The Vortex Chronicles Book 4
The Spawn of Lavos
By Majin Magus
The wind howled, as all stood, silent. Magus watched Era with hatred, Vortex looked from Era to Magus, and Kokoro stood aghast.
Vortex blinked and stared hard into Era. "She can't be a Lavos Spawn! She came here as a Nakabuto!!" She turned to Magus, who was twitching angrily. Kokoro slowly unsheathed her sword, and whispered a small verse.
"My sword becomes the evil-killer Moon-Star!" Kokoro cried, as a small moon with a star inside appeared at the start of the blade. The sword stopped shimmering and became a solid black. She wove it around so that it became a dark blur.
Magus scowled darkly. "Mind take-over, the same as you with Ellock, I think. She is Lavos Spawn. I have known the dark energy of Lavos my entire life!" Magus turned and glared at Vortex. "You think I would not know of its offspring? Fool." Vortex stepped up a bit in anger.
Kokoro walked over to Magus. "I believe you." She said softly. Letting the Moon-Star blade disappear into her clothing, she turned to Vortex.
"We'll not be able to defeat a Lavos with the power of a Nakabuto and its own by ourselves." Kokoro glanced at Era, who was charging up her powers and shouting the Lavos cry.
"Fool. Have you no faith in your own strengths?" said Vortex with an air of great disgust. Kokoro looked down at the ground.
Era threw her arms straight out and a familiar dismal energy surrounded her. Suddenly
Spines burst out of her and her head meshed together to form what looked like a mouth. Seconds after the start of the transform, she was finished. She spoke to the three with a voice that had no sound but was tremendous.
HA HA, YOU FOOL! She screamed. YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME TO TRANSFORM! THE NAKABUTO POWER AND MY OWN LAVOS POWER WILL ALLOW ME TO DESTROY ALL LIFE ON THIS PLANET!!
Era turned her mouth-head and looked' straight at Vortex. Vortex was flinching at random spots in the face as a great whirl of icy energy surrounded her.
YOU, YOU WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PROTECT THIS PITIFUL PLANET, ARE NOW TO SEE IT BE DRAINED. Era turned for a few seconds in Magus's direction. Then she flipped back to face Vortex.
AND YOU. Era said in her gigantic voice. SO EAGER TO PRESERVE THIS PLANET, WHEN ALL THIS WHILE I HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO DESTROY IT AND AVENGE MY SPECIES!
"Magus, Kokoro." Vortex hissed. The two warriors flashed over to the still-flinching Vortex.
"I'll hold her off. You go prepare the others in 1000 AD for the fight ahead." Vortex stepped lightly towards Era, who was charging her infamous energies. Magus looked sadly at Vortex.
"Vortex" he whispered. Vortex turned with a spiteful look on her face.
Vortex scowled slightly. "Sonna yasashii manazashi de." Then she stared at Magus with her ice-cold eyes. "Don't look closely at me with such kindness." She translated. Kokoro knew what she said the first time.
The young warrior then heard what Vortex hissed under her breath, and knew Magus did not hear.
"Setsunai mune shirazu Ni." Kokoro took a few steps back. She could not believe what she just heard. This Zealen princess knew Japanese, which meant she knew exactly what this ruthless Nakabuto just said.
"You don't know my painful heart" Kokoro whispered. She turned and flew off with Magus. Just as Vortex turned to face Era, a Gate appeared and out stepped Marle.
Marle glanced at Vortex and then loaded a Golden arrow onto her crossbow. She pointed it straight at Era, and Vortex nodded. She reached up to the sky and suddenly her weapon, the whip Striker, appeared.
"Let's kill it!" Marle cried, leaping forward and shooting her arrow. Vortex grabbed her whip out of the air and also jumped forward. They both sped toward Era and what looked like certain death.
*
Magus and Kokoro flew through the fabrics of time in awkward silence.
"Soyou're a prince of Zeal?" Kokoro asked uncertainly. Magus nodded slightly.
They continued in silence until they reached 1000 AD.
*
Lucca and Crono were standing on the wooden planks of Zenan Bridge. Marle had left, saying she had some business to take care of. Lucca was modifying some gizmo, of which Crono could only guess its purpose.
"Ha!" Lucca held up the thing, which was oddly shaped, almost like a gun. She shoved into Crono's face.
"Whadda ya think?" she asked brightly, her eyes pleading praise. Crono blinked and stared blankly at the gun-thing. He looked up at Lucca, then at the thing again. He saw a small script scribbled on the side. It read, Hirameki.' Crono grinned awkwardly at Lucca.
"It's, ah, a beautiful Hirameki!" he said, praying that Lucca wouldn't question him about the thing's uses. Lucca brought her Hirameki close to her face and tweaked a small bolt.
Lucca then held it close to Crono's face again. "Thanks! How do you think the Hirameki will do?" she glowed at Crono while awaiting his answer.
Dang,' Crono thought. He scratched the back of his head. "Uhgreat?" Lucca's smile broadened. She stared straight at Crono.
Lucca brought the Hirameki away. "It's okay, Crono. I know you don't know what this does. It is designed to blind everything within a specific range of you." She traced the name lightly with her finger. "It's a last effort and a cheap shotbut I had designed it for, well, you know, just in case"
Lucca bowed her head in shame, and Crono stepped over. "Yeah, I know; for Vortex. You didn't trust her. I don't think any of us trusted her" Crono's eyes flashed to the north start of the bridge, where a Gate was opening. "Except for maybe Magus." Lucca looked up and there was Magus and a girl she had never seen before. This girl was dressed somewhat like Vortex, and had dark blue hair.
Magus looked at Crono, then wove his hand back toward the girl.
"This is Kokoro, princess of Zeal in 12,050 BC." Kokoro pushed Magus's hand out of the way and walked towards Lucca.
"Why weren't you at the first battle? Was it cause you are weak?" she sneered. Lucca stepped back and reached for the Hirameki. Crono took out his Rainbow and glared Magus.
"What are you looking at me for? I didn't tell her to say that, and neither did VortexOh, which reminds me. Vortex is buying you some time to prepare for the battle against Era." Magus stared as no one moved. "WELL? Go get some Tonics or something! Move!"
Crono and Lucca darted over to their houses for their supplies, and Kokoro started to fly to the nearest shop.
"If there's anything good," Kokoro called over her shoulder, "I'll swipe it." She sped towards the shop, and about ten seconds later, another Gate appeared a few feet from Magus.
Vortex and Marle fell out, each completely battered and bleeding. Marle healed them both and tried to mend her crossbow, which was cracked in half. Vortex stood up and stared Magus in the eyes.
"Era's so strong. Whatever plans and chances we hadflit." Vortex made a small sound and made a motion symbolizing something flying away. Magus buried his head in his hands as Crono, Lucca, and Kokoro appeared.
"What's wrong?" Lucca asked, pulling on a Prism Helmet. Crono and Kokoro looked equally puzzled as Magus made a flit' sound and wove his hand. Vortex and Marle both looked abashed.
Kokoro dropped the stuff she had stolen from the Truce store and took out her Moon-Star sword. She glared at all of them in turn, and then tapped Vortex with the side of her blade.
"Vortex, I think now would be a good time to give me Nakabuto power." Kokoro hissed. Vortex looked up with rage.
"You idiot!" she exploded. "Don't you see that even if I did give you Nakabuto power, we'd still lose? There is no chance we can beat her!" Vortex charged her powers in raw anger. Kokoro didn't step back.
Instead, she shoved her face in Vortex's. "Don't you see that our chances will improve? I could handle it, and" Magus cut her off.
"Vortex is stronger in her human form, aren't you?" Magus asked, and Vortex nodded angrily. "See? So having the powers wouldn't work, all it does is allow you to stand intense gravity." Kokoro leapt forward and put her sword to Magus's throat.
"Just because Vortex is stronger in her human form doesn't mean I will be too!" Kokoro snapped her head around and glared at Vortex. "GIVE ME THE POWER!"
Vortex threw a great ball at Kokoro, just as she had at Magus. Kokoro absorbed the energy as if it were the greatest treasure in the world. She then floated up a few feet then glared at Vortex with an expression of excitement and anticipation.
"Tell me the incantation for releasing the full power of this new strength!!" Kokoro yelled. Vortex flinched and told her the spell with a telepathic message. The young warrior raised her arms skyward and made her energy swirl around her to create a chilling effect.
Kokoro formed a ball of energy in her hand and begun the incantation. "Hyouteki wo mezaseba koduo ga hayaku naru! Atsuku itaku setsunaku michi WA tsuzuku! Nabottari ochitari dakedo kujikenai de! SUBETE CHIKARA NI KAEYOU!!"
Kokoro clenched her fists and as she did, the ground around her exploded. The other warriors jumped back. Shining gold energy surrounded her and whirled around her as her deep blue hair turned to a blackish-purplish color. Her skin became like Vortex's when she transformed, a prismatic color that kept shifting.
"Heh" Kokoro chuckled as her pupils vanished and her ears grew pointed. Deep blue clothing appeared on her, accompanied by blood-red gloves. Her original garb vanished completely.
Now you shall all die!! Kokoro roared, leaping forward. Vortex was faster and punched her in the stomach. Kokoro gave a cry of fury, and flew up into the air.
The two pieces of hair that usually hung in front of Kokoro's eyes were meshing together to form one long strand that partially obscured her right eye. Vortex looked into her eyes, her completely white eyes. Vortex could see the rage that she had had not long ago. The Nakabuto power was in control, and it had to be stopped.
Die, weakling!!! Kokoro shouted, vanishing then reappearing in front of Vortex. She blasted down to the ground with Kokoro following. They then began to fight, but in movements so fast none of the other warriors could follow it.
Lucca looked wide-eyed to Magus. "Isis she always that fast?" she asked, watching the blur of the two and gesturing towards what she thought was Vortex.
Magus turned to look at Lucca. "Yes." He said simply. They both looked back the battle, which had ceased for the moment.
Vortex was relatively unharmed, save a few trickles of blood emitting from her mouth. Kokoro was in a worse state. Her new garments were torn and she stood with blood dripping from her shoulders, head, and hands.
Vortex's eyes suddenly flashed menacingly. "It endsnow! I knew you couldn't control the Nakabuto power. I shall show you" Vortex clenched her fists and bursts of icy light burst spontaneously from the area around her.
"What it means to be have Nakabuto power!" A wave of energy surrounded her and her long blonde hair flew straight up and changed to a silvery color. Her hair was the only thing that changed, but the others could feel the alien power coursing through her.
Kokoro snorted diversely. And then, without warning, Vortex leapt forward and punched Kokoro in the jaw. She fell backward and Vortex continued her attack: Punch, kick, left, right, uppercut, and right jab, until Kokoro was thrown back.
Vortex surrounded herself within an icy barrier and flew forward and locked her hands together. Kokoro was she reeling back from the last blow that she didn't expect it when Vortex brought her locked hands down on her head.
Argh! Kokoro cried in a physic voice. Vortex floated back down to the ground. Her hair went back to normal: three spikes, long, and blonde. Kokoro was just about to fight more, and as she struggled to walk towards Vortex, her legs gave way and she collapsed.
Lucca looked up in amazement. "How'd you know she would attack?" Vortex twitched slightly.
"That power is why I died the last time. I fought Magus and didn't get control until I was near death." Vortex explained as Kokoro stood up.
Thanks. I don't know what came over me! She said. Vortex shrugged off her thanks and gestured towards a Gate she had made a split second sooner. Kokoro powered down to normal state, but her ears remained pointed. She didn't seem to mind this.
"We should get the others. Marle, you and I will get Ayla. Lucca, you and Kokoro go retrieve Robo. Magus, go with Crono and collect Glenn from whatever hole he's living in."
*
The gathering did not take long. Ayla had been close to Ioka village hunting, Robo had been powered off in a dome, and Glenn had been visiting Guardia castle. Robo had been told about Kokoro and Crono alone had gotten Glenn from the castle, for obvious reasons.
Marle was pacing Vortex was talking in a low voice to Magus. Crono pounded his fist on the table. All nine were gathered at Crono's house.
"How are we supposed to know when Era is going to attack?" Crono shouted. His mom walked over.
"Don't yell, dear." She scolded. Crono ignored her and glanced at Robo.
"You have any records of an attack by Era?" he asked the machine. Robo made a whirring sound for a moment.
His tan metallic head shook. "No, but it is possible that my data is a bit outdatedOne of the computers in 2300 AD may have sufficient information." Robo said in his robotic voice.
Crono turned back to the group. "One, maybe two of us should go to a dome in 2300 AD and see when Era will attack. Any volunteers?" he asked. Vortex stepped forward, and so did Marle.
"Okay, Vortex and Marle will go." Crono shrugged and began to sharpen his Rainbow on a rock he had. "We better get our weapons ready. Some might be deteriorating." Magus drew back his cape to reveal that his Doom Sickle was sharp, probably sharper than when he had gotten it.
Vortex opened a Gate and pulled Marle inside. "Bye Crono!" Marle shouted quickly as the Gate closed. In instants Vortex and Marle were standing in front of a dome.
Vortex glanced hardly at Marle, then at the dome. "Which dome is this?" she asked roughly.
Marle shrugged slightly and began to walk towards the entrance. "I have no idea, but let's go."
*
Magus leaned casually again the wall. While Vortex was gone he had decided to sort out a new set of emotions that had been plaguing him for quite some time. He was just about to sort through a foreign feeling when Kokoro walked over to him.
"What do you want?" Magus asked harshly. Kokoro grinned cockily and pulled out her long, sharp sword.
"Ohyou're thinking, aren't you? Thinkingabout Vortex!" Kokoro edged. She sheathed her sword and walked away. Magus felt his power course through him, and he almost blasted the girl to oblivion.
Instead, he simply stood there, just as Kokoro said, thinking. Then, suddenly, there was burst of energy outside. Everyone flooded out of Crono's house to see what it was.
There, hovering with a cocky grin, was
"Era" Kokoro murmured grimy.
*
Vortex tapped a few keys on the keyboard and an image popped up. "Scanning for attacks" Vortex said. Marle walked over to the board and looked down on the keys. She saw a key with an odd symbol on it. With no shred of common sense running through her, Marle pushed it.
"Youyou!!" Vortex roared as the image changed. Vortex was thinking about shoving some crystals into Marle when a flash of purple hair was seen.
Vortex shoved Marle to the floor and quickly punched about thirty keys. The image froze instantly, and Vortex pulled back the picture. It showed Era attacking a villagebut it was indistinct. Marle got up, slightly rubbing a wound on her arm, and pulled the image again. She shrieked and dropped to the ground.
"What? What is it?" Vortex asked without concern. Marle sobbed for a few seconds then looked up, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Era's attacking Truceand Crono's housefive minutes ago" Marle cried. An image filled her mind of her love Crono lying on the ground, dead or dying, his face
Vortex searched for a reason why she should care. Robo? No. Glenn? No. Lucca? No. Crono? No. Ayla? No. Magus?
She paused. Did she care for Magus? It had been so long since she had felt anything besides hatred or rage. Any other emotion she couldn't recognize. Love? What did love feel like?
"WellI suppose we should go. Maybemaybe we can help." Marle got up slowly and her eyes fixed on Vortex who was standing perfectly still, obviously lost in thought. Marle knew that every second they stayed here, the risk of Crono's death rose.
Marle walked over to Vortex and slapped her hard in the face. Vortex blinked and her eyes returned to their normal cold state. Seconds later Vortex's hand was at Marle's throat.
"Don't" Vortex growled, her grip tightening every word. A Gate appeared next to them and Vortex shoved Marle in, then she walked inside.
*
The Gate dropped Vortex and Marle right above a smoking crater. Marle rolled down into mud, but Vortex flew over to Crono's house.
Or, what had been Crono's house.
A few walls still stood, but the entire second floor had been completely torn off. Most of the items inside' the house were on fire. Marle screamed.
"Do youdo you think Crono's m-mom?" Marle asked, her voice quavering. Vortex gazed at the scene with cold eyes, but a flicker of concern that was well seen by Marle appeared. And she knew Vortex's vague concern was reserved for Magus and Magus alone.
Some one coughed from underneath the rubble. In a flash the burning debris was raised up to reveal Glenn. The fire (of hope, had it been?) had vanished from Vortex's eyes.
"E-Era! At-attackedI rememberth no more" Glenn coughed as he sank down onto the remains of a rug. Marle ran over and was about to heal him when Vortex held up a hand.
Marle walked over to hear what Vortex was going to say. "This won't be pretty. Take frog-boy and go to the castle. I'll look for the others" commanded Vortex with a chill in her voice. Marle began to carry Glenn over to the woods while the sorceress levitated burning masses of wood around.
"Wherethey?!" Vortex roared as she blasted a nearby tree to bits. There was not much of the house left, and in the place of the tree there was now
"A Gate" whispered Vortex as she neared towards it. It glowed with a black and purple aura, and electrical shocks bounced out of it. Right then, Vortex knew this was no ordinary Gate.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a disembodied voice began to speak. "Vortex" it said, "if you want to find that mage, come to me"
Vortex grinned, but her sardonic smile quickly hardened into a look of cold hatred. "Yeah, right. Like I'd come to you' Era!" the voice seemed to quaver, but only slightly. "Tell me where Magus is and perhaps I shall spare you!"
Era's voice laughed. "And the others? What of Crono, Lucca, Ayla, and Robo? Oris it simply Magus you care abouthmm?" Vortex's look of hate became even more vivid.
"You" Vortex threatened, waving a clenched fist at the empty air. Slowly, like a bad transmission, an image of Era fizzled into view right above the Gate. The project folded its arms and grinned, a look of superiority playing on the see-through skin.
Era's hologram looked over to Vortex with mock disappointment. "I thought you would've wanted to save that odd magician, but I suppose you are too weak" The picture shook its head and sighed. "And all it would've taken was your stepping through my Gateoh wellI suppose Magus will die, then"
Vortex clenched her teeth but stepped forward. She raised a hand and pointed it at the hologram. "What will occur when I enter this Gate?" she asked, her voice shaking with rage. The hologram projected a brightened look.
" When?' Excellent! So you are coming!" The hologram floated down next to Vortex. It wove its hand in a simplistic manner. "Nothing much, nothing much."
Vortex crossed her arms. "Obviously something, though." Her impatience was growing. Era would die; Vortex couldn't believe she had actually been considering not killing her.
"Well, all that'll happen isa small slash, nothing much, across your left shoulder." The hologram traced a line about three inches long across Vortex's shoulder. It then raised its head up and beckoned to the Gate.
Vortex didn't move. "It has to be a trick. Era cannot defeat me by cutting me! What's the catch?" When the projection said nothing, Vortex sighed and walked into the Gate, hoping this wasn't a poor decision.
*
Marle gently laid Glenn into a bed into the soldiers' quarters in the Guardia castle basement. He had passed out halfway through the forest, but the flock of Bellbirds that had attacked them proved no problem for Marle.
The frog warrior stirred slowly in the bed. A curious soldier came over, but Marle shooed him away. Glenn sat up gradually and looked around. His large eyes reflected Marle's own concerned face.
"W-what? What I am doing here? Where be the lady Vortex?" Glenn's eyes darted nervously about the room as he asked the question.
"I don't know where anyone is, except for you and me. This is the soldiers' quarters of Guardia castle, 1000 AD, of course." Marle looked with sympathy at Glenn, whose arm seemed to be broken.
Glenn tried to move his right arm, but it would not budge. Although his clothing around his broken arm was stained a deep red from blood, Glenn knew it looked much worse underneath. Marle took a breath and stood up.
"My magic is drainedI haven't replenished it in a while. Let me sleep for the night and as soon as I wake I will heal your arm." Marle flopped down in the bed that was next to Glenn and immediately fell asleep.
Instead of resting his weary body, Glenn stared at the stone ceiling. All of his friends and allies were gone, except for Marle, and now even Vortex was gone.
"I wonderth where they are now" Glenn whispered before falling into a deep sleep.
*
As the waves of time swirled around Vortex, she flew through the Gate. The purple and blue waves of pure energy passed by her as quickly as they had come. Even in between time periods Era's hologram followed Vortex.
"Okay, now the little cut will come" The projection said simply, its voice perfectly matching that of Era's. Seconds later, a slit appeared in the cape and tunic around Vortex's shoulder. The little cut' burned like hell.
"See? You can live with it. Nowokay, you'll arrive in a few seconds" The hologram dropped its bright smile and adopted a malicious grin. Vortex clasped her right hand over the cut and felt a thin line of blood drip from it down her arm.
Suddenly, Vortex fell onto a hard, cold floor. It was stone, but she really didn't care. The wound in her shoulder, though small, was slicing through her tough exterior and actually making this little slice hurt. It was unheard of, Vortex thought.
Just then, Era, the real Era, appeared. She grabbed one of the spikes of hair on top of Vortex's head and pulled her up. She still had her right hand over her wound, and her face was twisted with pain and agony.
"Stupid Nakabuto. You underestimate me! I am the Spawn of Lavos from a planet long conquered! I have no idea how this pitiful little planet was spared, butyou shall not be so lucky escaping the hands of a Lavos!" Era grinned maliciously, then released Vortex's hair, allowing her to collapse onto the ground again. "I use the feeble human term for my species because our own true name is too great to be spoken. The term alone would shatter your primitive mind!"
Vortex cast a healing spell and aimed it at the wound. When the spell hit the bleeding slash, something sliced another injury on the right cheek of Vortex's face. This new cut burned just as much as the last one.
"Apparently you don't understand, you primitive life form." Era sneered, looking down on Vortex. "These scores are eternal. This placewhenever someone's flesh is opened a microscopic virus flies under the skin. These germs then reproduce, taking over your cells. The sickness finally spreads through the Nervous system and the brain. Complete control is registered to meyou are mine now, Nakabuto."
The sorceress cackled and disappeared. Vortex looked around the room. It had cold, hard stonewalls with no openings. In the middle of the room there was a dining table with a black tablecloth spread on top of it. On there was a large meal, though obviously for only one person. There was also a bed, quite comfortable looking, in the corner to Vortex's right. It too had black sheets on it, and a very dark pillow.
Era's voice suddenly echoed through the room. "If you are to be my slave, I should at least make you a happy slave. You shall wait here until I need you. I shall not control you unless you disobey me. My controlling you is quite painful, so I suggest you just follow my orders."
Vortex snorted but walked casually over to the table. Nearest to her was an odd looking roasted fowl, so she tore off a leg and ate it slowly. She then muttered a spell and nothing happened.
"I won't poison you. I wouldn't get rid of such a fine warriornot that way at least." Era snorted. Vortex shrugged and picked up an apple that was very red. "You will always be my servant. I can sense the future."
The blonde haired sorceress dropped the apple and looked up as a skylight opened.
Looking at nothing, Vortex said, "Toki wa purorogu wo kizamu. Time will carve the prologue, Era."
The voice of Era seemed unfazed. "Ha, we are past the prologue. Chapter one will begin in twelve hours, when your first assignment will be given." Era's voice was silenced and Vortex was left seemingly alone.
Vortex looked through the skylight and at the sky, which was pink and gold, going into night. "Magus," she whispered, "I'll see you soon, I hope"
A door leading to another room suddenly formed on the other side of the small chamber, and Vortex drifted over above the ground to it. Opening the door, she saw a shower, with a rather finely furnished showerhead. Vortex stepped out of the shower room and slammed the door behind her.
Vortex leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She didn't trust Era, so obviously she wouldn't use the bed to rest. Resthow long had been since she had had rest? She was too exhausted to answer right now; too exhausted to even consider what time period she was in
*
Magus slammed his fist into the wall. He had been transported to Lucca's house right after the fight with Era. It hadn't really been a fight; it was more of an enemy comes, none are hurt, but everyone's confused' type thing. Magus was outside the house, and everyone else was inside, healing his or her minor wounds.
Kokoro's sword slowly unsheathed itself, and the blade floated over to Kokoro's hand. "My sword becomes the evil-killer Moon-Star!" she yelled as the tiny symbol appeared on the sword. With her powered-up blade in her hand, she walked over to Magus.
"Era will return, of that you can be sure," Kokoro said in an airy and nonchalant tone. Magus turned on her. His enraged eyes met her expressionless face.
Clenching his teeth and fists, Magus said, "You speak as if Vortex's disappearance does not concern you! Do you not feel even the slightest bit of concern for her?"
To Magus's great surprise, Kokoro merely smirked. "On the contrary, Magus, I thought you were the emotionless warrior of this group. And now I find you concerned for a mage that nearly killed you!"
Magus scowled. "I" He what? This girl had caught him. He had trained for years so that he did not feel. How did Vortex shred all of that work to bits? "We have had our differences, but" But what?
Just as sudden as the issue had come up, it had been dropped. "Well, no matter," Kokoro said, waving her hand in a dismissive manner, "Era will return. I suggest we train until then." The two then floated silently out above the vortex that led to Heckran Cave on the Medina village continent.
Sudden anger erupted out of Magus. "Argh! I shall destroy Era!" he turned and glared at Kokoro and formed Dark Matter in his hand. "You want to train? Let's train!!"
Kokoro pulled out her sword and deflected the Dark Matter. Then she leapt forward and slashed madly at Magus. The mage, however, easily dodged each blow. Grinning, he flew up and Kokoro followed, still waving her sword trying to hurt him.
"You aren't trying very hard!" Magus said with an evil smirk on his face. He clenched his right fist and black energy surrounded it. Then he spread his hand open and stretched his fingers out.
Kokoro choked for a second, and then held her sword up in a defensive manner. Magus threw the magical power at Kokoro and the spell went right past her sword, and hit her square in the forehead.
As the young girl fell to the ground, Magus readied another attack. Springing back up, Kokoro summoned her power. Her hair flew straight up and became blackish purple in color. Blue clothing and blood red gloves and boots replaced her normal wear, which had vanished completely. Her eyes became completely white, void of any other color. Shifting colors replaced Kokoro's otherwise white skin.
Ha! Tremble before my Nakabuto power! Kokoro yelled in a psychic voice. Magus stood up and then jumped back. His Shadow magic pulsed through, almost erupting with his rage. Instead of becoming reckless and blinded with anger, his white face showed expressionless.
"I have faced Vortex's alien power and triumphed, and it was consuming her. She was blinded by her power. Now the same thing is happening to you, you have even less control over your own strength than Vortex had," Magus growled, his energy now swirling around him.
Kokoro's sarcastic grin appeared. I have full control of my own energies, fool. Although it may seem I aim to kill, I am simply toying with you. Now, you shall see what it means to train with a Nakabuto warrior! She laughed cockily.
Magus's eyes narrowed. "You forget that a greater Nakabuto than you gave you that power of which you speak! Vortex gave it, and she can take it away." He closed his eyes and remembered the tearing pain that he endured while Vortex removed his own Nakabuto strength.
A laugh echoed out of Kokoro's mouth. Then she smirked. I see that your feelings for Vortex go deeper into your soul than you think! Anyway, don't you think to defeat Era, you will have to become even stronger than your opponent. I think you'd like the battle to be one-on-one with Era. I'm right, am I not?
The mage rocked back. Did this girl have the ability to read minds? Did he really the battle to be him and Era, one-on-one? Yesyes, that's what he wantedbut was he strong enough?
"You are correct! But, I must be able to defeat you before I take on Era!!" Magus roared, throwing a lake Dark Bomb at Kokoro. The girl dodged, and cast a spell herself and sent it careening at Magus. He jumped aside and drew out his scythe. At that instant, Kokoro's Moon-Star appeared.
Kokoro smirked. Weapons it is, then. She rushed forward, brandishing her sword. Magus stood, silently awaiting her attack. He had learned that battles shouldn't be full of taunts and insults, but simple and brutal.
"Eeeeeyaaaarrrggh!" Magus roared, blocking Kokoro's blade with the shaft of his Doom Sickle. Their powers clashed for a few seconds, then exploded into luminous lights flickering every few moments.
Having heard clashes of weapons and yells of fury, Crono and the others ran outside to see Kokoro and Magus locked in a furious fight, their weapons grinding together.
Marle stepped forward, aghast. "Wewe've gotta stop them!" she shrieked, loading her crossbow. Crono, a serious yet interested look on his face, extended an arm in front of Marle to stop her.
"They are simply sparing," Crono said, smirking with amusement. He wove his other hand and the others put away their weapons and watched the battle.
Magus didn't even glance at the assembled onlookers watching them. His attention was turned fully to the warrior he was facing, and her sharp and deadly sword.
It ends now. You cannot defeat me! I know you cannot destroy Eraat least, not in the way you wish it to be! Kokoro laughed, pushing harder on the Moon-Star.
Usually he didn't mind taunts, but for an odd reason, this particular insult stayed in Magus's mind. Suddenly, memories of recent occurrences became fresher in his memory. These images of emotion even he himself couldn't remember feeling. The instant flare of hope he had had when Vortex had exploded from Ellock, the secret, hidden, buried way his heart had leapt when Vortex had returned the first time, the way Vortex fought without taunts or insults
Magus's rage burned deeper into his mind, controlling his attacks, and yet he was not blinded by this reckless power. He slashed and jabbed powerfully at Kokoro, who was taken by surprise at Magus's sudden change of attack pattern.
What's with you, Magus? We aren't fighting to kill! Wewe are simplysimply sparing! Kokoro cried in a panicked voice. Unfortunately for her, this outcry landed on Magus's now deaf ears. He heard only the taunts of all the evil he had ever faced, felt only the pain and anguish that he had endured throughout his life, and saw only Vortex.
My God,' he thought. I do care about herI love her. How can this be? I do not feel'
Magus pushed violently on his scythe, and launching Kokoro's sword off the metal shaft. She toppled backwards, and her sword spun over and landed in the surf. The mage's eyes burned with hatred like he had never known, but not at Kokoro. He was glaring past her frightened, colorless eyes, and into the salty surf of the ocean.
"Vortex" he whispered softly, his words carrying on the wind out to the ocean. "I shall find you, Vortex. And when I doEra will pay"
Kokoro stood up slowly and cautiously walked over to Crono and the rest. They all were staring at Magus, who was talking lowly and lost in thought. Marle shrugged and Lucca was puzzled. Magus didn't normally act like this
With a flick of his blood red cape Magus swiveled around and began to walk towards Lucca's house. A twinge of pain and the feeling of something running down his arm told him he had an injury. Caring not for his own welfare, he continued to the door. No one followed him inside.
"What's the matter with me?" Magus asked aloud. "I have never felt lovenot since Schalabut this, even this, is in no comparison with what I felt for you, dear sister.
"Why must I be plagued with constant images of this girl? She is cold, hard; ruthless." He ticked off her qualities slowly.
Suddenly, a tiny voice in his mind began to speak. Ah, and yet you like these characteristics, don't you?' Magus fumed at this, and raged back to it, even if he was talking to himself.
"She's the same as me! How can I notr-respect these attributes of which she must have worked very hard to obtain?" Magus said quietly yet pointedly.
The little voice seemed to laugh. Isn't similarities the start of relationships?' it chuckled, appearing to like jerking Magus around.
"RELATIONSHIP!!" he yelled, though quietly. He didn't want the others to hear and think he was crazy.
Remember when you left and she was going to fight Era.' Just then, a memory came up in Magus's mind.
Don't die a second time,' you had said. Is that not caring, oh heartless dark warrior?' Magus was just about to scream that nagging voice stupid, but it had vanished as suddenly as it had arrived.
Shaking his head he opened the door. Standing outside were Crono and the others. Kokoro was floating above the ocean surf, looking for her sword. They all noticed Magus and came over.
"You okay? You seemed kind of, well" Crono asked, looking sympathetically at Magus.
"Don't waste your sympathy on me. I don't need it," Magus growled, walked over to the beach. All the others shrugged and then began sparing with each other.
Kokoro then flew over, her sword in tow. Great move, genius. Your little surge of rage nearly blew my sword to bits. If had lost it, my attack power would've decreased substantially. That would not have helped our odds much, she grumbled in her psychic voice. Then, her hair went back to is normal position and became blue again. Her other Nakabuto features disappeared, and her original clothes appeared again.
"You care about Vortex, and I have known this since I saw the way she acted when she mentioned your name to me," Kokoro explained gently. A gentle zephyr ruffled her and Magus's hair as the clashing of weapons and boom of magic spells could be heard behind them.
Magus buried his face in his hands. "I didn't know I cared about herI didn't even feel anything! How could I? For years and years I have trained myself so I feel nothing, and yethow can Vortex stir up within me emotions I believed long forgotten?" he exclaimed, bringing his head back up and looking at Kokoro. For the first time, she was smiling. It was a warm, friendly smile, and somehowsomehow comforting to Magus.
"Don't ask me why you or anyone else loves," Kokoro muttered gently. "I never was interested in caring for anyone back home. My mother didn't seem to care. She left me alone, I didn't use my sword on her."
Magus looked up at Kokoro with surprise.
She laughed. "Just cause my name means heart doesn't mean I have to have much of one. I think Vortex grew up and turned out the way she did because everyone was afraid of her and left her alone. I, on the other hand, discovered the way I was one day. I had not quite realized before that." She began staring out across the ocean, and gazing at the sunset.
Just as the sky was becoming streaked with pink and gold, a few thumps and some muted panting told Magus and Kokoro that the day's sparing was over. The shimmering of golden sparks landed over all and healed their wounds.
Magus and Kokoro stood up and walked inside Lucca's house, as did everyone else. The table, which had been buried underneath books and papers when Magus had been inside, was now clean and set for eight people. Despite the table covered with food, Lucca's parents were nowhere to be found.
"They went to a machinery convention in Medina. Via ferry, you know." Lucca explained, sitting down and helping herself to the food. Everyone else joined in except for Magus, who went back outside and sat on a rock not far from the beach.
"Vortexmy feelings for you have been truly opened. Please forgive me as I bury them one last time, for this battle only. Era is ruthless, much like youand I cannot expect mercy" Magus leaned his head on his hand and gazed out into the surf, which was spraying around a salty mist every once in a while. The sky gradually turned from pink and gold to blue velvet, and then to blue-black dotted with twinkling stars. Finally, after hours of staring at the blue-black sky, Magus got up off the rock and walked slowly into Lucca's house.
*
Vortex's eyes flashed open and she looked up through the skylight. The sky beyond the glass was shining with the colors of early morning light. She estimated it was about five o'clock in the morning. What time had it been when she had fallen asleep? Nine? The sun had been setting then
If it was five now, then four hours were left until Vortex had to go perform some task for Era.
"Wonder what it'll be" Vortex said, walking around the room. Then she realized: her cuts didn't hurt. Sure, they were there, a reminder of intense pain, but there was no intense pain. As she marveled silently at this, a hologram of Era slowly came into view.
"Question: How come you use that human body when you have you Lavos body or even the Nakabuto form?" Vortex inquired, scanning the purple-haired girl with her eyes.
Era laughed slightly, but still answered. "The same reason you use the human form. I am stronger this way." Vortex quickly made a mental note to provoke Era into transforming if ever in a fight with her. "I can focus my Lavos power and siphon off this body's true form to strengthen my own abilities."
"Ah." Vortex said lightly.
"Four hours, slave. Tick, tock, tick, tock" Era snickered, and the silence returned.
Something just dawned on Vortex. "I know what she will have me doIt will take all my willpower no to, I hope I'm strong enough"
*
As the early morning sun rose, light shined into Lucca's house, stirring the eight warriors. Slowly waking up, they each in turn when outside and gradually began to train again. Magus had been there about an hour before the rest, and he was again sitting on the rock.
Suddenly standing up and flying off, the others looked up and wondered where he was going. Then, after about fifteen minutes of thinking where Magus could have gone, everyone returned to sparing.
A surge of energy made everyone once again stop. A Gate formed and out stepped Vortex. Everyone froze. Something was amiss.
Vortex then seemed to be listening to something. An instant later, Era appeared out of nowhere. The Lavos turned and glared at Vortex.
"I thought I said for you to destroy them! Do it! NOW!" Era roared, her eyes blazing with rage.
"I am not your slave, Era. I refuse to do your bidding." Vortex smirked as she said this.
As this heated conversation was going on, Kokoro was slowly unsheathing Moon-Star. And, just as one of them materialized a small sphere of power, she leapt forward toward Era.
"Take this!!" Kokoro yelled, beginning to bring her sword down on Era. Era, though, quickly turned around and grabbed the blade but was not even cut. Kokoro winced in surprise.
Era grinned. "You think you can defeat with this simple sword? Hah! All of you combined could not destroy me!" she laughed. "Bring it on, you pathetic weaklings!!"
Crono, Marle, and Ayla leapt forward and performed Final Kick. Their attacks hit air as Era moved faster than anything they had ever seen.
The girl flipped and quickly dodged Crono's Rainbow. She then kicked his face and he fell. "Hah! One hit can fell anyone if the opponent is strong enough!!" she shouted in amusement as Crono landed on the ground and was knocked unconscious.
"Stop!" Vortex yelled. Everyone halted in their attacks. "I'll handle this, it's my fault she's even here now!" Putting away their weapons and canceling their magic attacks, everyone stepped back from Vortex and Era.
Vortex looked straight into Era's eyes. The Lavos stared back with glee and a bit of insanity.
"We're not fighting here," Vortex said as she flew up. Era followed, and the others were a little ways back from them, Kokoro carrying a few of them and the others in the Epoch. Vortex led Era to the isle were the Giant's Claw had been in 600 AD. She gently touched down onto the grass while Era landed with a thump. The other warriors hovered above the summit of the mountain. Crono had been healed and joined them.
"Where ever we fight, or, whenever, I shall still win." Era grinned and muttered a small spell. The two slashes Era had given Vortex sudden burned and her entire body seemed to be rocked with pain.
"D-d-damn you!" Vortex roared as she ran forward and began her attack.
Era nimbly dodged Vortex's blast of energy, but was caught by a punch that she threw seconds after the first attack. Vortex then gathered all her energy and a flash of black light burst from all around her for a second. Then, as an unusual mist vanished, Vortex stood in the midst of it, her eyes full of rage.
"Is the Nakabuto angry at me?" Era snickered, staring at Vortex, who just glared back.
*
The others gently sat on a ledge about fifty feet up on the mountain. The Epoch was also sitting on the ledge, though precariously teetering back and forth.
All watched with wonder except Kokoro, who was used to Vortex's extreme power. Even though what she had seen had been nearly the peak of the alien's power, Kokoro had never witnessed her true strength.
"I wonder who will win," Lucca whispered.
"Where is Magus?" Crono asked, looking around.
"Kokoro, who do you think will win?" Marle asked, her eyes brimming with concern.
Kokoro shifted slightly and looked at Marle. She didn't answer.
*
Vortex stared directly at Era, not daring to blink or wince from the pain burning in her shoulder and on her face. Instead, she was summoned every scrap of power she had, hoping she had had improved in skill since her last battles.
Era smirked. "Are you ready to die?" she asked, the smirk turning into a cocky grin. Vortex, instead of answering, rose a hand and pointed at Era.
Suddenly, she drew her hand back and made a black sphere appear in her palm. Within the dark essence of the ball, there were tiny prisms glistening and steadily becoming black in color. Vortex then smirked.
A look of fury overcame both opponents face as Era prepared a counterspell and Vortex gathered what was needed for her attack. Era then waited for Vortex to launch her spell before attacking herself.
"DEADLY CRYSTAL BARRAGE!" Vortex roared, willing the black sphere to explode and hundreds of sharp crystal shards to fly towards Era.
Era in turn smiled, and her energy also burst and then a shimmering yellow beam was heading to meet the catapulting crystals. "DEATH REBORN!"
The two beams collided, and each kept trying to force the other's beam off course. That, of course, would leave the other defenseless.
Vortex faltered. The slashes Era had activated were distracting her, and she was slowly losing her ground. At that instant the burning within her became too much to bear. The crystals stopped flying at Era and the yellow beam that Era had shot was coming swiftly at her.
A maniac grin was spread widely across Era's face. Her purple hair was blown completely back by her own power. Her spell was flying at Vortex, and the wounded sorceress wouldn't have time to move.
"And so it ends before it has even begun, Vortex!!" Era yelled over the crackling power surging from herself.
Just as the beam was seconds away from colliding with Vortex, a swift blur blocked half the beam and that portion of it hit Vortex. The sorceress flew back, severely injured, but she was still alive. Blood was running down her chin, emitting from her mouth, and from the cut on her shoulder and from the slash on her face. Her right eye was closed in pain, and her left eye barely open.
Vortex focused on the savior, the one who had blocked half the beam and therefore had saved her life. She could vaguely see a shining metallic sort of stickit was a sword!
"Kokoro!" Vortex shouted. There, an enraged and determined look on her face, stood the young girl, Moon-Star in hand. Her blue hair was moved slightly from the wind. Kokoro shot a grin back at Vortex.
"You okay, Vortex?" she asked, her eyes returning to focus on Era.
A soft, almost inaudible moan came from Vortex. "Yeah, I think so. Kindabeat up, though," she called back, staring past the young warrior to Era, who was grinning cockily.
"Aaha pathetic, primitive human dares to challenge me! Well, well, kid, hit me, if you can!" Era then rushed forward and threw a small sphere of magical energy at Kokoro, who deflected it with her sword.
Kokoro jumped up and flipped over Era and brought the flat side of the blade onto the back of her head. Era was knocked forward, and as she stood up, her eyes flashing with intense rage, a small trickle of blood could be seen sliding with beneath her hair and down the side of her face.
"Take this!!" Kokoro roared, bringing her sword over her head and slashing at Era. Era dodged, though, and then she flipped around and elbowed Kokoro in the back.
The Zealen girl charged up her energy and lifted her Moon-Star above her head. "Let's see you dodge this" Kokoro said, casting a spell while Era smirked at her.
A red fire whirling around Kokoro's sword appeared and she spun around, holding the Moon-Star behind her. "BLAZING BLADE!" Kokoro yelled as the red fire crackled with surging magical energy and power.
Era cocked her head to the left. "Oh, how cute. A color-changing sword," she mocked as she dodged effortlessly as Kokoro slashed at her.
"Dodge this!" Kokoro, flying above Era, brought her sword down towards her head. Era flashed away and within milliseconds was behind Kokoro. She barely had time to muster a look surprise before Era slammed her to the ground.
Era slowly hovered back down to the grass and stood over Kokoro as she strained to get up. Her sword had been thrown over a few yards away, and was now sticking, hilt up, in the ground. Era walked over to it and pulled it out of the dirt. After gazing at it for a few seconds, she threw it up into the air.
"Say goodbye to your sword, kid!" Era yelled, launching a smaller version of Death Reborn' toward the blade. The thin yellow beam sped up toward the shimmering Moon-Star, until it collided with it halfway up the blade. Several sharp pieces of metal shattered, and the two largest parts, what was left of the blade and remnants of the hilt, clattered together in the air until landing on the grass next to Kokoro.
Kokoro jumped up, a line of blood running down her face. She glared at Era, who, as always, just stood and smirked.
"Youyou cannot win!!" Kokoro yelled, her eyes flashing with rage. She glanced at the broken sword on the ground, then at Vortex who was watching but still wincing in pain.
A strong wind blew across the isle. Era grinned maliciously as the gust ruffled her purple hair. "What're you going to do? Without your sword you're nothing!" Era called to Kokoro.
Kokoro shot a glance at Vortex then looked back at Era. "Subetechikara ni" she chanted, a silvery-black aura surrounding her. "kaeyou!!!"
The young girl's hair became purple-black in color, but did not move or shift otherwise. Her skin began to fluctuate and change colors and her eyes became white, though a tinge of color appeared in them when her skin changed colors. Her clothes disappeared and were replaced with dark blue clothing and blood-red boots and gloves.
Kokoro looked straight at Era as her skin suddenly shifted into a light greenish color. Sodid you think I was a simple, weak human with no hidden power? A primitive lifeform that had no hope of even surviving a single hit from you? I am still standing, am I not? She said in a soundless voice.
Era took a step back, clearly shaken. Within seconds, though, she regained her composure. "Even Nakabuto are primitive! Will you fools never learn? You can't win! With one cry, I could summon a fleet of my comrades!! I may be known as the rebel Era among the Nakabuto," she growled, "I am a great warrior amid my own kind!"
Her opponent grinned. So, you're talking about the other sewer rats, then? Kokoro mocked. Era fumed with rage.
"Perhaps I should cut you, then! Like I did your little friend over there!" Era gestured to Vortex, who was still clutching her left shoulder in pain. Blood was sliding down from the wound on her right cheek. Her right eye was also closed in pain.
Vortex looked up, her left squinting. "Don'ttry to block it! It can't bedodged!! Don't let pride consume you" she yelled, slowly removing her hand from her shoulder.
I won't. Thank you Kokoro said softly. Era threw a blade of black energy at her, but she dodged. The evil girl quickly appeared behind her, and Kokoro was thrown to the ground in seconds.
That was it. Kokoro's power had run out. Her hair faded back to blue, her eyes, skin, and clothing became normal again. She groaned in pain and succumbed to unconsciousness.
Era turned her head to see Vortex slowly walked toward her, her right eye closed, but otherwise seemingly unscathed.
"Aren't you the persistent one," Era snickered as Vortex gathered her energy.
"I'm not done yet! If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!!" Vortex yelled.
Era perked up. "Kamikaze? Hah, ha! This brawl will provide adequate entertainment after all!" Grinning, she crossed her arms. "All right, give me your best shot!!"
Vortex faltered but didn't fall. The slash on her face was slowly draining her blood. "You do not control metake this!!"
Leaping forward, Vortex cast a small spell and an orb of darkness surrounded Era. The orb then exploded, leaving her slightly wounded. Era turned, enraged, to face Vortex.
"You leave me no choice, Nakabuto!! I will drain your power and leave you dead on the grass!" Era shot a sphere of blue light at Vortex. The sorceress dodged, but Era kept firing. The sphere didn't vanish, and so, with so many energy-absorbing spells on the ground, it became very hard to avoid them.
Vortex turned her head up to stare at the group that was perched on the mountain. "Get into the air! Take Kokoro and avoid those blue orbs!!! Do it, NOW!!" she roared, and they instantly complied. Ayla dropped down, grabbed Kokoro, and scurried back up the mountain.
"It's just you and I now" Era smirked, watching the group all hanging onto the Epoch, which clearly couldn't hold more than three, that was slowly losing altitude.
"I know," Vortex responded, the pain in her face and shoulder making her wince. Era grinned.
"The pain is wearing you down. In a little bit, you'll fail and collide with one of my spheres. Then your power will be mine and my kind shall come and take this planet's energy. Then, when it is nothing but a cold, inhabitable shell, Ishall destroy it!!" Era cried with pride.
Vortex blinked. "Youaren't very respected amongst your fellow Lavoses, are you? Noyou a loner, a drifterI bet you are attempting to destroy us so you can claim this and regain respect with your superiors. I'm right, am I not?"
"You littleprimitive Nakabuto! With my species or not, they are pending the invasion of your home planet. So who will have the last laugh, eh? It will be meus, the most powerful species in the galaxythe universe!!" Era proclaimed. She held up her right hand and a yellow sphere appeared in her palm.
"DEATH REBORN!!!" Era roared, throwing the sphere forward and willing it to explode. The bursting energy was then concentrated into a beam. The beam flew forward at Vortex.
Vortex leapt back and gathered her strength. "No! I don't have enough power!!" Panic was settling onto Vortex, but she quickly calmed. "I am a warrior, thus I am prepared to die in battle. But I'm not going down without a fight!!!"
*
Crono watched Vortex and Era with rapt attention. Eight people were in the Epoch, and it could stay that way unless they attempted to time-travel. He knew that her power was almost gone, but what could they do? He himself had been knocked down with one hit from Era
"Isn't there something we can do?" Lucca shrieked, clearly showing her worry for Vortex.
Marle was trying hard not to look at Era and Vortex and was occupying herself with healing Kokoro. Within a few seconds, the young girl was stirring and then climbed off the floor of the Epoch slowly.
"I heard your question, Lucca. My magic power may be gone, but yours isn't! You could give your power to Vortex, if you wanted to," Kokoro said, trying to be nonchalant but clearly failing.
Marle snapped her fingers and jumped up. "Yes! Like we did for Magus that one time! Remember?" Everyone quickly summoned their strongest attacks and threw the power at Vortex.
*
A sudden surge of energy made Vortex turn. Seven magic spells were catapulting towards her. Grinning slightly, she leapt up and absorbed the power. Slowly floating back down to the ground, Vortex called the newly-given energy.
Era was one step ahead of Vortex though. She shot a sharp blade of energy at Vortex, and it quickly penetrated the skin of her left arm. Vortex staggered but didn't fall.
"Ahmy arm!" Vortex cried, seeing her limp, useless arm. The blade of energy has shut down all the muscles and nerves in her left arm, leaving it motionless and useless.
A look of blazing anger was exchanged between the two opponents. The air between them seemed to crackle with their rage and power. The fight had strayed from magic spells to shots and blasts of pure, raw energy, but which would be the finale? Magic, or energy?
"Let it be here that you die, Vortex! Your race will not care!" Era yelled, gathering her power.
"Perhaps it will be that lies dead on the grass, not I!" Vortex called back as she prepared her most powerful spell.
Era pulled back her hands behind her back and a blue ball of magical power formed in her palms. A swirl of raw energy whirled around her and dirt from the ground was blown up into the air.
Vortex curled the fingers of her right hand and slowly moved her hand backwards. Her other arm still hung limp, and the two slashes still burned, but she wasn't swayed. A black orb appeared around her right hand, and it grew gradually.
"ULTIMATE DEMISE!" Era roared, sending the blue ball flying at Vortex. Halfway to its destination, however, the orb exploded into a hundred razor sharp blades, whirling towards the sorceress.
Vortex grinned with an insane and defeated look. "Special Inspiration" she said, the black orb flying up and changing colors swiftly. The ball then combusted into a large beam, which began quickly trying to deflect the blades. Too many dodged the spell, however, and they each blasted Vortex with the dark power of a Lavos.
After thirty blades injured Vortex, she fell, blood running down her face, wounds all over her, clothes cut and slashed. The maniac glow that surrounded her during the fight faded, and she was fighting unconsciousness.
Era laughed wildly and walked toward the fallen mage, and lifted up her right hand. A small energy-absorbing sphere materialized in her hand.
"It appears I will have your power after allI think my kind will welcome me back with open arms when I obtain your strength. If only you had not allowed me to weaken you, I would have lostlost royally," Era grinned as the sphere grew larger.
The sphere grew larger and it embarked from Era's palm
The ball grew larger still and inched towards Vortex
Blue light cascaded over the wounded girl, and the ball was millimeters away
A cry of fury erupted from the sky. Era hesitated.
Something fast slammed into Era and sent her careening over to the side, rolling in the dirt. She jumped up, enraged. A look of bemusement came over to her face when she saw the attacker.
Magus.
He stood there, blood-red cape flapping the breeze, glaring at Era, but every few seconds his eyes flickered to Vortex.
"Come to die, human?" Era called out mockingly.
Magus met her crazy eyes with a steely cold stare. "I have come to kill you."
A gust wind blew across the small, partially-destroyed island. Era erupted into wild laughter.
"Youkill me? Ah hah ha hah haaa!" Era gestured to Vortex. "She could not defeat me, not even when she was at her zenith! And now, you claim to have powers superior to hers, hmmm?"
Magus blinked. "She is stronger than I. That I do not deny. Butshe was only at the zenith you allowed her."
Era set her hands on her hips. "Alright, then, human. Give me your best shot!"
Magus spread his arms wide. He began his chant, which was familiar, but with some modifications.
"Neuga, ziena, zieber, zomNow the chosen time has comeThe time destined for the defeat of Lavos warrior" he yelled, black energy surrounding him.
"What power is this?" Era mused, half curious, half frightened.
The ground around Magus exploded, and the Shadow magic was given form from mere power. The magical power gathered itself into one spell, into one specific spot.
"DARK MATTER!!" Magus roared, as not three but nine triangles hurled themselves at Era. For a spilt second, as the Shadow magic demolished the Lavos girl, a flicker of a Nakabuto's true form appeared in front of Magus.
"Impossible!!" Era screamed as her body was disintegrated. "A human and a Nakabuto? NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
And she was gone.
Magus dropped to his knees with sweat running down his face. He had left from Lucca's house in search of greater magic skillluckily, he had found the right book at the right time. After a short time, the others came leaping down from the Epoch. Magus paid no attention to their cries and congratulations on his victory, but instead he walked slowly over to Vortex, who was being healed by Marle.
Vortex sat up and Magus knelt down, relief washing over him. She was okay, she was alive, and she didn't die
"Vortexwant to say" Magus started, trying to find the right words for what he felt.
Vortex smiled and shushed him. For a few seconds the just sat there, both looking into each others eyes, and then they embraced.
Crono and Marle smiled knowingly and hugged each other too.
Kokoro picked up the pieces of her broken sword with Glenn's help.
Robo watched interestedly at the display of human love.
Lucca smiled with happiness and looked with a flirting glance at Glenn.
And Ayla just blinked and watched without comment.
All through the ranks of the nine greatest heroes on the planet, there was a peace and contentment for many years to come
.
Fin
(Again, not really)
.