Chapter 9
Hye attacked with all the fury she felt in her cold heart.
Legs and arms were flying. The two fought so fast that Pyralis' eyes could barely keep up.
Hye's servants were gathering round and rushed in to help their mistress.
"Oh no you don't!" cried a familiar and very welcome voice.
Hoshiko flew at one of the servants and attacked in a frenzy. Makoto and Raidon were not far behind.
Pyralis joined them in their efforts and soon the servants lay scattered on the ground. Pyralis was gasping for air.
"Tired," she panted.
"Aw, poor kid," Raidon said. "I forgot that you haven't been in battle before; at least not against so many enemies. You did great!"
Pyralis grinned at the praise, but the grin was gone as quickly as it came. "I'm worried for Zarek," she said, and they all turned to watch.
The two opponents stood facing each other in a huge crater. Dust blew all around them.
"Zarek, you've really improved," Hye said. She was impressed that he'd managed to land a few blows to her.
"I've been practicing," Zarek said wearily. He was exhausted, and tried unsuccessfully to hide that fact from Hye.
"Well Zarek, no mater how much practice you've had, you can't win," Hye said calmly. Wind was swirling around her feet and making its way up around her entire body.
Zarek did not notice. Hye tired to keep him distracted.
"Your friends will all die. They are watching right now, Zarek. Think, if you fail them...They will all die. Why not just join me?"
"You know I won't join you, Hye. And I won't fail them."
"But you will!" The energy stirring up the wind surged through her veins and to the complete surprise of everyone there, Hye became a Super Saiya-Jin. Her laugh echoed over the entire field.
"You're FINISHED!"
Zarek did not last long against the Super Saiya-Jin. He collapsed in the middle of the crater and Hye floated in the air above him with a crazed look on her face.
"Now," she said. "Which one of you four should I kill first?"
The four friends were shocked. Zarek, the strongest of the five, was down. There was no hope for them now....
She hurt Zarek. Zarek, who was kind to me and gave me a purpose. I'm not going to let her get away with this!
Ignoring the protests of the others, Pyralis stepped forward and went to Hye.
"I will fight you," she said, her voice strangely flat. She was far beyond anger.
"You?" Hye said shrilly. She laughed. "This will be too easy!"
I won't let her beat me, Pyralis thought determinedly.
"That's right, Pyralis."
She looked around for the owner of the strange voice, but could see no one.
"You can't see me, because I'm not really here. I'm speaking to you from...beyond. As soon as he wakes up, I want you to tell my many times great grandson that I'm very proud."
Are you...Goku?
"I am! And I think you can beat that girl, so go for it!"
Vegeta didn't want to destroy the Earth, did he? Hye is just crazy...
"Even if I had, I would never have left the job to someone as crazy as HER!"
Pyralis smiled at the sound of the gruff voice.
So you're Vegeta. Nice to meet you, ancestor.
She heard a faint grumbling noise in response.
Can I do what she just did?
"Yes. Remember that dream you had? We were showing you how. Do it, Pyralis. Save the world."
Thank you.
The voices were gone again and Pyralis faced Hye.
Hye was frightened at the new look in the girl's eye. That determination...Just like Vegeta had!
"Hye. You've been really bad to me," Pyralis said. "That wouldn't have mattered so much, but you were bad to everyone else too, especially Zarek. He wanted to help you...but you wouldn't be helped. I want to end it here and now."
Hye felt a surge of energy. "No!" she cried.
Pyralis became Super Saiya-Jin. It was as easy as breathing. The glowing gold hair suited her well.
Zarek stirred when he felt the new energy. He coughed up blood, turned his head upward, and saw the new golden warrior. He gazed at her in awe.
Pyralis...
Pyralis attacked. She and Hye were matched perfectly in strength, but in the end, Hye lacked one thing.
Friends.
"Pyralis! You can do it!" Hoshiko yelled.
"Go Pyralis!" Raidon and Makoto cheered.
Pyralis risked a quick look at Zarek, and the look in his eyes was enough.
"Kamehameha!" she cried. It was pure instinct...and maybe she had a little help from some distant relatives...
The wave of power blasted past Hye.
"You missed!" Hye shrieked, and she began to cackle.
"No, I didn't."
A tree behind Hye cracked and fell. Hye was not fast enough; the tree fell on top of her.
Hye was later taken to the hospital and fully healed, but her mind had completely snapped. She lived to the end of her days in an institution.
Pyralis left her and never heard from her again.
"Way to go Pyralis!" Makoto cried, and he ran and hugged her.
"Makoto..." She saw Raidon and Hoshiko hugging each other for joy, and left them alone. She went down in the crater to Zarek.
"That was great, Pyralis. You've got to teach me how to do that," Zarek said weakly.
"Of course, once you're well. Come on, I'll carry you to the hospital."
"My hero," Zarek grinned, and passed out.
~END~
*A/N* Usually I try to end with some sort of wise moment or something twisted and weird, but I thought this ending was kinda cute. Please tell me what you think. I've already had one request for a sequel...what does everyone else think?