I don't own Seiken Densetsu 3

A/N: here we are again ^_^ estimate: two more chapters o.o and a semi sister fic . you'll see.

Touches of Evil

The birds chirped as the sun greeted the land. Four young people opened their eyes, fully aware of what awaits them.

"I still say should've went at night."

"Kevin, even with the holy water, you needed time to fully recover. Besides, night brings other monsters. Somewhat stronger monsters.
"I don't see why you're all downing the night like that. The night has tons of shadows. I love the night."

All four turned to the new voice in the window. Carlie hid behind Kevin. Koren raised an eyebrow. Kevin and Duran smiled.

"Well, I must say, I saw you more as a Wanderer, Hawk."

The ninja half jumped from the window and stood in the center of the room.

"I'd like to be that too, Duran. But… reality has other plans for us. I figured being a Night blade was the best at that time. Besides, I was kind of supposed to become this by training. Flame Kahn always said I had too much talent to be just a Ninja Master…"

Hawk said, a bit apologetically. Carlie approached him and offered him her hand.

"Carlie."

Hawk smiled and kneeled to be at Carlie's height. He held her child-like hand and kissed it.

"Hawkeye, but you can call me Hawk."

"Wanna know the truth?"

"Which is?"

Glancing around to see none were too close, Carlie leaned to Hawk's ear.

"My real name's Charlotte."

"That's a beautiful name. But right now, we have to find a beautiful woman."

By now Duran and Kevin had their gear on.

"Looks better than the Duelist outfit, Duran."

The Sword Master raised an eyebrow.

"You're been following us?"

A shrug.

"I got bored back home. Besides, Lise needed help…"

"How is princess?"

"She's quite all right… We… parted a while back."

Hawk's face showed less emotion than his mask.

"Well, you're here now. We could use all the help we can get. Thanks for the equipment, too."

Carlie ran to fetch her own stuff while everyone else were already ready.

"Look, I can only help you so much. I'll help you get there, but I won't be able to fight the Dragon Emperor. I owe you not only my life, but my friends' and Jessica's as well. That's exactly why…"

"We understand."

Duran said with a wave of his hand.

"We all have things to go back to. But we have to fight for them. Let's not forget we still have Zable Fahr to find and deal with… We'd hate to see that pretty girl cry her eyes out over you."

"Ready!"

Carlie beamed at Hawk, and it seemed that for a moment, they'd find Angela waiting for them, drinking tea.

"Let's go then!"

"My dear, your soul is spotless! How I wait for your friends to get here!"

The Dragon Emperor looked down at Angela, several books of ancient Dragon spells floating around him.

"My, if I was a wraith, I'd have feasted on your soul!"

"So… you… didn't… over… Koren's?"

He looked at her with pleased surprise.

"My, you still talk? Think for yourself?! Outstanding! Ah, my bad. Your soul began returning to your body. Let's take care of that, shall we?"

Kevin's ears twitched and a frown embraced his face.

"What's the matter, Kev?"

"Angela… she's… in pain…"

Everyone's faces darkened at this. The wind blew, as though trying to push them back to the city, away from the danger. Flammie glided overhead, watching the now five adventurers

"Well, let's get going!"

Sword drawn, Duran sprinted forward.

"Is he always like that?"

The ninja was answered by a sigh from Kevin and Carlie. Soon, the group ran together, Koren trying to keep up.

"If you can't keep up, try floating!"

"But if I can't use magic?! Or if I can, but its limited?! I don't have my powers anymore!"

The conversation ended with Koren tripping and falling into the snow. The group stopped and gathered around him.

"See? I'm useless. Leave without me."

Kevin brought him up somewhat roughly.

"You got Angie into this…"

"You'll help us get her out of it."

"Please, Koren, sir…"

Blue eyes met blue as the wizard watched the half elf.

"Help us save Angie. Pretty please… if you do, you could always come by for milk and cookies!"

Koren's eyes watered. He remembered a time after a magic lesson gone wrong, that a certain purple haired girl smiled at him, and invited him for milk and cookies to make him feel better.

He stood up, the wind blowing his cape dramatically.

"Please forgive me."

"Don't worry. We're all stressed about this."

"We waste time. Go now. I'll lead."

Everyone agreed that the one with the best senses should lead. Duran and Carlie had Koren between them while Hawk watched the rear.

"Haw far more?"

Hawk asked. Being from the desert, he was far more sensitive to the bitter front.

"Pretty far. We're not even close to the first silver statue!"

"FIRST?! How many statues are there?!"

"Two."

Hawk began to sigh in relief.

"Before we're going in."

Hawk pouted at Koren who looked back, mainly trying to cheer the blond up. It seemed to work a bit.

"Hold it."

Kevin stopped and motioned for everyone to be quiet. Two Wizards and three Petit Tiamats were chasing each other.

"Are they playing together?"

The naïve question was answered with a big, fat 'no' as one of the Tiamats charged at a Wizard while the other Wizard cast Fireball at the other two Tiamats.

"Why're they fighting each other?!"

"Another thing that happened since that blue light got here. Monsters attacking each other. Even more peaceful ones, like the Wizards."

Hawk said, filling the others in on what happened for about a week or so before they got there.

"We'll wait until they finish each other off."

Duran proposed, not eager to waste energy. They had a big fight ahead of them.

"No."

Kevin said with great confidence that made no one dare him.

"We wait, Angela hurts more. We go. Now."

With that he lunged forward, his Skull Dissect putting the monsters out of their misery.

"Kevin…"

"Come on. Long way ahead."

Wordlessly, the group continued on.

"Finally! The Golden statue!"

It was noon when the five warriors collapsed next to the holy artifact. Carlie sat down next to Koren and kindly offered him some Honey.

"No thank you, I'm ok."

Even though he wasn't. Koren was very reluctant to use magic at all, and so, had no means of protection whatsoever. Carlie sighed and cast a Heal Light. Koren couldn't do anything against that.

"How long is it now?"

The Night blade asked through clenched teeth, hugging himself in a desperate attempt to maintain his body heat.

"That cave over there."

Kevin said before drinking some of the water they had with them.

"That close, huh?!"

"And twice as frozen."

"That's reassuring."

Carlie was the only one to notice Hawk's attempts at humor; the other three were deep in thought.

"Let's go."

Duran finally said and began walking at the direction of the cave. Koren and Carlie began to follow, yet Hawk and Kevin seemed to be preoccupied.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone else's here, too."

"Smells familiar…"

All now looked around them, looking for what might've made the Ninja and werewolf be on edge.

"Feels like being watched…"

Being nearest to Koren, Carlie found refuge in his cape. Duran's sword was out in a flash.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!"

Hawk was the only one to notice the danger.

"Duran, behind you!"

Turning around quickly enough yet far too slowly, Duran found his own Ragnarok less than an inch away from his neck, another sword pressing against it. The armor of the other sword's wielder was unmistakable.

"Good to see you again, Duran."

"Wish I could say the same, Darkshine! Now git!"

With all the strength he could master, Duran pushed his father away and took a fighting stance; Kevin and Hawk were soon at his side.

"I see you've made some new friends. Father is proud."

Hawk raised an eyebrow at Duran's direction. The swordsman grunted.

"He's not my father. Just a figment of who he once was, controlled, manipulated, stained by the Dragon Emperor. He's not my father. He's not even my friend. SALAMANDO!"

Flames engulfed the heroes, resulting in their weapons being warm to the touch and glowing like ember, even through the frosty winds.

"You cannot defeat me, Duran. I know every move you know."

Duran's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Don't count on it."

"Loki, don't do it."

All's attention was brought to Koren. The Darkshine Knight laughed.

"I will not be lectured by a traitor!"

"Traitor? Well, I'm not the one about to fight my own son, now am I?"

Kevin and Hawk both smiled weakly. Duran's face was unreadable.

"Enough!"

Koren ducked the blow and Duran blocked the ones that followed. Of course, he missed a few.

"Duran! Hold on!"

"Never mind me, go save Angela!"

The dark knight hit the caves wall with great strength, and an icey wall sealed off the entrance. Koren looked ashamed.

"My own magic…"

"You want the princess? You have to go through me."

"Fine!"

Clangs were heard as swords and claws hit each other. Carlie cast Heal Light repeatidly, as the knight proved to be not just talk.

"Let's see how big he is when he can't fight! Undine! Lend this star you might!"

The shurikan that appeared in Hawk's hand froze as the Night Blade sent it flying.

"In coming!"

The star hit the knight in the chest and his movements seemed frozen.

"Hawk! His armor! Call Jinn!"

Koren was amazed. Duran was fighting his own father! Why was heacting like that?

"Jinn! Send his might flying with your wind!"

The Jitsu technique seemed to work as each blow Kevin or Duran laid seemed to hurt more.

"you'll regret this, boy!"

The knight dug through the snow with his sword, and burning waves of lava seemed to swallow the three fighters. Carlie was soon to call Wisp's aid once more.

"Duran, please… I promise you a quick end if you surrender."

"Yeah… And I bet mom'd love that, wouldn't she?"

The Broad sword stopped mere inches before making contact with the snow again.

"That's right, dad. Mom is looking, didn't you know? She's watching. I bet she'll be thrilled to see you kill your own son swiftly. How considerate of you."

Carlie blinked, yet to the others Duran's plan was somewhat clearer, as they took positions on different sides of the knight.

"Duran, I…"

"Kill me, dad. Come on. Right through the heart."

The knight was frozen with shock. That's when everyone else defrosted.

"NOW!"

Casting whatever Ninjitsu skills he had left, Hawk then sent almost any shurikan he had on him. Kevin charged from behind, the force of his blows more than enough in order to pierce the knight's weakened armor. Koren used several of the magic coins Hawk brought the former night.

Soon the knight fell down, defeated, and somewhat humiliated by the swift victory. (sue me, I don't do fighting scenes that well .)

Duran stood next to him, his eyes a mixture of too many emotions.

"Duran, kill me. I beg you… Free me…"

"I'll tell king Richard you died honorably. And I'll tell Wendy that… you're finally… with mom…"

"Thank you."

With a quick, precise blow, the Darkshine Knight's armor fell to the ground, now empty. All looked as the ice that blocked the entrance melted.

"Come on, we have a damnzel in distress to rescue!"

"Wait."

Hawk sighed as he shook his head.

"That's as far as I can help ya. I… hope you understand."

Duran nodded and shook Hawk's hand.

"Thank you."

"Carlie stay! Carlie fight! Carlie save Angie!"

Kevin fondly patted her head, yet he wasn't smiling.

"No. too dangerous."

"But Kev!"

"Listen. When Heath back, and you not there? Heath be sad and worried."

Carlie's determination seemed to falter as sad care towards the priest showed on her face.

"You go to your favorite Heath. We save Angela."

Her golden locks covered her eyes, yet all knew from her sobs that she was crying.

"Tell her… tell her… *sob* tell her Carlie helped."

A smile crept to the werewolf's face.

"Will do."

The ninja nodded.

"I'll make sure she gets back to Wendel safely."

Their retreating forms soon disappeared, making the three left behind to master all the courage they had left. This was it. Time to face the music.

A/N: o.o almost there! And I've been thinking about making a little fic about Hawk and Carlie's journey home, the chats they have and what happens when they get home. So… tell me if it's a good idea. REVIEW! .