Chapter Seventeen: Of Gods and Men: Part I
AN: The legend is near its finale… It has been great, but the next few chapters will be the conclusion to my story. This has been a great experience for me, and I am not done yet. You will see all your favorite characters, including a few new friends in my next upcoming story…. "The Battle Within." Thanks for all the help, suggestion, comments and encouragement from all my readers!
Chapter Rating: Pg-13
"Good Lord!" Roxton exclaimed. He strained slightly, shoving the table upright. Marguerite grabbed a few of the fallen tools and now broken dishes. She shook her head, "18th century tea cup…" She sighed, setting the shattered cup down on a near by counter.
Challenger examined one of his scientific interments, "At least my specimens are not harmed…" He smiled as he put his small glassware in his pocket.
Marguerite shook her head, and Malone rubbed his neck. "Damn it… What was that anyway?" His voice raspy.
Roxton shook his head, "Backdraft… From our friends takeoff."
Marguerite nodded, and Challenger straightened a few miscellaneous items. Something shiny caught Roxton's eye. He moved over, his face in a giant frown. He squatted, picking up a fine crystalline glass. "No…" He breathed out, "My last bottle of Monte Carlo…."
Cirrus held his arms to his face, blasting trough the crest of a massive cloud front. He flipped his wings around, sending out a breaking front of air, skittering himself to a dead stop. Rotating his wings around, and with a few small pluses, was able to hover directly in place. Veronica lifted up her head from his neck, gazing at the scenery before them. Everything was covered in white, clouds stretched across the blue sky. The ground was gone, replaced by a rolling, swirling mass of white that blocked out even the dense green of the jungle below.
"It's absolutely breathtaking…"She exclaimed. Her eyes drinking in all the new sights before her.
Cirrus chuckled, "And to think…That humans have never been in the sky."
Veronica tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
Cirrus pushed her hair back, "Humans will someday invent machines that will soar though the clouds. But, they will never be a part…Of the sky itself."
Veronica smiled, as Cirrus continued, "Flying is not a way of mere transportation…But an extension of being a part of the sky. Feeling the wind whisper though your hair, giving you tendrils of its wisdom. Knowing the currents like you know a well worn path, being able to understand the air, and having it blow under your wings….The sky itself…Is a treasure, waiting for the ones who can truly understand its gift."
Veronica grinned, "Its must be wonderful…"
Cirrus nodded, "Besides from meeting you… I don't know of anything that's bestowed me with such joy."
Veronica blushed slightly at the comment, and looked up at Cirrus. She kissed him, lingering under his touch. She held him close, he holding onto her snugly. The wind whipped around them both, sending Veronica's hair cascading like a waterfall. She pulled away, "The wind likes to play with my hair…" She mused.
Cirrus laughed, "It fancies my feathers…"
Veronica laughed, hugging Cirrus. "So… Where's this place that you spoke of?"
Cirrus smiled, "Curious?"
Veronica nodded, "A little…"
Cirrus grinned, "I was hoping you would be…" He pointed at the clouds. "If we moderate our speed, and dive though that small pocket…We should be about half a mile away from the dropzone."
Veronica smiled, "In time…Mr. Flyer."
Cirrus put on a fake look of hurt, "Time? Is that all you can think about?"
Veronica pulled him close, "I could be thinking about something else…."
Cirrus complicated those words, his eyes snapped open at the realization. Cirrus nodded, "In that case… I better hurry!" He looked at the small hole in the clouds. "Hold on…" He smiled, and spread his wings, diving like a falcon after its prey.
Roxton speechlessly wiped the last of the amber liquid away. He sighed, and put the bottle back onto the propped up table. "That Kid… Made the wrong move." He patted his hands against his sides, holding his ribs. He cursed inward; making different phrases that would have never been spoken by a true English gentleman.
Challenger came up behind him, "Took out your private stock, eh?"
Roxton nodded, "It could have been my gun, or my six shooters… But, damn it Challenger… It was the Monte Carlo!"
Marguerite peeked her head up from the table, "Last fragment of London…. Shattered."
Malone looked up from his notebook, chucking softly to himself. "Margureete, have some pity for the man!"
Roxton sighed, "Pray I have pity for Cirrus when he comes back…"
Marguerite, Challenger and Malone all smiled at the last comment…
"Oh…Crap!" Cirrus cursed softy to himself. He expanded his wings, lowering them to catch the air like a parachute. He yanked hard over, pulling up on the wind. His body gained a steep climb, coming to a dead stop. "Stall!" He cried out, rebalancing his wings over the wind, trying to find a balancing point. Veronica held her breath, as he plunged downward. Cirrus opened his eyes to see the treeline rush towards them. "Gotta do this right!"
He spread out his feathers, catching hold of a thin airstream. With his wings spread out, and the feathers flatted, the airstream blasted him up over the treeline. This allowed him to safety skim with mere inches over the tree canopies. Veronica sighed with relief as he hovered to a standstill, and floated down to the earth.
Cirrus wiped his brow, smiling at Veronica. "Heh… I meant to do that…"
She rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth crept up a little. "Really… And I guess the part of nearly plunging to our deaths was apart of your plan as well?"
Cirrus thought for a second, "I practiced…."
Veronica burst out laughing, and Cirrus did as well. Veronica wiped the corners of her eyes, "So… Where is this place that you spoke of?"
Cirrus turned around, spreading his arms, "Look!"
Veronica followed his arms with her eyes, gazing out at the serene sight before her. The jungle stretched out for what seemed for an eternity. The skyline mixed in with the jungle, making for a perfect view of the jungle and the sky.
Cirrus smiled, "Watch…"
Veronica looked out at the jungle; she gasped as the sun came creeping down from the sky. Lighting the sky in a ray of golden light. The jungle seemed to burst into red flames as the sun came down to earth.
"Cirrus… Its wonderful!" She exclaimed
Cirrus walked up behind her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She looked up, kissing him; he reached over holding her snug with his free hand. " I'm glad… That you could see this with me." He said
Veronica snuggled against his neck, 'I know… I want to have you like this, forever…"
They held each other close, as the sun disappeared behind the earth. It covered the whole land in a curtain of orange light, before plunging behind a curtain of night.
Cirrus looked down at Veronica, who was still snuggled against his chest. "But… Fate has a way, of acting out its own plans…"
She looked up at him, and was about to ask him a question, when a large beam of purple light exploded from the Jungle floor. Huge shockwaves were sent over the surface of the earth, rattling the mountains to the north. Even shaking Veronica and Cirrus where they stood.
"Cirrus!" Veronica called out, grabbing tighter onto him. She cried out, as she was thrown to the ground. Cirrus, stood solid against the onslaught, looking at the pillar of dark energy that was erupting from the ground… He gritted his teeth, as a long figure rose out of the earth. It stood still for a moment, then was lifted into the sky, by the intense waves of energy.
Cirrus put his hand to his face as large dark beams exploded from the dark incarnate, incinerating large strips of the jungle, turning the dense green fauna, into wispy gray ashes.
Veronica rose to her feet, grabbing Cirrus' hand, she looked at him, "Its him… Isn't it?"
Cirrus shook his head, His eyes burning with small fires of light, 'X'el…"
Cirrus grabbed onto her shoulder, "I want to you go back to the treehouse, and tell the others about this!"
Veronica shook her head, "Are you nuts!? I'm staying here with you!"
Cirrus looked heavenwards, "I don't have time for this! For your own good, you have to head back!"
Veronica again, shook her head, "Forget it! I'm not leaving you!"
Cirrus sighed, "Then I guess it's settled…" He looked at her, "Forgive me…" He raised his hand, sending out a flash of white light. Veronica cringed at the beam, as the white burst flash around her. "This is it…" She thought, "I'm going to die…"
She reopened her eyes, finding herself right below the treehouse. She looked at her hands, and her body. "Still… In one piece?"
She gritted her teeth at the realization of what had just transpired. She ran over to the elevator call lever, slamming it down in frustration. The elevator came down, creaking, she grabbed onto one of the guardrails, pulling on the rising lever.
Her eyes were hard as she told Challenger, Malone, Roxton and Margureete of the past recent events….
AN: The legend is near its finale… It has been great, but the next few chapters will be the conclusion to my story. This has been a great experience for me, and I am not done yet. You will see all your favorite characters, including a few new friends in my next upcoming story…. "The Battle Within." Thanks for all the help, suggestion, comments and encouragement from all my readers!
Chapter Rating: Pg-13
"Good Lord!" Roxton exclaimed. He strained slightly, shoving the table upright. Marguerite grabbed a few of the fallen tools and now broken dishes. She shook her head, "18th century tea cup…" She sighed, setting the shattered cup down on a near by counter.
Challenger examined one of his scientific interments, "At least my specimens are not harmed…" He smiled as he put his small glassware in his pocket.
Marguerite shook her head, and Malone rubbed his neck. "Damn it… What was that anyway?" His voice raspy.
Roxton shook his head, "Backdraft… From our friends takeoff."
Marguerite nodded, and Challenger straightened a few miscellaneous items. Something shiny caught Roxton's eye. He moved over, his face in a giant frown. He squatted, picking up a fine crystalline glass. "No…" He breathed out, "My last bottle of Monte Carlo…."
Cirrus held his arms to his face, blasting trough the crest of a massive cloud front. He flipped his wings around, sending out a breaking front of air, skittering himself to a dead stop. Rotating his wings around, and with a few small pluses, was able to hover directly in place. Veronica lifted up her head from his neck, gazing at the scenery before them. Everything was covered in white, clouds stretched across the blue sky. The ground was gone, replaced by a rolling, swirling mass of white that blocked out even the dense green of the jungle below.
"It's absolutely breathtaking…"She exclaimed. Her eyes drinking in all the new sights before her.
Cirrus chuckled, "And to think…That humans have never been in the sky."
Veronica tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
Cirrus pushed her hair back, "Humans will someday invent machines that will soar though the clouds. But, they will never be a part…Of the sky itself."
Veronica smiled, as Cirrus continued, "Flying is not a way of mere transportation…But an extension of being a part of the sky. Feeling the wind whisper though your hair, giving you tendrils of its wisdom. Knowing the currents like you know a well worn path, being able to understand the air, and having it blow under your wings….The sky itself…Is a treasure, waiting for the ones who can truly understand its gift."
Veronica grinned, "Its must be wonderful…"
Cirrus nodded, "Besides from meeting you… I don't know of anything that's bestowed me with such joy."
Veronica blushed slightly at the comment, and looked up at Cirrus. She kissed him, lingering under his touch. She held him close, he holding onto her snugly. The wind whipped around them both, sending Veronica's hair cascading like a waterfall. She pulled away, "The wind likes to play with my hair…" She mused.
Cirrus laughed, "It fancies my feathers…"
Veronica laughed, hugging Cirrus. "So… Where's this place that you spoke of?"
Cirrus smiled, "Curious?"
Veronica nodded, "A little…"
Cirrus grinned, "I was hoping you would be…" He pointed at the clouds. "If we moderate our speed, and dive though that small pocket…We should be about half a mile away from the dropzone."
Veronica smiled, "In time…Mr. Flyer."
Cirrus put on a fake look of hurt, "Time? Is that all you can think about?"
Veronica pulled him close, "I could be thinking about something else…."
Cirrus complicated those words, his eyes snapped open at the realization. Cirrus nodded, "In that case… I better hurry!" He looked at the small hole in the clouds. "Hold on…" He smiled, and spread his wings, diving like a falcon after its prey.
Roxton speechlessly wiped the last of the amber liquid away. He sighed, and put the bottle back onto the propped up table. "That Kid… Made the wrong move." He patted his hands against his sides, holding his ribs. He cursed inward; making different phrases that would have never been spoken by a true English gentleman.
Challenger came up behind him, "Took out your private stock, eh?"
Roxton nodded, "It could have been my gun, or my six shooters… But, damn it Challenger… It was the Monte Carlo!"
Marguerite peeked her head up from the table, "Last fragment of London…. Shattered."
Malone looked up from his notebook, chucking softly to himself. "Margureete, have some pity for the man!"
Roxton sighed, "Pray I have pity for Cirrus when he comes back…"
Marguerite, Challenger and Malone all smiled at the last comment…
"Oh…Crap!" Cirrus cursed softy to himself. He expanded his wings, lowering them to catch the air like a parachute. He yanked hard over, pulling up on the wind. His body gained a steep climb, coming to a dead stop. "Stall!" He cried out, rebalancing his wings over the wind, trying to find a balancing point. Veronica held her breath, as he plunged downward. Cirrus opened his eyes to see the treeline rush towards them. "Gotta do this right!"
He spread out his feathers, catching hold of a thin airstream. With his wings spread out, and the feathers flatted, the airstream blasted him up over the treeline. This allowed him to safety skim with mere inches over the tree canopies. Veronica sighed with relief as he hovered to a standstill, and floated down to the earth.
Cirrus wiped his brow, smiling at Veronica. "Heh… I meant to do that…"
She rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth crept up a little. "Really… And I guess the part of nearly plunging to our deaths was apart of your plan as well?"
Cirrus thought for a second, "I practiced…."
Veronica burst out laughing, and Cirrus did as well. Veronica wiped the corners of her eyes, "So… Where is this place that you spoke of?"
Cirrus turned around, spreading his arms, "Look!"
Veronica followed his arms with her eyes, gazing out at the serene sight before her. The jungle stretched out for what seemed for an eternity. The skyline mixed in with the jungle, making for a perfect view of the jungle and the sky.
Cirrus smiled, "Watch…"
Veronica looked out at the jungle; she gasped as the sun came creeping down from the sky. Lighting the sky in a ray of golden light. The jungle seemed to burst into red flames as the sun came down to earth.
"Cirrus… Its wonderful!" She exclaimed
Cirrus walked up behind her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She looked up, kissing him; he reached over holding her snug with his free hand. " I'm glad… That you could see this with me." He said
Veronica snuggled against his neck, 'I know… I want to have you like this, forever…"
They held each other close, as the sun disappeared behind the earth. It covered the whole land in a curtain of orange light, before plunging behind a curtain of night.
Cirrus looked down at Veronica, who was still snuggled against his chest. "But… Fate has a way, of acting out its own plans…"
She looked up at him, and was about to ask him a question, when a large beam of purple light exploded from the Jungle floor. Huge shockwaves were sent over the surface of the earth, rattling the mountains to the north. Even shaking Veronica and Cirrus where they stood.
"Cirrus!" Veronica called out, grabbing tighter onto him. She cried out, as she was thrown to the ground. Cirrus, stood solid against the onslaught, looking at the pillar of dark energy that was erupting from the ground… He gritted his teeth, as a long figure rose out of the earth. It stood still for a moment, then was lifted into the sky, by the intense waves of energy.
Cirrus put his hand to his face as large dark beams exploded from the dark incarnate, incinerating large strips of the jungle, turning the dense green fauna, into wispy gray ashes.
Veronica rose to her feet, grabbing Cirrus' hand, she looked at him, "Its him… Isn't it?"
Cirrus shook his head, His eyes burning with small fires of light, 'X'el…"
Cirrus grabbed onto her shoulder, "I want to you go back to the treehouse, and tell the others about this!"
Veronica shook her head, "Are you nuts!? I'm staying here with you!"
Cirrus looked heavenwards, "I don't have time for this! For your own good, you have to head back!"
Veronica again, shook her head, "Forget it! I'm not leaving you!"
Cirrus sighed, "Then I guess it's settled…" He looked at her, "Forgive me…" He raised his hand, sending out a flash of white light. Veronica cringed at the beam, as the white burst flash around her. "This is it…" She thought, "I'm going to die…"
She reopened her eyes, finding herself right below the treehouse. She looked at her hands, and her body. "Still… In one piece?"
She gritted her teeth at the realization of what had just transpired. She ran over to the elevator call lever, slamming it down in frustration. The elevator came down, creaking, she grabbed onto one of the guardrails, pulling on the rising lever.
Her eyes were hard as she told Challenger, Malone, Roxton and Margureete of the past recent events….