. Out of them emerged a horde of fiery Heartless. Red Nocturnes, Crimson Jazzes, Vermilian Sambas, Flame Cores, and Fiery Globes.
Then a larger corridor formed, and Sayaka saw a familiar face. The Heat Saber from earlier.
"Rematch time!" Sayaka said.
"You will all burn. Firaga!" Surtr roared as he swung his sword, a massive wave of flame shot outwards, racing across the battlefield. The others flinched, but Ramuh held out his hand. A lightning bolt struck it and transformed into his staff which he plunged into the ground. A burst of wind parted the flames harmlessly to either side of the group. When they cleared, the Heartless and fire demons were rushing forwards, unaffected by the fire. The battle was joined.
Thor hurled his hammer, streaking it through a horde of demons, while punching others who drew close to him, scattering the creatures into cinders.
Sayaka charged forwards, bringing her blades down on one demon and then turning to slice a Flame Core in half while she made her way to Madoka, who had transformed her Keyblade into its bow form, firing off Blizzard spells as arrows.
"Good to have you here!" Sayaka said.
"Good to see you again!" Madoka said. She then ducked as a demon slashed it's claw at her. Sayaka swiped over Madoka's head, destroying the demon. From her position, Madoka opened fire behind Sayaka, shooting a Flame Core with an arrow of ice.
"Together?" Sayaka said, raising her sword.
"Right!" Crystal Clarity returned to it's Keyblade form and she raised it next to Sayaka's sword.
"Watera!" The two of them said. A massive sphere of water formed, which the two then hurled forwards, a wave of water extinguishing demon and Heartless alike.
The two then turned to see Ramuh striding across the field of battle, staff crackling with lightning. He would point the weapon, and a bolt of lightning would arc from it, blasting away enemies, making his way towards Surtr.
"Thundara!" Ramuh said, in a crackling voice. A massive bolt of electricity arced out, straight towards the fire giant, who caught the attack on his blade as he plunged it into the floor, grounding it.
He then swung his blade again, shouting "Firaga!"
Ramuh blocked with his staff, though the sheer force of the flames made him skid back some. He then took off into the air, flying about the giant, peppering him with lightning strikes, though they didn't appear to do much damage in the grand scheme.
"You are a fool to have come here Ramuh. You have no place in this World. You are limited by your summoner. While here, my power is free!" He swung his massive sword, only to have it blocked by Ramuh's staff. He then channeled electricty along it, conducting down Surtr's sword and into the giants body. He cried out in pain as he staggered away, electricty crackling across him. Ramuh then blasted Surtr back against a pillar with a burst of wind.
"I would not underestimate her Ifrit. There's much more to Madoka than you know."
"Perhaps. Who am I to judge? However what I do know is that she is your anchor here." The giant gave a savage grin, as he picked up his sword. Then, all of a sudden, he leaped away from Ramuh. And towards Madoka.
Sayaka dashed, grabbing Madoka and pulling them both out of the way. Surtr's sword slammed into the ground, unleashing an explosion of fire. The flames dispersed as the giant turned towards them, his body blazing.
Sayaka was about to leap towards him, only to see movement in the corner of her eye. She turned just in time to block an attack from the Heat Saber. The creature pushed down on her, attempting to drive her to the ground. This time, she was ready however. She shifted her position at the same time she let go of her swords. The Heartless stumbled forwards, as Sayaka formed new swords in her hands. She then cut into the creatures leg.
The Heat Saber stumbled before cartwheeling away, and then it slashed with it's sword, unleashing a wave of fire. Sayaka leaped over the flames, slashing the creature across the head as she passed it, then creating a platform to leap off of and strike again, nailing the Heartless in the back. It stumbled forwards, slamming into a pillar.
"Yeah, I'm stronger than I was back then." She said as the Heat Saber rolled away, righting itself. It didn't react to her words of course, but just saying them made Sayaka feel more confident. She could do this.
Dimly, she was aware of Madoka and Kyoko fighting Surtr... or Ifrit... or whatever nearby, but she had to trust that they could handle themselves. Sayaka focused on her own opponent, dashing towards it while at the same time hurling one of her swords. The weapon slashed across the creatures side, as Sayaka leaped towards it, kicking it in the chest, knocking it into the pillar again. As the creature recovered and unleashed a blast of flame, Sayaka leaped to the side, running around the pillar. As the Heartless chased her, she cast Blizzard on the ground creating an ice slick. The Heartless was completely unaware and slipped, falling on it's back.
Meanwhile, Sayaka had climbed up the pillar, before leaping down onto the Heat Saber, plunging her blade into its chest. She breathed a sigh of relief before the Heartless began to heat up. She leaped off, barely avoiding a fiery explosion.
"Seriously, what's it take to kill you?!" Sayaka shouted. She noticed that the fight with Surtr was starting to go against Madoka and Kyoko. They were being overwhelmed. Despite his size, Surtr was bizarrely fast, and the two of them were struggling to keep up with the speed and ferocity of his attacks. Kyoko had a shield up, but it was being chipped away at with every blow the fire giant landed, while Madoka was keeping her distance attempting to douse the giant in water, but he just turned up his body's heat, evaporating it and retaliating with fireballs, forcing Madoka to keep dodging.
Elsewhere, Thor and Ramuh were currently occupied with large numbers of demons and Heartless swarming them. Bolts of lighting cleaved through the crowd, but more and more just kept coming.
She had to get to her friends, but the Heat Saber was blocking the way. But she wasn't going to let it stand for long. The Heartless was strong and had beaten her once, but now her friends needed her help. That was what mattered, not the victory. Sayaka concentrated on that feeling. Protecting them.
She felt an energy flowing through her, a strange sensation. Like hope, joy, conviction, and confidence all rolled into one. She had this.
Sayaka dashed forwards, meeting the Heat Saber's blows head on. The two of them exchanged swings, slicing and blocking and dodging at breakneck speeds. When the creature attempted to unleash a wave of flame, Sayaka merely dodged, leaping around the Heartless, using her platforms to gain air and abruptly change her direction.
The Heat Saber couldn't keep up, and eventually, Sayaka leaped above it, sword held high, the blade now glowing with some blue-white light. As she closed in, the words just came to her, and she couldn't resist shouting them at the top of her lungs.
"Holy Sword!" Sayaka shouted as she came streaking downwards. The Heat Saber raised it's swords in an attempt to block, but Sayaka's blade cut straight through them, then down through the armor, slicing the Heartless in half.
As she hit the ground, the two halves of the heartless fell apart, collapsing to the ground and dispersing into darkness.
It was satisfying, but she had no time to revel. The others needed her. Sayaka dashed forwards, just as Madoka was knocked to the ground. Surtr brought his blade down, intending to finish her off, only for Sayaka to leap in front of her. She flourished her cape, which went rigid, just in time for the fire giants blade to bounce off. Surtr stumbled back, and then growled, only for a bolt of lighting to strike him in the face.
Ramuh and Thor both rushed towards Surtr, only for the fire giant to recover faster than expected and then swing his blade, unleashing another wave of flame at the two of them. While they blocked the attack, Kyoko dashed forwards, spear coated in ice, and stabbed it into Surtr's side. He grunted in pain before kicking her away, to land near Madoka and Sayaka.
"Fuck! Why won't this asshole go down?!" Kyoko exclaimed.
Now that Sayaka looked closer, Kyoko wasn't in good condition. Her costume was damaged, and she had multiple burns across her body. She tried to stand, only to stumble and be forced to lean on her spear.
"Kyoko your hurt!" Madoka said.
"I'm fine!"
"No you're not. Get back and let Sayaka heal you!" Madoka ordered.
"I said I'm fine!" Kyoko dashed forwards, only for Surtr to inhale and then spit a fireball. The projectile struck the ground in front of Kyoko and exploded sending her flying away.
"Go! Heal her!" Madoka said.
Sayaka looked back between Kyoko and Madoka in hesitation.
"Go! I'll be fine!" Madoka then cast Blizzard, projecting a wave of cold and snow at the fire giant. Surtr stumbled back, halting the wave of flame he had been projecting at Thor and Ramuh, freeing the two of them to join the battle.
They took immediate advantage of it. Thor flew forwards, Mjolnir held out in front of him to ram straight into Surtr's chest. He grunted in pain, and was about to strike back at the recovering Thor, only for Ramuh to blast him with lightning while Madoka peppered him with arrows..
Sayaka dashed over to where Kyoko was still struggling to rise to her feet.
"Cu-"
"I've got this!" Kyoko snarled, smacking away Sayaka's hand and attempting to stand, only to groan and collapse to her knees. She snorted, and perhaps it was just their environment, but she was sure she saw a puff of smoke come out of her nostrils. Whatever, there were more important things to address.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Sayaka demanded.
"My problem is that big flaming fuckwit over there!" Kyoko said, attempting to stand again. She managed to get up, shakily leaning on her spear only for it to slip. This time, Sayaka caught her.
"And you're fighting like an idiot! You're supposed to be better at this than me!" Sayaka then paused. Wait… where did that come from?
"Well thanks for the vote of confidence." Kyoko said sarcastically, as she tried to limp forwards. Her eyes locked on Madoka, watching as she dodged away from a blast of flame and then shot Surtr in the face with an arrow of water. The fire giant staggered, opening him up for a hammer blow to the leg from Thor, and then a lightning bolt from Ramuh blasting him off his feet.
Kyoko merely growled as she attempted to limp forwards.
"Do you even care about yourself?!" Sayaka exclamed.
"Of course I do you dumbass, I-" Kyoko fell again. Sayaka immediately moved to help her back up, only to pause when she looked in Kyoko's face and saw her tearing up as she focused on Madoka. It didn't last long, as Kyoko grit her teeth and forced herself to stand again. Sayaka tried to help, only to get rebuffed again. "I don't need your help!"
"Well, I'm the healer and I say you do!" Sayaka said. "Cure!"
A white light washed over Kyoko, and her wounds healed, returning her strength. Kyoko didn't waste a second, recklessly charging forwards again. Surtr rose at the same time, swinging his sword at the approaching Kyoko. Sayaka immediately dashed forwards and caused her cape to go rigid, blocking the attack. Thor then hurled Mjolnir into Surtr's face, knocking him back.
"Seriously?!" Sayaka said.
Kyoko only glared at Sayaka before rejoining the fight. Sayaka shrugged and followed her, forming a sword and igniting it with those blue-white flames, leaping into the fray.
Surtr regained his balance and lifted his sword. More Fire Demons appeared, emerging from the hollows of the cavern, or bubbling up out of the ground and coming to his aid. As they did so, his sword was engulfed in a massive aura of flame. He roared as he plunged it into the ground.
"Hellfire!"
The ground cracked and then split wide, glowing brightly before erupting, unleashing a massive wave of fire and lava. Everyone dove for cover, narrowly avoiding being incinerated as fiery death burst from the ground and rained from above. Sayaka managed to get behind another pillar, though even then, she could feel the sheer heat. She was then forced to move from her position as flaming rocks came crashing down on her from above, seemingly aimed. She dodged across the battlefield, thankful that her healing abilities took care of any minor burns that occurred when a rock got to close.
When the barrage ended, Sayaka breathed a sigh of relief, only to be confronted with a now massive cloud of smoke covering the battlefield. She then heard a scrape against the ground, and immediately leaped away, narrowly avoiding a claw swipe from a Fire Demon. She then dashed forwards, striking the creature with her glowing sword, dispersing it into cinders.
More emerged out of the smoke cloud, charging towards her. Sayaka was ready however.
"Water!" She swung her sword, letting lose a blast of water, causing the demons to reel back in pain, only for her blade to destroy them. When no more seemed to be approaching, she was about to call out, only for a sudden and massive gust of wind to engulf the battlefield.
The smoke was blown away, to reveal that Thor was spinning his hammer rapidly, creating a whirlwind. Meanwhile, Ramuh raised his staff, and lightning bolts lanced out from the top, blasting away numerous demons.
Surtr was about to unleash another wave of flame, only for Madoka to land a direct shot with a Water arrow to the fire giants face. A massive cloud of steam formed, exploding in Surtr's face, blinding him, and causing his attack to go wild.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Sayaka and Kyoko dashed forwards, Kyoko plunged her spear into his chest, while Sayaka slashed at his legs with her glowing sword. At the same time, Ramuh raised his staff and a massive bolt of lightning streaked down from above, striking into Surtr's upraised sword. The giant cried out in pain as he dropped the weapon. Then the girls fell back, attacking the approaching demons while Thor charged forwards.
He slammed into Surtr's chest, and then bounced off, hurling Mjolnir at him, repeatedly. Surtr attempted to counter with fire, but Thor's repeated blows kept him off balance, eventually, Surtr managed to get off a fire attack, but Thor dodged, leaping above it onto a pillar, and then, before the fire giant could react, he came crashing down on him, slamming him so hard that his head was knocked off and extinguished. The headless body staggered about for a second, before collapsing and dispersing. The fire was then sucked into the skull, and then the skull lay still.
Thor immediately grabbed the chains that had once held Sayaka and Kyoko and wrapped them around Surtr's skull, tying it to his back. Meanwhile, the remaining fire demons began to back away, some dispersing back into cinders now that their master was gone.
"And that is that." Ramuh said. "I believe it is time for us to return."
Just then, there was a roaring in the distance. The dragon, chained up the entire fight was now straining against those bonds.
"What, and miss out on a rematch with scaly?" Kyoko said, brandishing her spear.
"Seriously?" Sayaka sighed.
"Thor, clear us a path, if you would. That hard head of yours should be most useful."
"Certainly, it is my pleasure to assist the elderly and infirm." Thor shot back. He then spun his hammer rapidly, before hurling it upwards, rocketing into the air, crashing a hole straight through the ceiling.
The dragon broke free of its chains at that moment, but Ramuh was ready. He raised his staff into the air, and a whirlwind surrounded everyone, lifting them off the ground, and flying them through the hole Thor had created, all the way to the surface.
There, they caught up with Thor, currently extinguishing his cape which had caught on fire.
"Is everyone here?" Thor asked.
"Yep!" Sayaka said.
"Are you kidding me! We could have taken it!" Kyoko shouted.
"Didn't we already have this discussion?!" Sayaka shouted. She then saw the ground cracking, and heard the sound of muffled roaring. The dragon was clearly still after them, tunneling it's own way to the surface.
"It would not be wise to linger." Ramuh said. "Our mission is already accomplished. No need to take additional risks."
Kyoko snarled, a quick flash of a variety of emotions rushing across her face. Finally she grit her teeth and dismissed her spear. "Fine!"
"Then were off! Heimdall?" Before Sayaka could react there was a flash of rainbow light, and the world was whisked away.
The cloaked figure observed in secret. The shadows hid them from view, the villagers were completely unaware of their presence.
The Vanir were a very laid back people, the cloaked figure noted. Even though a fierce battle had taken place merely a day earlier, they saw no real reason why that should interrupt their way of life for long. Repairs had come quick, and the night had been spent mourning the dead, but now, they celebrated life.
Dancing and feasting. Singing songs honoring their rescuers. The noble heroes and warriors of Asgard who fought for justice and honor. Who put themselves at risk so that others could thrive.
What nonsense. What disgusting lies. And these fools could not see the truth, blinded by the pretensions and boasts of Odin and his followers. The noble warriors they revered enforced an empire built upon the foundation blood and cruelty and death.
A low hiss emanated from beneath the cloak. The cloaked figure had power in ways they could not match. These imbeciles wouldn't stand a chance. And yet, tempting as that was, it would be counter to their goals. Draw too much attention at the worst possible time. The stone had been awakened, freed from whatever eldritch vault it had been stored in. That was the priority.
And when it was obtained. There would be nothing that could stand in their way. They stepped away from the village, a dark vortex forming in front of them. As they entered, they smiled. The reckoning of these fools would come. It was only a matter of time.
Fun fact. Apparently in the MCU Muspelheim is a dyson sphere.
Again, thanks to The Name Of Love for beta-reading and idea sounding!
~Dragonexx