The Final Battle

As everyone reached the gates, they saw the guards coming at them. Rick quickly jumped off his horse and pulled out his guns. Mariana did the same. Ardeth also jumped down, sword in hand. Evy got down and pulled out her sai's from her pack.

" Jonathan get back." Evy said as she twirled her sai's and got in a defensive position.

" Right." Jonathan said and took Alex.

Rick and Mariana began shooting the guards that were coming at them. Ardeth and Evy were behind them to take on any of the men, that might get past Rick and Mariana. They began fighting.

Jonathan and Alex, stood back a short distance watching the others fight. Meanwhile, Malik had gotten of her horse, and began to curse up a storm at the guards. She then began fighting some of the guards that had slipped past Ardeth and Evy. She punched every one of them square in the jaw.

" You stupid bastards! You aren't going to get out of this one!" Malik yelled as another one fell to the ground.

" This is my chance to avenge my brother and make good use of myself and you stupid idiots aren't going to mess it up!" she yelled again.

Meanwhile, Rick had ran out of bullets, but didn't even bother reloading, he just began to punch as more guards came running at them. Mariana on the other hand, had been using a combination of physical fighting and guns. Ardeth had lost his sword, but quickly remembered that he had the Thompson on the back of the horse. He went and grabbed it and began shooting. Evy took a quick glance to make sure that Jonathan and Alex were alright. She realized there wasn't much of a chance that anymore men would get to her, seeing as how Ardeth was now shooting up a storm. She looked behind her to see Malik at work, searching all the bodies she had dropped. Evy turned back around and got back in the defensive position just in case. Mariana quickly glanced at Ardeth to make sure he was ok, and seeing the smile on his face as he used his favorite weapon, she began to fight again, by O'Connell's side. After a few more minutes of fighting, the last guard dropped to the ground, and as he hit the ground, Malik began screaming with delight.

" I found it! I found the scroll!" Malik yelled pleased with her find.

Everyone but Rick and Ardeth, who were still making sure no more guards were coming, ran over to Malik.

Mariana grabbed the scroll and opened it. Evy joined her and they both began to look it over.

" Those stupid idiots actually ran into battle with it!" Malik said, again still pleased.

" Well, turns out your hobby has finally made good use." Rick said as he and Ardeth joined them.

" It's a profession! And thank you." Malik replied.

Evy and Mariana were still looking over the scroll.

" Well?" Rick asked. "Is it the right one?"

" Yes." Evy replied, then looked at Mariana.

" Good. Then lets go do what we came here to do." Rick said in his very serious voice as he began to walk to the temple. Everyone followed but Evy and Mariana.

" Do you think we will need this?" Mariana asked Evy.

" I don't know." Evy said. " But we can't let Kurai get a hold of it can we?" Evy answered.

" No…um by the way, what is your plan?" Mariana asked.

" To do what ever possible to keep my family alive." Evy answered.

" Oh…I thought there might be more to it than that." Mariana said.

" So what if there is?" Evy said with a little bit of a grin. " I mean, you obviously have a plan too, so maybe our plans might work together, even though we don't know what the other ones plan is." Evy said.

" Yeah…I hope so." Mariana replies as they began to follow the others inside.

Inside the temple, the only light was by torches, and there were few at that. Rick and Ardeth were in front cautiously looking around. They stopped short of a door, that seemed it would lead to a main chamber.

" Alright…this is it." Rick said. " Malik?…Malik?!" he yelled in a whisper.

" Right here." she said making her way to the front.

" You know what you are doing right?" Rick asked

" Yes… running around, screaming, cursing, making fun of the jerk so he will come after me right…while you two try to get him from behind." Malik said looking at Rick and Ardeth.

" Good… Jonathan?" Rick said.

" Yes?" Jonathan said

" I want you and Alex to stay out here, where you aren't in danger." Rick said.

" Dad…" Alex started to argue.

" Alex, you are staying here! Don't make me tell you twice." Evy said sternly. Alex took notice that his mum still had her sai's in hand.

" Alright." Alex said quietly.

" But, what it there are more guards?" Jonathan asked.

" Then take this and shoot them." Rick answered as he tossed Jonathan a pistol.

" Alright then." Jonathan said happily looking at the gun.

Evy and Mariana looked at the men. Mariana still had the scroll in hand.

" You two.." Rick started.

" Are coming in too!" Mariana interrupted.

" Yes I know that. But, you two need to stay out of the way. You guys just back Malik up if she needs it." Rick finished.

" Alright." Mariana said as she took a quick glance to Evy.

Evy looked back and took the look as " We wont do anything, unless we need too, then it will get ugly." she then smiled at Mariana.

Rick opened the door. Inside the chamber, was even less light. He and Ardeth walked very slowly, looking around the room.

" So…you have made it here." came a familiar voice as the real form of Kurai stepped out of the shadows into what little light there was.

" Yeah…and its bad for you!" Rick said angrily.

" We shall see." Kurai said standing still looking about the ones in front of him.

" Ah…so the women have joined you again…bringing them back to their dooms…you call that love?" Kurai said looking at Mariana and Evy.

" We came on our own…to fight with them…to kill you!" Mariana said. She had now hidden the scroll in the back of her robes.

" What would you know about love anyway?" Evy said.

" I know enough." Kurai replied.

" Do you? Is that why Anuck-su-namun loved your brother? Because you knew enough?" Evy said.

" Or was it because you didn't know enough?" Mariana added.

" That is not true." Kurai snapped.

" Really? Well, at least your brother was trying to take over the world for his love." Evy said. " You are doing it without love…maybe that was your problem." Evy finished.

" You watch your tongue! You know nothing of these things!" Kurai yelled.

" Oh, you're wrong… she knows more than…what did you call it? Enough." Rick said with a grin.

" Hey you stupid jerk!" Malik yelled from behind. " You wanna yell? Yell at me… cause I think you are a loveless… idiotic pile of goo!" Malik yelled

" Stupid…fool." Kurai said as he turned towards her.

Mariana and Evy quickly ran off to the side… to where they could keep an eye on Malik. Rick and Ardeth began to cautiously come towards Kurai.

" Hey I bet you like fire!" Malik said taking a torch out of its holder and began to lunge it back and forth at Kurai.

" I would stop that if I were you!" Kurai yelled.

" Nah… I like playing with fire…you know, I think it would be neat to see you on fire…wanna try?" Malik said as she lunged the torch at him again.

Kurai knocked it out of her hands.

" Well, not much of a experimenter are you? Well, I think you are a scared stupid nothing that is jealous that his brother has it all and you have nothing…but…well, face it, you don't even have a real body, even your brother has that!" Malik tormented.

Those words struck a nerve. Kurai lunged at her, but Malik ducked out of the way, and Kurai hit the wall.

" Oh now look, now he's trying to go through walls…sch…what a dumb bastard." Malik said laughing.

It was working… Malik was distracting Kurai. He was going after only her…almost to the point where Kurai had forgotten about Rick and Ardeth.

Evy and Mariana watched as Malik ran around sticking out her tongue and making comments.

" You know…this could get ugly really quick." Maraina said.

" I know it can." Evy replied.

While Kurai was chasing Malik around, Rick and Ardeth had gotten closer. They were just about to jump him when he turned around and hit them both and they went flying into the wall.

" Ahh!!" they both screamed as they flew through the air and hit the ground.

" Hey you big nothing! Over here!" Malik tried.

Kurai was done with her…he had now realized she was nothing but a distraction…now it was time to kill them.

Malik ran over to Mariana and Evy, who now were looking worried.

" I don't think he wants to play with me anymore." Malik said.

Evy and Mariana did not reply. They just watched as Rick and Ardeth began fighting Kurai.

" Stupid fools…you think you can kill me?" Kurai said as he threw a punch at Rick, who ducked. Kurai, who for some reason had just been going after Rick, didn't notice that Ardeth had snuck around behind him. Ardeth took out his machete and swung.

Evy and Mariana watched in horror as the blow hit Kurai, but made no effect. Kurai picked Ardeth up and threw him at Rick who tried to catch Ardeth, and they both fell to the floor.

Kurai started laughing, laughing at the two forms moving about in front of him.

For a split second, Evy's eyes made contact with Rick's. The look she got back was not good. She could tell Rick was getting weak. She could see his strength to fight was becoming less. The look he gave her said " its useless the way he is.". Mariana was struggling…struggling not to run out there and throw herself at Kurai…but Ardeth quickly gave her the look that said "Don't do it.".

" I have had enough. You fools have interfered for the last time." Kurai said as he stuck out his hand.

All of a sudden, Rick and Ardeth were in the air.

* What the?* Rick thought.

* He has powers* Ardeth answered.

Rick looked at Ardeth astonished… he had answered him through their minds.

Evy and Mariana got wide eyed as Rick and Ardeth, by a force un known, but from Kurai, sent them flying across the room.

" He has powers?" Mariana said in shock.

Evy didn't answer. She was being torn apart as she watched her husband being thrown about the room, getting weaker every time.

Rick and Ardeth hit the ground. This time they couldn't get up. Kurai stood above them. He pulled a sword from the wall.

" You are done." Kurai said.

Evy seeing this moment…tried to think of everything…then she realized.

" The spell." Evy remembered.

" What?" Mariana asked.

" Just be ready to read the scroll." Evy replied.

" Good bye O'Connell!" Kurai said lifting the sword up in the air.

Rick didn't look at the sword, he looked at Evy. He wanted one last look of her. That was all he wanted. Ardeth was watching in horror.

" Cadish Mal, Cadish Mal!" Evy yelled.

Kurai stopped… he turned to look at Evy. Rick recognized those words.

* She's turning him mortal* Rick told Ardeth in his thoughts.

* Yes…and Maraina is getting ready to read the scroll… prepare your eyes my friend.* Ardeth answered.

Kurai started running towards Evy, but Malik jumped out in front and started hitting him… so Evy and Mariana could do what they needed.

" Para duce! Para duce!" Evy finished.

Kurai's eyes widened at the end of those words. He then saw Mariana reading the scroll.

" Yat to ay, sek-re-ouk-a-nok, aran-tar-a-rentar!" Mariana chanted.

Kurai started running towards Malik then, realizing what was happening, but just then he saw the chariot…then he saw his soul…his immortal soul leaving him. He looked back to Mariana and just then the blinding flash came about the room.

" Ahhh!" Kurai was yelling.

" Hurry! Get him while he is blinded!" Both Mariana and Evy yelled.

At this, Rick and Ardeth got up and ran to Kurai.

" Tell your brother hello for me!" Rick yelled as he took a sword and stabbed Kurai.

" Ahhhhh!" Kurai yelled in pain. He swung trying to find O'Connell, but couldn't because of the light.

" This is for Mariana!" Ardeth yelled and swung his machete.

One last cry came from Kurai, then nothing.

The light vanished. Evy, saw a figure on the ground, but it was fuzzy. She focused her eyes, praying it was not her husband. Once her eyes were focused, she saw that it was Kurai. Rick and Ardeth looked at him. Evy and Mariana ran over to them and watched as Kurai disappeared. Rick fell against Evy, Ardeth against Mariana… from exhaustion. The girls sat down, with the men at their laps as they rested.

" Well….looks…lik..e you two were prepared." Rick said breathing heavily.

" Well, It was a last minute thing…" Mariana answered as she caressed Ardeths forehead.

" Huh?" Rick asked.

" We both had our own plan…and it turns out, that our plans worked better together." Evy said smiling at Rick.

" Well that's good…cause I had no plan." Rick said.

" You never do." Evy said and laughed. They all laughed.

Rick looked up at Evy. He was glad to see her, looking down at him. Her face made him fell secure. It made him feel comfort. It always had.

" My young medji, you did well, I believe you have finally learned patience." Ardeth said with a chuckle. " We should get out of here." he finished.

" And you my master, have forgotten patience, you should catch your breathe first." Mariana said.

Ardeth smiled. He was proud of his apprentice and even more… was proud…to see the face he loved so much.

After a few minutes rest, the came out of the door. Alex and Jonathan were missing.

" Great." Rick said.

They went outside the temple. They saw Malik, with Jonathan and Alex. She looked as though she were teaching them something. Alex looked over.

" Mum! Dad!" he yelled and ran over.

" Hey Alex." both Rick and Evy replied.

" What are you doing?" Ardeth asked Malik.

" OH, I was just teaching them, how to look for stuff." Malik replied.

" No… you keep your filthy tricks away from my son." Rick said in a joking way.

" But, Jonathan is already ruined, so we don't care about him." Evy said.

" Hey!" Jonathan yelled.

" Yeah, I bet Jonathan can teach you how to pick pocket." Rick added.

" You are a pick pocket?" Malik asked.

" Uh…sometimes." Jonathan answered.

" Come on, lets get back to the fort." Evy said.

They got on their horses and headed back.

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Hey! Just wanted to let you know, there is one more chapter, but this was technically the last real chapter as the next one is just them departing. So stay tuned for the last one. Hope you enjoyed this one.

Nefertirievy