Between Hope and Death

By: ChocolateEclar

Disclaimer: Some characters belong to the magnificent authoress, Diana Wynne Jones. I just borrowed them for a while.

Claimer: I only own Wyn, Aidan, Kamania and Chris Aprilian, Lady Kachioin (and her village), Miss Coca, Mr. Calypso, Professor Weph, Life, Death, Apocalypse, Rhys, and Heulo (aka 'the Sun Spirit of All Knowledge.')

Chapter 19: In Which the Trilogy of the Last Hope Continues Their Fight

Howl, Sophie, Calcifer, Aidan and Mackenzie were sitting in the moving castle wondering when Wyn, Morgan, and Rhys would return. They knew they were in danger and so they passed the time by worrying and discussing things. Howl and Aidan were talking about various enchantments and Sophie, Mac, and Calcifer were chatting about Rhys.

"Its strange the way Rhys and Heulo are connected," remarked Calcifer floating next to Sophie.

Sophie nodded. "If only we could find them. Everything any of us does just backfires," she noted glumly.

"They're somewhere that Apocalypse doesn't want us to interfere, that's for sure," said Calcifer.

"I wish we could help," muttered Mac.

"They'll be alright," Aidan said, "They've gotten into tight scraps before, granted not as tight as this, but they've always gotten out of it one way or another."

Howl sighed and added, "Besides we've taught them everything they know."

"Yes, but Rhys isn't exactly that old," snapped Calcifer.

They all moaned at that. What would happen to the Trilogy of the Last Hope?

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Speaking of whom, the Trilogy was charging towards Apocalypse with the dragons at their sides. Wyn pummeled the Goddess with magically strengthened pecks from her beak, while Morgan was shooting more of his metal blades out of his wings and Rhys was blasting her with fireballs three times the size they had been before. Now his largest flames were about the size of a small cow and burned with a new intensity. All of them panted and yelled in anger as they attacked.

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At the moment, Kamania had had enough. In case Apocalypse did lose she transported out of there and back to Ingary. She reappeared among several booths and stalls covered in delicious foods, and carefully walked away. Later, for abandoning her, Apocalypse's wrath would cause Kamania to be crushed by a cart filled with watermelons and almost killed…

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Rhys gave a dragon-like roar and clawed at Apocalypse's shoulder. His claws pierced her unnaturally perfect skin and even amazingly drew blood from the Goddess. Apocalypse snarled and launched a blast of tainted, purple cracking energy at the boy who was thrown backward and onto the dirt.

He landed with a painful thump and brushed blood off his bleeding snout. He attempted to flap his gnarled green wings to no avail. He cried out in pain and when the aching had subsided he checked out his wings. One had a gash in it and was freely bleeding while the other barely moved and was obviously broken. The six-year-old growled and yelled to his siblings, "I'm going to have to attack her from the ground, my wings are too hurt!"

Wyn nodded in-between her assault on the Deity and Morgan replied, "Be careful, bro!"

"I'll try," Rhys muttered as he quickly made his way back to Apocalypse.

Elia noticed her Master's injury and asked in her native tongue, "Are you all right, Rhys-Master?"

Rhys sighed and answered, "I'll live, Elia!" He continued his fireball assault on the Goddess right were he had left off, only this time from the ground.

Meanwhile, Wyn was holding on with some difficulty, but not too much. She squawked and let out a barrage of thin sharp knives that twinkled before cutting Apocalypse's face and other shoulder. They were like Morgan's metal blade-like things and Rhys's claws but sharper and filled with venom.

Apocalypse had obviously realized there was poison in them and was withering somewhat. She tried to grasp the phoenix but Wyn evaded it and slashed at her with her talons.

While Wyn was keeping Apocalypse busy by doing that, Morgan was getting ready to cut off her head. "Rhys!" he yelled.

"WHAT?!" came the reply.

"Tell your reptilian friends to all attack the giant wench's head at the same time with their fireballs, claws, and all. While you're doing that, I'll get Wyn to help me detract her even more!" answered Morgan.

Rhys nodded and yelled, "Dragons Amtee! Pres aaw Fitna Shadas hyad yin mit ofy!' or "Dragon Army! Please attack the Final Shadow's head on my order!"

All the dragons turned to Rhys and grunted in consent. Rhys glanced at Morgan who was beside Wyn whispering and attacking at the same time. Wyn replied something before backing up and shouting, "You're a horrid excuse for a Goddess, Apocalypse!" Apocalypse growled at that and charged at Wyn and Morgan.

Rhys grinned and, before turning to the dragons, thought, 'That loud mouth better be careful!' He then looked at the Dragon Army and bellowed, "Aaw!!!!"

All the winged-lizards of various shapes, sizes, and colors dived at Apocalypse's silver head and blasted her with fireballs and scratched her. Apocalypse shrieked and tried to get the dragons off her to no benefit. Wyn, Morgan, and Rhys joined the dragons and blasted her with attacks of their own.

Apocalypse withered, but the assault persisted. Many members of the Dragon Army ended up injured but none died. Their and Apocalypse's blood splattered the dirt beneath them. As for the Trilogy of the Last Hope only one of their own was severely wounded and that was the youngest: Rhys.

When Apocalypse had gave out one last screech and disappeared, the dragons gave a cheer and the Trilogy all detransformed and collapsed on the ground. Wyn, who's broken left wrist was hurting her terribly, groaned but looked relieved. Morgan grinned happily. He had a slashed leg that was coating the dirt with several droplets of blood but otherwise he was only filthy and bruised like everyone else. As for Rhys, he was laying on the ground, on his back, blood oozing out of his chest. He moaned and screeched, "Dearest Bronwyn and Morgan, would you two kindly help your hurt brother!"

Wyn turned her head in his direction and froze. The wound wasn't very deep but it looked nasty. She and Morgan rushed to his side and Rhys continued dimly, "When Apocalypse clawed out at me and the dragons, I was hit directly." He gave a sharp intake of breath then and coughed.

"You've most likely got a few broken ribs, bro," said Morgan.

Rhys only nodded and Wyn said, "We'd heal you up but I don't think any of us have the energy."

"Whatever. Let's go home," muttered Rhys, his eyes tightly closed causing all their diminished light to shadow his face. Eventually, he slowly sat up and turned to Elia who had limped over to them.

"Will you be okay, Elia?" he asked in the dragon tongue.

In the same language the she-dragon replied, "I'll be fine, young Master. You just take care of yourself."

Rhys nodded and said to his siblings, "Ready to go home?"

"Definitely," mumbled Wyn.

"You couldn't keep me from going home with a billion gems," Morgan added.

"That can be arranged," said a female voice.

"Wonderful work, Trilogy," continued a masculine voice. The Trilogy turned to see dark-haired Life and fair-haired Death standing next to them.

"Some help you two were," muttered Morgan.

"Don't be upset, Pegasus Emperor. Just think you and your friends and relatives did this all by yourselves. Besides we couldn't assist you in any way in this battle. It's against the rules. By the way, Apocalypse can never be killed, all anyone can do is keep her from causing an end of the world," said Death optimistically.

"Right…"  mumbled Morgan.

"Can we go home now?" whined Rhys.

Death smiled at him. "Yes, little Dragon Enchanter, you all may go to your homes. Before you go though, Life and myself shall restore all of you to health and get every one new clothes." The two Demigods lightly tapped them on their heads and soon they were perfectly healed.

Rhys patted his chest and waved his hands. Long emerald sleeves trailed down his arms and he laughed. They all were wearing this new kind of long-sleeved shirt and loose comfortable pants. Wyn's outfit was the same flame-like ruby color as her feathers had been and Morgan's was as silvery as his mane and tail had been. Around their waists was a gold waistband, and in Wyn's ginger locks was a gold ponytail holder. They stood up and grinned at each other. Rhys chuckled again and his smile widened. Yes, they were going home…

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The Trilogy of the Last Hope appeared in the main room of the moving castle a few moments later. "Hi, everybody!" yelled Rhys.

"Rhys!" shouted Sophie while Aidan yelled, "Wyn!" and Mac cried out, "Morgan!"

Wyn and her brothers laughed. "Missed us?" she asked.

"It hurt but we got to use all sorts of spells!" yelled Rhys.

Wyn noticed he had stopped acting so adult-like. 'Probably because he's not in a fight to the death anymore,' she noted.

After a while of explanations, in which Howl rubbed Rhys head in affection at hearing some of the things he had done and Calcifer grinned, they all sat on various chairs in the main room chatting. Rhys soon yawned and called out loudly, "Time for bed!"

Everyone agreed and soon Aidan and Wyn left together for their little flat and Mac and Morgan left for their house. Rhys was tucked into bed, thoroughly fussed over, and soon he fell asleep. His last thought before he fell asleep was, 'I don't feel very different now…'

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A/N: About two more chapters to go! Then, I plan on doing a little story on Rhys. The next chapter is going to be about Aidan and Wyn's marriage and Morgan and Mac's first kid. See Mor's reaction….Hehe.

A/N 2: This chapter was a little gory, but do you expect sunshines and daisies in a fight to the death? ^_^

A/N 3: Anyway, you'd better review this chapter or I'm going to sick the cute fuzzy birdie, Wyn, on you! *voice changes to a commercial tone* Buy an adorable new and improved Wyn, the Maiden of the Phoenix, plushie for only $19.95! See your local 'Trilogy Stores' for details.^_- That was cheesy, but oh well.