Chapter 14: Final Battle

Hahaha…been a while, ne? .; Ugh, I've been busy with papers and drawings, lol! At any rate, is this the last chapter?! What will happen to Miyabi?! Will Rune remember his memories before it's too late?! Will we ever figure out why Fedelta was even put into this fic to begin with?! Will Shyrendora see that her curse stays and have the demons take over the Water Realm?! Will Lykouleon and the rest ever make another appearance?! Will I be evil and just not FINISH this fic? .; lol XD I'm not that evil . Probably only one or two of those questions will be answered in this chapter, lol. Thank you for being patient with me .o; Well as I always say, READ ON!

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            "TIDAL CRASH!"

            A gigantic tidal wave of rushing water slammed the mass of yokai that surrounded the elf prince into the cavern wall, leaving them slumped up against the rock unconscious. The path was now clear once more for him to continue. He sighed and walked forward, his eyes darting left and right. Rune had not expected to find so many yokai already infesting the once calm realm of the water. It disgusted him, but there wasn't much he could do at the moment. He had to find this dragon and this princess.

            Princess? Rune thought as he walked through a long corridor. Princess…a dragon princess? Why would the Elder not tell me? He frowned at the thought and brushed his bangs back as he reached another large room, a hoard of yokai waiting for him.

            "Not again," he sighed. "Right, well who would like to die first?" he asked as he lifted his hand slightly, water starting to swirl around him. When the yokai charged at him as one mass, he closed his eyes. "You guys don't know when to quit, do you?" he muttered as he raised his hand high above him, the water flying upwards with the motion. His eyes snapped open, now a cold, dark blue, as he yelled, "BLIZZARD STORM!"

            The yokai yelled out in pain as the water instantly changed into pelting daggers of ice, freezing them in their places. It was only a matter of moments before the hoard turned into one gigantic ice block.

Rune walked forward, his boots clacking against the frozen ground. When he reached the center, he closed his eyes and with a voice so cold that it would make anyone's blood freeze, he said, "Ice shatter," and snapped his fingers, making the ice explode around him. Everything that had been encased in ice now turned to dust.

He glanced back. "Bakas." He walked onward, his determination to find the dragon and its princess rising with every step. It did not occur to him that he had never had the power to do such a devastating spell like the one he had used in his previous battle before. The only thing that was on his mind right now was to continue onward and find the Water Dragon.

The elf did not have to go much farther, however, as he turned the last corner of the cavern. He stepped out from the corridor into another room, only this one was three times the size as the previous ones, and those had been rather large. He looked up, only to shield to his eyes from the bright light that shown down from high above him. He turned his gaze back down and blinked when he saw a life-sized statue of a dragon. Is that… He stepped forward. This is it…this is the water dragon! Rune ran the rest of the way, his footsteps echoing in the large room. When he was a few feet away, he noticed something in front of the statue.

Rune slowed as he reached the steps that led up to the dragon statue and the now visible table. He walked up the steps, staring up at the dragon in awe. Its magnificently carved head seemed to be looking right at him, its wings spread wide and seemed to shield the table that stood in front of it. What the…is that a person?! Rune thought startled as he ran up the last few steps. He leaned over the table breathless and stared at the beautiful young lady that was resting on the table. "What in the…why is a girl sleeping here of all places?" he asked aloud. But the longer he stared at her face, the more something seemed to be trying to take shape in his head.

Rune… Prince Rune…

With a shaky hand, he reached over and gently brushed back a strand of hair from the sleeping princess' face. "She's so beautiful…"

Miyabi's voice could be heard faintly somewhere around him. Rune, wake up!

            Images of Miyabi in her water light form flashed before Rune's eyes as he stared at the young lady who still slept peacefully on the marble table.

What are you thinking about Rune?

You're thinking about Tintlet aren't you, Rune?

Teehee, don't give me that look! I can see it in your eyes!

            She's so kind and sweet…I can see why you like her, Rune, teehee!

"Rune…you love Tintlet…don't you?"

            The elf prince blinked and looked up to faintly see Miyabi looking down at him, her bright green eyes filled with sorrow. "Rune…do you remember her now? Don't you remember Tintlet? The one…you love?"

            "Tintlet…" he repeated softly. What was that? A face? Was it…her face? He closed his eyes and concentrated. Tintlet…the name sounds so familiar… A new voice started to enter his mind.

            I'm so sorry to trouble you, Rune!

            You don't have to stay up so late just because of me Rune…

            You know…you look a lot like a girl…

            Even now…I'm still in a prison…

            Rune felt the water swirl gently around him. In a…prison…? That's right. It was one of the things she had said in their first conversation. It had stayed in his mind ever since and had kept him up on some nights, trying to understand what she had meant. "I remember…Lady…Tintlet…"

            "What a shame…I was hoping you had forgotten completely so that I wouldn't have to kill you."

            Both Rune and Miyabi turned to see Shyrendora standing at the bottom of the steps. "Shyrendora?!" Rune yelled as he drew out his sword.

            The yokai smiled. "Oh, it seems you remember me, too." Black winds started to surround her. "And thank you for leading me here, Prince," she said, her voice becoming deformed and there was a slight hiss. She was starting to change once more into her monster form. "I can now kill both the dragon and the princessss!"

            "NO!" Miyabi yelled as she quickly flew down and clutched the statue of the dragon. "Rune you can't let her do that!"

            "Oh you bet I won't," he said as he raised his hand. "ICE TORNADO!" he yelled as a tornado of ice flew around the yokai. When the storm cleared, Rune stared shocked to see no damage had been inflicted on the monster.

            Shyrendora laughed, her laughter echoing in the massive room. She had now turned herself into a black dragon with a tail of a scorpion. "So how do you like this form? Fitting that a dragon should kill a dragon!" she laughed.

            "Not really!" Rune yelled as he ran down and quickly plunged his sword into her chest. Now I've got her, he thought as he heard her piercing scream. But he was denied of his victory as he felt her claw grab him, the sharp talons digging into his skin.

            "You think that would kill me?" she laughed as she brought him up to eye level. "I cannot be killed so easily!"

            Rune screamed in pain as she tightened her grip. Dammit, this is not looking good, he thought angrily to himself. Change of tactics. "This is a rather cheap way to kill someone," he said glaring at her. "I was hoping to have more of a fight."

            The yellow eyes narrowed at him. "Brave words for someone who's in a rather delicate situation, wouldn't you say, Prince?" she spat out.

            He turned his face away as green fire flickered out of her mouth. "Ugh, and talk about needing a breath mint." Just a little more…

            Anger rippled through Shyrendora's monstrous body. "What did you say, boy?" she hissed. "Do you really want me to end your miserable life?"

            Rune just looked at her defiantly. "You couldn't kill me even if I was a disabled babe." He grinned as she roared with anger and felt the grip loosen slightly, just loose enough to pierce the scaly claw with the ice dagger he had formed while taunting her. She roared again, only this time with pain and fully released the elfin prince from her grasp. He landed neatly on his feet, one hand on the ground as he looked up smirking. "Don't ever take me lightly," he said as he ran over and grasped the hilt of the sword. He was about to take it out when he suddenly heard a voice.

"Use me, Prince. Call out my name."

He turned to see Miyabi hovering over the sleeping princess staring at the statue. His eyes widened slightly as the statue began to glow a bright blue and start to shimmer. It started to crack and chips of rock started to fly off to reveal something white underneath. Is that… Rune felt the power flow through him. "Yes…WATER DRAGON COME FORTH!"

Everything seemed to stand still as the rock shattered to reveal a beautiful, slender white dragon, its wings spread wide and blue fire roaring from its mouth. A brilliant soft blue light surrounded the graceful figure. When Rune felt time start again, he glanced down at himself and blinked in surprised. He was now wearing blue dragon armor and the sword had changed shaped as well. "What the…am I a…"

"Dragon Knight," Miyabi said as she appeared in front of him. "You have finally awakened to your powers. Now, use Water to defeat Shyrendora and cast her off the face of this world."

"But I…" Rune started to say but stopped when the faerie placed a slender finger on his lips.

"Believe in yourself, as I have always believed in you. I will even lend you my power to aid you in this battle."

"No wait, Miyabi!" Rune yelled as streams of light flowed from the faerie to the newly found Dragon Knight.

She just smiled as her body started to fade. "This way, we can always be together, right?" Her eyes fluttered and Rune caught her as she collapsed.

"Miyabi…" He gently laid her down at the foot of the steps. "I won't be long, just hang in there!" he yelled and turned back to Shyrendora, who was now engaged in battle with the angered Water dragon. "Uh…well I guess I could watch for the moment…" he said, a small sweat bead forming on his head. Well Water is sure fighting like hell… he thought as the dragon fired huge ice boulders at the yokai.

The dragon was magnificent. Nothing seemed to be able to touch him as Shyrendora kept trying again and again to put even a scratch on him. He just nimbly evaded her attacks and countered with one of his own, most of the time finding their target. Rune could see that the yokai was tiring from all of this and roared in anger as she began to transform once more. Two more pairs of wings sprouted from her back, as well as two more heads. A new scorpion tail replaced the battered old one, it being one of Water's first targets. The sword stuck out of her chest like a small needle protruding from the side of a one hundred-story skyscraper.

Things were not looking too well for Water now. He could barely dodge one attack and another oncoming attack from the other two heads, and with the extra pair of wings, Shyrendora was able to deflect his mostly all of his counterattacks.

Rune shielded his face as a deflected shard of ice flew at him. "Damn, if things keep up, this place will crash in onto itself," he muttered as he saw the cracks starting form alongside the rocky walls. He looked up just in time to dodge a piece of stalactite that had fallen from the cavern roof. It was glowing brightly. So that was what made the bright light… He blinked. If things start falling… "THE PRINCESS!" he yelled as he ran over to Tintlet. He skidded to a halt as he turned back and picked up the frail Miyabi. "Almost forgot," he laughed nervously and then ran back up to the table where the cursed princess lay.

As he reached the top and gently laid Miyabi down at the foot of the table, he saw rocks falling from the roof. Dammit, I don't know how to put up a shield! Ice wouldn't work!!! He stood over Tintlet using his body as a shield and braced himself for the incoming rocks, but blinked when nothing happened. He looked up to see a heaving water dragon standing above them, his wings outspread.

"Prince…are you all right?" the dragon said slightly breathless. His voice was soft and calm, yet fierce and filled with worry at the same time.

Rune placed a gentle hand on the sweaty dragon's shoulder. "Yes I am…thanks Water." He frowned and stared at Shyrendora. She was looking at them, her yellow eyes filled with deep anger and annoyance. "Water, I think she wants to end this."

"I agree. Use the sword and pierce her heart with ice."

Rune blinked. "But I already tried that—"

"You were halfway. A dragon's heart is deeper within. Use my power to seek it and shatter it." The dragon turned his head and looked down at the slightly confused elf prince. "Turn it to dust."

"To…" The image of the yokais encased in ice shattering flashed through his mind and his eyes hardened. "Got it." He turned and slowly walked to the roaring yokai.

"What do you plan on doing, Prince?" she spat as she fired green blasts of fire at the Dragon Knight.

He just continued walking, not flinching when the flames flew harmlessly past him. "I'm just going to transform your heart."

She laughed. "Is that so? You amuse me, Prince." She smirked. "If you feel so confident, then try it."

Rune had by now reached the sword and had his hands around the hilt. "You will not be disappointed." He closed his eyes. "Waters of life, waters of death, come and heed your Master's wishes. Seek this monster's heart and keep it bound with chains of ice until I command you to release it."

Shyrendora just laughed. "You fool! Do you think that your small magic can…" She shivered. "What's this?" The yokai looked down at herself and found that she was starting to be encased in ice. "What?! You don't have enough power for that!" She laughed as she expanded her chest, shattering the ice. "You're just weak."

The elf just looked up at her and grinned. "Whatever you say, Shyrendora. But you won't be singing the same tune when I'm finished." That's it.

Water started to swirl around the yokai. Tendrils of smoke flew up from her mouth and nostrils as she looked about her warily. "What sort of illusion is this?" She gasped as she felt her throat of constricting.

"Does it hurt?" Rune said, his voice smooth and taunting. "How does it feel to have your own throat squeezed? Like you did to Tintlet?!" he yelled as he tightened the icy binds that were within her body.

How can he do this to me?! Shyrendora thought angrily and summoned all her strength and malicious power to break the internal bonds. "You've wasted your chance," she roared as she lunged at Rune, firing red blasts at him. "NOW DIE!"

Rune cringed as he quickly jumped out of the way and rolled to the side only to leap back up as the earth erupted below him. He could still feel the water binds that were wrapped around the yokai's heart. But something was holding him back from finishing her off. What was it?

Water leaped in front of him, deflecting Shyrendora's next attack just in time. "Rune, finish her!" he yelled as he lunged at the yokai's throat.

Rune shook his head and closed his eyes. "Ice shatter," he said icily as he snapped his fingers once more.

"NOO!" Shyrendora shrieked as she felt the explosion within her. The room was filled with her horrendous screams as all her internal organs exploded. The sword flew out and landed a few feet away from Rune, its tip dug into the ground. Blood poured from the yokai's eyes, mouth, and the now gaping hole in her chest. The body crashed to the ground, a lake of blood growing from beneath her.

Water stood beside the nauseated Dragon Knight and also turned his head away. Shyrendora was finished at last.

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Well we have some questions answered: This is not the last chapter, Rune regained his memories, Shyrendora is now dead, and Miyabi hasn't died…yet . Lol, well I hope you enjoyed that…rather odd chapter. Okay maybe not odd…but yeah…stay tuned for Chapter 15: The Kiss of Life and Love . Sappy title right there .o; R&R!