I don't own Seiken Densetsu 3

A/N: OMG! You people really like me *^_^* ahem.

Wingnut (and whoever it is that's in there with her o.o;;;):

Cliffhangers do the story! And they're also a good motivator for the writer herself to keep writing ^_^ both from the little part of me that wants to know what's next just like you, and… your constant death threats ^^;;;

Martkins the mad scientist:

*scratches the back of my head* I really don't see how Hawkeye could fit in here ._. but if I'll find a way, I'll try to squeeze him in. Carlie was easy, since Pedan's a major part of her quest, and all quests end up in Pedan sooner or later, so I had a connection ._. I'll do what I can.

Casey:

*huggles back* aw, I miss you too :\ but at least I know you're alive ^.^ how're you enjoying the fic so far? And exactly what couples were you referring to? O.o;;; I have too many. X.x;;; I sure hope you don't mean DeathJester/Heath x.x;;; gah. Although that WOULD be amusing XD

Weiila:

I'm writing. Are you? *glares*

ahem. ON WITH THE FIC!

Touches of Evil

"CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRP!"

The huge, majestic dragon landed carefully on the battered floor, clearing away some meteors with her mighty paws. She glanced at Koren, and then sent a stern glare at him when she noticed the red cape.

"Hm, their means of transport. You might prove useful to us. Come here, girl…"

With another angry chirp Flammie waved her wings several times, the strong wind forming throwing Koren against the wall as hard as his meteors hit Duran, Kevin and Carlie. The wind also moved a few rocks, enough for Flammie to see something that resembled a human arm. Being careful not to apply any pressure to any of the nearby rocks, Flammie gently pushed the rock away. It fell with a loud crash and another chirp, scared this time, escaped the feathered dragon's beak.

"Chirp chirp?"

She gently poked the still form with her beak until the young man began moving.

"CHIRP!"

"@$**%(#, FLAMMIE! NOT SO LOUD!"

Flammie chirped happily, but quietly, this time. Duran rubbed the aching spot at the back of his head and looked around. Once his eyes came into focus, reality hit him harder than any of Koren's meteors.

"Kevin, Carlie… ARGH! DARN IT!"

He held his back and leaned against Flammie's beak as he found out that he was more wounded than thought at first.

"Damn."

Blood covered his lower torso as he noticed a rather nasty wound at his side. But other than that, fortunately, Duran had suffered little more than mere cuts and bruises.

"Chirp?"

She looked at him worriedly, her eyes asking so many questions at once Duran felt his head spinning even faster.

"I'm ok, Flammie. For now. We need to find Kevin and Carlie. Over… Over there, I think."

He found himself a spot against the wall to lean against as he looked through his backpack for some bandages, and a Honey Drink.

Duran relaxed a bit as the pain diminished and watched as Flammie moved the meteors away from where their friends supposedly were with extreme care and caution. Once the Honey Drink worked and the bleeding stopped, Duran extracted his sword. With great relief he noticed the sword was no longer a Death Bringer, but a Sword Master's Ragnarok. His smile then deepened as he aimed his sword at Koren's throat.

"Wake up."

The blond opened his eyes and surprised a yelp of fear. Then he forced a smile on his lips. A smirk.

"Good morning. And how are your friends today? My, you don't seem in such a good shape. What's the matter? Ran with that sword of yours and fell down?"

"Get up."

Koren obeyed, much reluctantly, and looked at Flammie.

"My, you need a girl to help you!"

"She's a huge winged dragon. Why wouldn't I want her help?"

Koren shrugged and the two watched on as Flammie chirped excitedly and motioned them over with her fluffy paw.

"You go first."

The sword moved from Koren's neck to his back and the blond heard the brunette hiss.

"You hurt her, any of my friends are beyond help? I'll avenge them without blinking."

The sight wasn't a pretty one, but far better than Duran had feared. Sure, Kevin and Carlie were wounded far worse than he was. But at least they were breathing. Or so it seemed. Soft weeping sounds were heard.

"Carlie?"

Leaving Koren under Flammie's 'protective care', Duran took in a deep breath, and freed Carlie from underneath Kevin's still form. He fought off the urge to gag. Carlie was bloody, but not of her own blood.

"He… He tried to save Carlie, when…"

Duran swore silently. If there ever was a time he wished he'd have gone Light, it was now. Carlie was in no condition to cast Heal Light.

"Are you happy now?"

The swordsman asked the wizard with so much bitterness, rage and hatred that Koren was stunned.

"ARE YOU?!"

All who Koren killed so far were a few soldiers from Forcena. His enemies, people he had never seen before and won't see again. But seeing the half werewolf lay on the floor, blood covering his upper torso, he looked down, somewhat ashamed of himself.

This wasn't the way the son of the Beast King was to die. Not in the wreckages of a once Throne room of his enemy. Not by the hands of a coward who soul a piece of his soul for the miserable ability to cast magic, something that surely would've came in time. Hey, Angela managed.

Koren shook his head.

"Stand back."

"Huh? What're you doing?!"

Before Duran managed even to blink, light shone over the three wounded heroes, making their wounds somewhat better.

"Sorry, that's the best I could do."

The Bishop gave him a thankful smile while Duran unseathed his sword. The least he could do now was to try and not be hostile.

"He'll get worse again pretty soon. Altena's the closest, we should fly him there."

Koren approached the Death Hand and looked at Duran.

"Well? I can't carry him on my own."

Together, the two man brought the bloody werewolf to Flammie's back, Carlie now on constant attempts to cast Heal Light. However, neither her nor Koren were now in any shape to do so.

With several flaps of her wings, Flammie took to the air, leaving the destroyed hall behind them.

"How long before we'll get there?"

"Several minutes tops."

"I just hope we won't be too late."

Duran looked at Koren with mixed emotions.

"Why are you doing this?"

Koren looked at his hands, and Duran noticed a dying flame in them. The flame soon died off completely. The wizard then looked into the swordsman's eyes.

"Because, I guess… maybe I got my soul back."

The blond turned away, looking at the labyrinth of ice walls bellow. A radiant blue glow surrounded the area.

'Oh, Angela…'

A/N: X_X too…. Many… fics… at… once!!!