I don't own Seiken Densetsu 3

A/N: me am so happy ^_^ me got 50 fics up! Ok, some are poems . but still! ^_^ hm… me feel kind… any requests? Don't any of you dare say 'Hawk', I'm working on it! Yes, Martkins, that includes you! ~_~

Touches of Evil

Dragon's Dance

~Help me… someone… HELP!~

"Did you hear that?"

"Er, no? AAAAAAH!!"

Koren's question went unanswered. The Frost Dragon cried out one last time, before dissolving into tiny ice shards. Duran sighed.

"Koren, are you sure you don't need to rest? We've been walking for a while now."

Koren shook his head. They HAVE been walking and fighting for quite a while. Unfortunately, not long enough, as Kevin still seemed unable to transform.

"I.. I donno… I thought I heard someone… Calling for help."

Both his comrades jerked up.

"Angela?"

"…May be…"

"Well, we all want to find her. Maybe it's just wishful thinking…"

"I know I heard it. Something."

He looked around some more, yet Koren was still unable to determine the voice's source.

"We're wasting time. Come on, let's get going."

The three walked carefully past the halls, ready. The weapons blessed with Salamando's power, and Fire Coins ready to be used. But they weren't careful enough, in this story teller's humble opinion.

"CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

Duran fell under the new Frost Dragon's weight and began wrestling with the beast. Kevin and Koren were unable to help, as every moment the other two turned, and one wrong blow could mean one less Sword Master in the world.

"Someone, help!"

The Dragon tried to bite him constantly and claw him. Duran seemed to always push him away in time, yet not enough to let him grip his sword again.

"What're we gonna do?"

"I don't… GAH!"

Behind them showed up cute, pink and fluffy, a Mama Poto. With friends.

"Great, maybe the one coin type Hawk didn't bring…"

"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWL!"

Koren didn't manage to blink and blood decorated the Mama Poto's surroundings, but the Papa Poto gave up a fight.

"Gotta love your timing, Kevin!"

"A LITTLE HELP HERE?!"

Koren chuckled despite himself.

"You two make a cute couple, Duran!"

"Ha…"

He managed to push the Dragon against the wall…

"…Ha…"

And get a good trip while Koren took out a Fire coin.

"…HA!"

Throwing himself backwards, Duran dragged the Frost Dragon down with him, throwing him hard.

"Kev, in coming!"

The werewolf slashed the Papa Poto away and turned around to see a blue lump heading his way.

"WOAH!"

He jumped quickly, kicking both walls of the passage to keep him from falling while the Dragon was still air born. The Papa Poto's eyes widened and he tried to run, yet impact was made before. Then three fireballs connected with each, courtesy of Koren.

All that was left was an extremely tired Papa Poto who too was no more as the Ragnarok connected with his body.

Duran picked up the Papa Poto claw that was left with a smile.

"Might come in handy once we fight Zable Fahr."

Koren wanted to say something, but his mouth didn't even get the chance to open up.

'No. It's either that, or Zable Fahr himself will ruin the world. It's their call.'

~Help me… please…~

This time, Duran and Kevin reacted to the voice as well.

"Did you hear it this time?"

Both nodded.

"Is it just me, or did it sound like…"

"Angela."

All three exchanged looks, then ran to the other exit from the room.

"Here's the Golden Statue! The inner cavern is just up ahead!"

~Help…~

Shock cannot begin to describe what Kevin and Duran felt.

"It.. changed…"

"Ah ha."

The cavern was different. The upper platform was still there. Below were stacks on stacks of golden items: coins, jewelry, and other shiny artifacts. The walls' basic structure changed and it resembled a palace far more than a cavern.

"Look, up ahead!"

On a beautiful icy platue illuminated by the light of thousands of tiny crystals, was the goal of their quest.

"Angela!"

"Kevin, wait!"

Not heading the wizard's warning, the werewolf ran ahead, only to be painfully blocked by a force field. He fell to the ground and growled. He couldn't do much more.

"Told you so."

Koren crossed his arms. Duran picked up a broken ice shard and threw it ahead. It fell down, once again making the force field react.

"But… She's so close…"

Kevin half cried as he morphed back.

"I know, Kev. I know."

~Please… for Goddess sake…~

The silent plea was enough to almost send them to insanity.

"Koren! You knew about this, didn't you?! Help us!"

The blond forced his look away from the scene and began inspecting the room.

"There was supposed to be a switch here somewhere to deactivate it."

Raising a hand to the force field, Koren was amazed to see… It passed through.

"Woah."

Duran tried as well, and withdrew his hand in pain.

"Guess it only likes you… Well, go on, get her so we can get out of here!"

"Do you take me for a fool?!"

The entrance closed as the subject of their hatred materialized. Kevin transformed again, along with his physical transformation, his sadness and frustration turning to rage.

"Koren! Go, go!"

"Yes, Koren, go. Amuse me, traitor. But know this. You're next."

He turned to her. How, he asked himself. How could he have been a part of it? And for what?! For magic…

Her face was so pale. He gently brushed his hand over her cheek. It was cold.

"Warm…"

Cold hands clasped against his.

"Warmth…"

She was so cold. Too cold… His teeth clenched as he realized the full extant of what the Dragon Emperor had done.

"No… Angela…"

He brought her to a sitting position, covering her with his cape. The Grand Divina outfit gave quite a protection against the chill. Unfortunately, Angela's outfit was more like a Magus's at the moment. Meaning a thong.

She clang to him for dear life.

"So that's why you're so cold…"

And that's when she kissed him. Straight on the lips.

"Ew, I did NOT need to see that. EEK!"

"Won't you pests stay put so I could kill you?!"

"Make us!"

Spheres of light surrounded the wolf, giving him a bit more strength.

"Do you really think you can fight me? A future god?!"

"You're as much a god as Lise a little fragile girl!"

Jumping high, Duran sent his sword forward. It connected about the same time Kevin jumped at the Emperor from behind, claws first.

"Kev. Run, run, RUN!"

The two landed and ran for it as two balls of dark energy flew towards them.

"Ouchies!"

Duran couldn't help but chuckle. The little childish word sounded odd, as it was said in a werewolf's voice.

The two spheres kept following them, no matter what they did.

"Kev, we've gotta keep 'em off out butts! How about we slam it?"

"Right on."

The Dragon Emperor watched, amused.

"You will wear down soon. And then it'll end."

"guess again!"

He raised his eyebrow as the two man ran towards each other.

"What are you doing?!"

"Three…"

"Two…"

"One…"

They almost hit each other.

"JUMP!"

The two jumped up, kicking each other to get the necessary force to fall backwards, leaving the two spheres only one heat source in their route. The Dragon Emperor.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The explosion nearly destroyed the cave.

"Mmph…"

Koren tried to gently push Angela away, yet she tried to kiss him again. Koren held her close, yet made sure her mouth wasn't anywhere near his.

"What to do what to do what to do…"

He looked at the battle. It almost seemed like they were winning. Then Angela felt just a wee bit warmer.

"Kev… Duran…?"

He looked down at her.

"You… recognize them?"

She sat up, still awfully close to him.

"Why… Why…"

Her eyes were blank.

"To save you."

"Save… me…"

She blinked several times and he bit his lower lip. Was she even capable of understanding the situation? Understand what's going on?

His eyes widened as the explosion erupted, yet the force field held out.

"I can't let my two magic users escape, now can I?"

The wizard's blood froze.

'He survived… and he'll come after us.'

Glancing again at the sorceress at his side, his heart sank. She was holding her hand out, trying to reach them, as frozen tears escaped her hollowed eyes.

"My… Friends… my… friends…"

The two watched as the smoke cleared. The swordsman was fighting to get to his feet. The werewolf fought to breath as a half human-Dragon claw threatened to crush his throat. He was kicking and trying to get away, yet Kevin's movements slowly died off as the lack of Oxygen took its toll.

"You're next, little swordsman."

"No… No…"

Koren knew what was happening. Now distracted, the Emperor couldn't keep her soul away. Not completely. And she was crying.

"Angie…"

As the desperate clangs of a sword were heard, the wizard of the Red Lotus made a decision.

"Angela, look at me."

He had to gently guide her gaze to him as she was still staring blankly at the scene.

"Angela, I'm sorry. I know you can't understand me right now, but… Please keep this with you."

He held his hand at a small distance, causing a small orb of light to materialize. Angela placed her hands in a similar pose, blinking like a confused child.

"…warm…"

He smiled warmly at her as a little amulet appeared. The crystal's outer layer seemed to be blue, and the inside seemed to be… red. Yet it didn't form a purple. Not quite.

"It's my soul piece, Angela. The one the… Dragon Emperor took. I hope it'll be able to help you gather you own soul… back together."

It fell to her arms and she looked back at the fight. Two young men laid on the ground, obviously wounded, glaring at the would-be human. He grinned at the two magic users.

"My, Angela. That is quite a trinket. Why don't you let me have it?"

She blinked. Koren's anger flared.

"Don't you go anywhere near her, you monster!"

"Why, Koren? Why did you betray me?"

"I found something better."

The Emperor looked around and laughed.

"Better? BETTER?! What's better than this?! Two about to die warriors, and a soul-less princess. Is that better than future control of the world?"

"…it is, if the price is my soul."

"Ko…ren?"

Both man were a bit surprised, one with joy, the other with… fear?

"Yes, Angie. Koren. And… I'm sorry. For everything."

Light circled the three heroes of Mana, lifting them to the air.

"Wha… what's going on?"

Duran asked, worried about the corrent state of events. Kevin was more worried about their female friend.

"Koren… no go…"

He smiled bitterly.

"Angela, I…"

He closed his eyes.

'No. I better not say it.'

"Take care, Angela. Don't tell me I did all of this for a loser."

Angela, Kevin and Duran raised higher into the air, and were then blown out of the room.

"Koren! Come with us!"

Duran could only see Koren shaking his head before they flew out of sighed.

/Don't worry about me. Take care of her. Both of you./

Duran and Kevin exchanged looks, knowing that they didn't imagine the wizard's voice in their minds. Both then looked at Angela, still blank staring. But their attention span was soon snatched away as an explosion deep from within the cave sent blazing flames through the cave.

"Mommy."

A/N: AAARGH! I HATE IT! I have two ideas for endings, and I like 'em both just as much! What to do, what to do?! Well, I'll post one, and… see what happens with the other .

50 fics! Woohoo! Yes, poems included :P