Chapter 12
As Kemeko stood with Freya and Loki, the three of them looking on as Sonia comforted the upset Pandora, the ninja in training felt a presence behind them before she heard the footstep that accompanied it.
She didn't think much of it, as others did use the dojo, and perhaps it was one of their parents, aunts, uncles, or anyone else in the hidden sanctuary looking for them. With no one other than the most trusted even knowing of the existence of Mutopia, save for Diablo, whom no one knew where he was at the time, there was no need to be on guard in the safety of their home.
But that had changed.
Something Kemeko noticed all too late. As she turned around to meet whoever was walking up to them, she didn't even have the time to react as a large hand grabbed her by the throat and effortlessly lifted her off the ground, putting her face to face with the golden dragon, Vulstrun, and he smirked maliciously.
Kemeko tried to scream, but Vulstrun's grip was too strong and she could barely breath, let alone make any sounds. She was at his mercy, or the lack thereof.
At this moment, the Geckolings had also noticed the presence behind them, and both of them cried out in shock when they saw the gold dragon holding Kemeko.
"Kemeko!" Freya called out.
The calls of the twins spurred Sonia into taking immediate action, drawing her sword by instinct and rushing to their aid, followed closely by a still upset Pandora, though the hybrid was able to put her personal problems aside in order to focus on helping her family.
As soon as the two saw Vulstrun, however, they stopped dead in their tracks, his mere presence, the malicious aura he exuded, terrifying them.
As he let his gaze sweep across the kids, Vulstrun stopped on each and everyone of them, locking eyes with them, examining them.
"I recognise you." he growled with dark amusement as he looked at Sonia. "You were the first to die."
The statement, cold and factual, yet with pride, sent shivers down the chameleon's spine, and she put all her effort into remaining in her green colour, to not give away just how scared she was. But she was scared, scared beyond anything she had ever been before, and a streak of yellow formed along her back.
Vulstrun's eyes moved to the twins, looking closely at their dragon features.
"So, the dragon has spawns of his own." he said disapprovingly. "Weak cross-breeds from the look of you."
The geckolings both snarled in response to the remark, yet they dared not do anything else. They could sense great magical power within Vulstrun. Untamed and volatile, yet somehow in synch with the Asian looking dragon. He was not only powerful, but incredibly dangerous, like a force of nature with a focus, a will of its own.
Next, Vulstrun locked eyes with Pandora, and the hybrid instantly recognised the feeling it gave her. It was the same as she had gotten when Tyroth fought her earlier, yet still far worse.
During her match, while Tyroth had claimed that he would not hold back, that was just what he did, but only enough so that he wouldn't really hurt or kill her, while still demonstrating just how outclassed she was compared to him.
She was told that Vulstrun would not do such a thing, and she could now feel the truth of that statement for herself, she would only live for as long as he allowed.
Flashbacks to the fight haunted her anew. Every time that she would have died had Tyroth truly wanted her dead. And she was now, for all intents and purposes, being stared down by death itself, and he smirked at her.
"You're also a new face." he chuckled grimly before turning to the struggling Kemeko. "And so are you, and you're not even a mutant. You're just a weak human, unable to do anything of value in life. Killing you would be as easy as closing my hand."
Vulstrun's hand squeezed ever so slightly more, and Kemeko felt how it became even harder to breath. All it would take was just a little more pressure, and she would suffocate.
"Kemeko! No!" Pandora cried out. Despite being as terrified as the others, her burning desire to protect her cousin and honorary sister allowed her to overcome the fear. With rage in her eyes, she gripped Mr Swinger. "Let her go! Leave my cousin alone!" she shouted as she threw Mr. Swinger at Vulstrun.
"Pandora! Don't!" Sonia called, but it was too late, the attack was already launched.
And it connected, striking the dragon on his forehead, but while he flinched slightly from the sudden hit, his grip around Kemeko's throat remained iron-like as before. However, instead of reacting with anger, the dragon simply laughed.
"So you want to play, huh?" he said, his gaze transfixing Pandora on the spot as it started to sink in just what she had done. But she would do so again, and again, and however many times it took to save Kemeko, even if it was a horrible idea.
"Back into the cave with all of you." Vulstrun commanded. "The feisty one and I are going to put on a show for you all."
"No! You can't-" Sonia objected.
"Listen, kid, either you do as I tell you, or I kill all of you right now!" Vulstrun interrupted with a snarl.
"Sonia?" Loki said, not knowing what they should do at the moment and looking to the chameleon for guidance.
Soina's eyes darted between the others, and she knew that she had to find some way of saving them, but she also knew that they stood no change against this foe, not together, and certainly not alone. If Pandora fought Vulstrun, she would die, but if she didn't, then they would all die. Still, there was no promise that he would not kill them all anyway.
"Do as he says." Sonia sighed in defeat. "Pandora… is on her own…"
The twins paled at Sonia's words, but they both knew that they had little choice in the matter. However, they noticed a glint in Sonia's eyes. She hadn't given up, not yet.
In truth, she was hoping that someone else would come by and discover them. As neither of them had brought their shell-cells, that was the only way they would get any help, or at least warning to the adults. If Pandora could just hold out long enough, entertain this… this monster long enough, then maybe at least some of them could be saved.
Not a happy ending by any means, but she had to try and save as many as she could, and this was all she could do for the moment.
As Sonia, Loki and Freya sat down along the wall of the dojo, Pandora and Vulstrun stood opposite of each other in the middle, the dragon finally letting go of the Asian girl, who coughed as she could finally breathe unhindered.
"Listen, girl." Vulstrun said in a dark voice, making Kemeko look up at him with great fear. "Go into the settlement. Tell everyone that I am here. Bring them here to me, especially the dragon. While I wait for you to return, I will 'play' with your cousin here. So run as fast as you can, girl, or this might be the last you see of your cousin"
Kemeko looked at the dragon, and then at Pandora.
"Don't worry, Kem." the hybrid comforted. "I'll… I'll be okay. Just get Uncle T!"
Locking eyes with Pandora for a moment, Kemeko blinked away a few tears that had started to form, and nodded as she hurried out of the dojo and back to the village.
"Dad! Uncle T! Somebody! Anybody! Help!" she screamed at the top of her still recovering lungs, all while new tears fell down her cheeks.
"Vulstrun!" Tyroth roared as he, the Knights and Ninja all arrived at the dojo, followed closely by the rest of the residents.
"Pandora!" Monalisa shrieked when she saw the limp form of her daughter being held up by the neck by Vulstrun. She was badly bruised, and blood dripped onto the floor from several open wounds.
The hybrid's fingers twitched. Despite her injuries, she tried to keep on fighting, but she just couldn't summon the strength to continue.
The golden dragon looked at Tyroth with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
"Let her go and we can talk!" Tyroth barked.
Vulstrun glanced at Pandora, and shrugged.
"Fair enough. You had my curiosity, now you've got my attention." he said, and dropped Pandora onto the floor.
"Pandora!" Monalisa cried out, running over to her daughter, accompanied by Raphael and Donatello. The other children all also ran towards their cousin, yet Kemeko was held back by Leonardo.
"My baby! Speak to me!" Monalisa sobbed as she held Pandora close while Donatello started examining the wounds, and her mate glared daggers at the dragon.
"She'll live." Vulstrun scoffed. "I only taught her her place. I have no desire to expend my energy ahead of the battle with my only worthy foe." His eyes trailed towards Tyroth.
"There will be no battle." Tyroth stated, which seemed to spark some annoyance with the other dragon.
"You say that now, but the night is still young." Vulstrun chuckled. "However, for now, we talk. So answer me, how do you know my name?"
"We were approached by… by an informant."
Vulstrun tilted his head slightly. The possibility that someone out there had such information about him was unlikely, and unpleasant. While he had come for a battle, now he wanted answers as well.
"However," Tyroth continued. "we were told more than just who you are now. We also know who you once were… Raymond Ottosen."
Vulstrun's eyes widened. That was a name no one had uttered for nearly two decades. If they had that information, then their claims were true, and they were sure to have more, which put him in an uncomfortable position.
"And what does that name mean to you, Red?" Vulstrun asked, trying to hide his discomfort at the subject.
Tyroth frowned and walked up to Vulstrun, looking him dead in the eyes.
"We both know what it means." the red dragon growled. "We both know what we saw in each others' eyes when last we met. This is just confirmation."
"Indeed it is." the golden dragon said with a smirk. "We are the same, you and I… Raymond Ottosen. The same, yet different still."
"Clearly. Not all events have unfolded the same for the two of us."
"That I can see." Vulstrun said, glancing at the Mutopians. "Back where I come from, this place is a tomb, and I should know, I made it so."
Fury grew inside Tyroth's heart upon hearing the pride in Vulstrun's voice about such a horrible act.
"Why are you doing all this?" Tyroth asked, trying to keep calm. "Why all this death and destruction?"
"It is the only thing that give me pleasure after that fateful day, the only purpose I have left. I lost everything, and the world itself will pay the price. But you, you may yet give me the one thing that I have longed for."
"And what is that?"
"A challenge! A real opponent! Humans fall in the hundreds against me. Other mutants and beasts fair little better, but they have so far not been anything exciting. You, on the other hand, you are my equal, or as close as can be at least. Defeating you will be the ultimate achievement!"
"And what if I don't fight you?"
"You have no choice! If you do not, I will still kill you, and everyone else here, starting with the brats!"
Red flashed across Tyroth's eyes. He wanted so badly to just end Vulstrun where he stood, before he could hurt anyone else. But he couldn't take the risk of not killing him with the first blow, for if he survived, even for just a moment, he could cause untold damage with his lightning powers. Who knows how many could get hurt, or worse.
And that wasn't the only thing holding Tyroth back. He was still determined to find a way to stop Vulstrun without resorting to violence. However, he saw no path towards that goal, he did not know how to properly approach this issue. He needed more time to think, and time was an all to precious resource at that moment.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing." a voice spoke up behind Tyroth, and he froze as Sephie walked up beside him. Her eyes were trained on Vulstrun, filled with a mix of sadness and disappointment.
"How can you have changed this much? You used to be such a kind soul. Noble, even. And now, this is what's left of you? Is there really nothing of the old you left, of Raymond?"
"You speak as if you know me, but I never saw you in my world." Vulstrun replied with a frown. "Who are you?"
"Someone that knew you better than anyone else. Look me in the eyes."
"What are you…? Wait… I know you…"
"Now, I am known as Sephie the Gecko, but before that, I was Elisabeth."
For the first time, Vulstrun seemed actually shaken. The revelation that the woman he once had lost, was still alive caught him of guard.
"No… that can't be… I saw… I saw the life leave you… your cold corpse… I buried you with my bare hands… you can't be Elisabeth…"
"It is true, and you know it, you can tell that I'm Elisabeth. My eyes don't lie."
"We told you, some events unfolded differently in this timeline" said Tyroth.
"Please, Vulstrun. Raymond." Sephie continued, taking a few steps towards the golden dragon. "Please stop all this violence. Let us help you find peace again. Like Tyroth, you can use your powers to help protect others, to prevent them from suffering as you have."
She extended a hand towards Vulstrun.
"I believe that there is good still inside of you. Even if you are different from Tyroth, I can tell that the two of you still have a lot in common. Please, let us help, let us be your new family."
Vulstrun scanned Sephie for a long time, his eyes occasionally darting to Tyroth, and then he smiled.
"It seems he and I have one more thing in common." he said softly.
The he backhanded Sephie so hard that she flew into the cave wall several metres away, hitting it with a horrific crack, slumping limply against the floor with her neck bent wrongly.
"Now we have both lost you."
Everyone was in shock, struggling to process what had just happened. Tyroth was the first to break the deafening silence.
"SEPHIE!"
"MOM!" the geckolings cried.
And Vulstrun, he laughed.
As the entire room erupted in a panic, the golden dragon forcefully shoved his way through the mutants, and escaped into the dark tunnels before anyone could stop him
And his laughter could still be heard echoing as everyone gathered around their fallen comrade.
The tension keeps building! How will things go from here?
Don't miss the coming chapters, we're about to reach the final stretch!