I still don't own Seiken Densetsu 3. Writing it this many times is depressing =_=

A/N: Ahem. I think I'll focus on this idea for now, and then rewrite What Lies in the Future… because I HATE the way it came out!

Touches of Evil

Chapter 4

The colors… The beautiful colors. So many shades. Yellow, orange, green, blue… The only thing troubling her was that all shades of brown were dark ones. Too dark. But it was still a sight. A dream. One from which Angela awoken from into a nightmare.

The Grand Divina opened her eyes to find a horrific sight. People running in fear. Soldiers wearing dragon uniforms chasing after them. And the city of Pedan crumbling.

"Oh my Goddess." (A/N: any connection between this and the Anime is totally coincidental)

She quickly looked around her and noticed two soldiers carry someone out of the inn. Someone she knew. And that wears tiger striped clothes.

"Let go of him!"

Three  fireballs connected with each of the soldiers, causing them to drop Kevin to the ground.

"Look, another rebel!"

Angela ran towards Kevin and placed his head in her lap. Good, he was still breathing.

"It's the girl! Get her!"

Angela sent several rings of solid air at the new group of soldiers, and did her best to carry Kevin away. Not an easy task. Sure, he wasn't that taller than her, but her was far more built.

"This is as far as I can go. When this is over, Kev, I'm putting you on a diet!"

She found a comfortable looking tree and placed him against it.  The noises of the battle came into the forest, scaring the monsters.

"I better go and see if I can help. Don't go anywhere, Kev."

With great doubt, Angela leaned forward and kissed Kevin's forehead. Then she left, missing the facts that Kevin tried to reach for her, to stop her. And the single word he uttered.

"Angie…"

The staff came down again and again, each time knocking another soldier out.

'Two down, too many to go.'

Angela looked at the young girl she had just saved and smiled. The girl seemed familiar. That blonde, curly hair, those eyes… But something seemed to be missing. The girl, however, did not return the smile.

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Be, behind you!"

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

Angela's staff received a new dent as it collided with the soldier's blade.

"Why are you here?!"

Angela asked, doing her best to hold her ground.

"This city and her people threaten the Dragon Emperor! It should be removed!"

"No, you should be removed! Saint Beam!"

As the soldier hit a nearby wall, Angela had to use her staff for support. The day's events, now joined with the short yet intense battle were getting the better of her.

'Duran… Damn you! Why did you have to do it?! Weren't we good together? Goddess…'

"You there! With the golden crown!"

The sighed behind Angela was that of about a dozen dragon soldiers, holding several people prisoner.

"Surrender."

Angela's voice was calm and serene.

"Or what? You kill them and give me five more reasons to kick your butt."

The commander smirked.

"And what if I killed this one?"

Angela cursed for the lack of carefulness. Leaving Kevin alone in the woods sure proved to be a fatal mistake, as one of the soldiers aimed his sword at Kevin's neck.

'They must have drugged him. Poor Kevin. Stupid, Angela, too stupid!'

It was true. Kevin's eyes were half open and hollow, his usually alert pointy (and cute, IMHO) ears were slumped, and otherwise he seemed to be asleep.

"Surrender, or HE dies."

Angela began chanting a spell. In response, the soldier brought his sword even closer to Kevin's throat.

"I mean it, witch. Give up."

Angela growled, and placed her staff on the ground slowly.

"Kick it over here."

What other choice did she have?

'The first time I wish I'd have chosen to be an Arch Mage. My staff wouldn't have needed me to attack them.'

"Get her."

Two soldiers grabbed Angela and placed a bizarre necklace around her neck. She could feel her magic decreasing.

"We have what we wanted. Let's go."

"Wait! What about Kevin?!"

"If the poison won't kill him first, I'm sure some nice monster will get hungry soon enough. I hope you two got to say goodbye!"

The commander's laughter echoed through the air as they teleported away.

The little girl which Angela saved peeked from her hiding place and looked around. She took out a pink hat, dusted it, and placed it on her head. The cute girl from Wendel then turned to Kevin and chanted a few words.

"Tinkle Rain!"

"This is the best you've got?! Pathetic!"

Duran angrily threw away a sword and turned to his father, his arms crossed.

"Well, excuse me for not going after Weapon seeds!"

Duran sighed and shook his head.

"Forgive me, father. I just want to serve the Emperor the best I can!"

Darkshine nodded in agreement. He was about to say something when a messenger came rushing in and whispered something in his ear.

"What? Ah, yes, good… Oh, she's here already? Good. Yes, I see. Thank you."

The messenger saluted and left.

"What is it, father?"

"Good news from our battle in Pedan. Now I have some, er, paperwork to take care of."

"Anyhting I can do to help?"

"In fact…"

Loki took out a small sack from his belt and threw it to Duran.

"Here. Tell me if you'll get a Death Bringer."

Loki left and Duran looked at the sack's content.

"Seeds?"

"Gah, where… Who…"

"Morning!"

Kevin held his head in pain at the loud announcement.

"Not loud, please… Huh, Carlie?"

Kevin's eyes widened at the sight of the blonde girl.

"Yep, that's me! What's mister doing here?"

Carlie said and sat next to Kevin, her blue eyes looking him over. Kevin blushed. He wasn't used to attention.

"Anymore boo boos?"

Kevin shook his head and tried to stand up, only to fall back down and nod.

"Ouchies."

Kevin's pain diminished considerably as warm light covered him. He felt most of his injuries cute and his strength returning.

"Wha…"

"Heal Light."
Carlie said with a wink.

"Comes in handy."

Kevin looked around him. Pedan was in ruin, but people seemed to be alive. There didn't seem to be any casualties, other than dragon soldiers captives. They seemed to have been holding back. But why?

'Darn. Hard hits on head. Poor things.'

Then it hit him.

"Carlie! You see Angela?!"

"Angela?"

"This tall… Pur, purple hair. Greenish eyes…"

Carlie pouted noticeably.

"Why Angela? Angela not good. Angela mean."

"Carlie! Yes or no!"

Carlie was taken a back by his tone, and nodded her head. Kevin grabbed her shoulders and shook quite roughly. She had somehow managed to bonk him with her flail and he let go of her.

"Ouch. Sorry."

They both said together and laughed. But Kevin soon regained his serious manner.

"Yes or no?"

Carlie nodded sadly.

"Nice Angie. Saved me."

Then she jumped up and looked upset.

"But mean soldiers take her! Say, is she not come, they hurt you!"

Kevin wished he'd have known some curses. Instead, he settled for a growl.

"And no know where."

"Carlie helps! What's mister's name?"

"Huh? Oh, gah, Kevin."

Carlie smiled warmly and Kevin blushed again. Even after all those months together, Angela had only recently began smiling at him like that. But that's when Duran started glaring at him. So he wasn't used to kindness, to say the least.

So when Carlie shook his hand and then hugged his leg, it was awkward. Really awkward.

"Carlie be Carlie. You know that. Tee hee. So we go look!"

"How?"

"Carlie find this, after Angie gone."

"Gah, wi, Wind Drum!"

Kevin took the object and looked at it from several directions. Carlie began jumping up and down.

"Is it ok huh huh is it?"

"Gah, calm down! Seems ok…"

 With a spin of the drum, Flammie's familiar cry was heard. Kevin grabbed Carlie and jumped on Flammie's back. The dragon looked back and voiced her concern. First Duran went missing. And now Kevin boarded her with a young girl? What gives?

She gave a chirp that sounded somewhat teasing, and Kevin's blush deepened. Darn, he wasn't used to blushing at all, least of all this much.

"What's wrong, Kev?"

Kev. That's how Angela called him… He shook his head to get rid of the thought. He'd find her. Find her, Duran, that God Beast, save the world, and then avenge Karl. Sure, sounded good on paper…

"Nothing. Flammie, where Angie want go?"

Flammie seemed to think about it, then changed direction rather suddenly, causing Carlie to almost fall off. She held on to Kevin for dear life.

"Carlie! Too dangerous, return to Wendel…"

"No!"

The half beastman was amazed at the half elf's confidence and determination. Or just her stubbornness.

"Heath kidnapped by mean person! I couldn't help Heath…"

Tears began to form in her eyes as bitterness arose. She then shook them away and looked at Kevin, her eyes shining.

"But Carlie can and will help Kevin! Help find friends! And then, maybe… You help Carlie help her Heath?"

Kevin smiled warmly and held on the Flammie.

"Hold on. Long ride."

Flammie chirped again and flew as fast as she could northwest.

"Get in here!"

The guard threw her into the cell and locked the door. Angela held onto the little bars and kicked the door several times.

"Let me out! You wouldn't have been so confident if I could've taken this horrid necklace! It doesn't even fit my clothes!"

She heard the guards chuckle as they left and she was left alone.

'Now what?'

Angela examined the little room she was in. A bed, what appeared to be a toilet, and a little window, hardly larger than the one at the door.

"Good thing they care about their captives' health."

"Well, excuse me, princess, but we're not used to host royalty!"

Angela's teeth gritted as though automatically. She didn't even need to turn around to recognize the voice.

"What do you want, Koren?"

"What, no welcoming hug to an old friend?"

a Chuckle.

"FRIEND?! After what you've done to Altena and my mother?!"

Nasty laughter.

"Oh, please! If it wasn't for me, you'd never have achieved anything! Now, thanks to me, look at you! You're a Grand Divina! Mistress of the elements! Able to cast several spells at a time! And look at WHERE you are!"

Bitter, sarcastic laughter.

"In a prison cell somewhere in Dragon's Hole. And that's what this place is. A hole."

"You won't be saying that for much longer now…"

"KOREN!"

Angela's eyes widened at the voice and she hurried to the bars at the door.

"Tell me it's not him."

She hissed through clenched teeth. Koren smirked and looked at her like a tiger looking at it's pray.

"But it is."

"KOREN! STOP TOYING WITH THE PRISONERS AND GET OVER HERE! THE EMPEROR IS CALLING A MEETING!"

Angela's eyes widened again. Did Duran just call that old geezer with the dragon helmet… EMPEROR?!

"Duran! It's me! It's Angela!"

Koren quickly closed the hatch, leaving Angela to kick and hit the door in almost complete darkness.

"You male slut! Let me out!"

"Funny…"

The hatch opened again.

"That's exactly what Duran said before he turned."

The hatch closed again and Angela felt completely exhausted. Duran had turned. He really turned. Looking at the stars, Angela prayed to the goddess that Kevin was all right and that he'll find her. Them. Find them. But, how?

A/N: o.o ok. R&R. darn, can't believe I put so much Kevin/Carlie in here x.x someone shoot me. No wait, don't. I have this fic to finish :P