Second to last chapter!! AH!! *sniffles* it's almost over...wonder how it's gonna end...guess you'll have to read on to find out! ^_^;;
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Firesprite came to her senses again only as the day began to dawn, the sudden light of the sun breaking over the Spirit Realms quickly bringing her thoughts in focus.
'It's the third day...'
Slowly she lifted her head, , wincing as the light struck her bleary eyes. Soon, very soon, the portal's seal would be shattered and the Dark Armies would cross the barrier between the two realms and begin their invasion.
And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it either.
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Allen lay on his back at the bottom of the mountain, wrapping securely in his cloak as his head twitched slightly from his dreams. Eyes turning to and fro under their lids, he learned something he'd never thought to know about the circular chunk of ice that adorned his head...
*Allen's dream*
A huge sheet of ice rose before him, the clouds racing over head and the sun rising and falling all within a matter of moments as time passed in a blur so fast he couldn't tell the difference between day and night.
The horizon itself began to glow as he turned from the ice, facing the plain that had been at his back. The ground sudden shook and he felt himself being hurtled through space, though his feet stayed on the same bit of ground as they'd been on before.
'Long ago...' said a voice in the back ground as two vast kingdoms came into view. 'There was only One Realm. One Realm ruled by two Kings who sought to rule their kingdoms wisely together. As chance would have it, they were brothers, and they loved each other very much. Because there was no distinction between mortals and spirits, Guardians and Destroyers ranged the land as free beings and battled each other against all odds. To aid the Kings in their Quest to help the Guardians rid themselves of the Destroyers, one was granted the power of Ice. The other was granted the power of Fire.'
Allen saw all this as the narration continued, the two Kings standing side by side, one dressed in ice blue and the other in a brilliant scarlet, each representing the powers that had been given to them. Flashes of Guardians and Destroyers of Old flew past him, some looking vaguely familiar and others creatures he'd never seen before in his life. The Story continued, more images flashing across the two Kingdoms in front of him.
'With time the Destroyers were demolished, both Kings celebrating with feasts and holidays that lasted for days,. Years of Peace followed, a Golden Age where all could live and prosper as one. Both of the Kings grew old and died eventually, passing on their Kingdoms and powers to the generation after them.'
'Unfortunately, four generations after the King of Fires passed away, his great-grandson had first born twins, both of equal abilities and merit. Wishing to be fair, he granted them a joint rule over the Kingdom that they might split it evenly between the two.' Allen saw the cousins, to black-haired little boys with mischievous grins. 'One of the twins, however, wished to rule the Kingdom for himself alone and as he planned for a way to make it happen he was approached by a bent over elder whom he'd never seen before. The man told the boy he could have his heart's desire if he'd only swear allegiance with the Destroyers rather than the Guardians. "Fire is meant to demolish, to burn to pure ash, not to preserve!" the elder had argued, quickly convincing the young man to do as he'd suggested. To secure with the Destroyer's his oath to help them always, he created a crown for their Leader of his own powers, one which would enhance the wearer's far beyond what he could normally accomplish.'
The new Guardian of All watched as the other twin was brutally murdered and the first was named King of the land, then turning his Kingdom over to the Destroyers along with the Crown he'd made.
The narration continued. 'Word of this quickly spread to the King of Ice, who declared the King of Fire was a traitor and a murderer, creating a Crown of power as well for his own Guardians, who needed it to battle the stronger Destroyers. The mortals were caught between the raging battles of the two sides, unable to defend themselves against such awesome and mighty beings.'
'The King of Ice felt compassion for his people and bound his soul to that of an ice mountain with his power, using that which was left to create a portal to another Realm which he created, one that would host mortal souls only. Many from both countries fled to the other side, only those most loyal to their Kings and Masters remaining behind. The King of Fire, who must always mirror the actions of his counterpart, was banished to a volcano in his lands, unable to ever leave its confines as the King of Ice was locked in his own Mountain of Ice.'
'Time passed, and the Guardians managed to push down the uprising of the Destroyers, once again securing the fate of the Mortal Realms, as they'd come to be called, for another thousand years. Six Guardians of All have lived and died since then, only one failing to win and casting both Realms into an Age of Darkness, when monsters like Moo ruled both Realms and humans and monsters alike suffered and died until the Destroyer's rule could be challenged once again.'
The voice fell silent, Allen taking all of it in as the images faded away back into the plains itself.
'Now is it your turn, Allen, Guardian of All.' The suddenness of those words startled the man, who looked up as they resonated around him. 'Are you ready...?'
*End Dream*
Allen sat up quickly as those words resounded in his head. 'Are you ready...are you ready...?' Standing, he stretched his muscles and gathered his things, packing quickly and leaving half of it behind under that tree before he started out at a run. Carrying only his weapons and a bit of food and water, he flew over the ground faster than his legs had ever carried him before. The time was now, and soon he'd be facing the toughest challenge in his entire life.
He was ready.
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The little boy stood beside the portal, palms outstretched towards it as his forces ringed it twenty and thirty creatures deep on all sides. Light began to appear in cracks as he concentrated along the surface, the stains of blood from the original seal being seared away from the sheer power the boy was pouring onto it. Cracking thunderously, it's surface shattered and a hazy rip in space was left in its place, showing fleeting bits and parts of the Mortal Realm.
"HA! Told ya I could do it," said the boy cockily, waving his hand in an arrogant manner as he headed back over to his 'guests' side, where he'd transported her earlier. "Get in there and get spread out! With the power I've given you and the numbers the captains have been given I want every area at least barely keeping up with the pressure we're putting on them in the Northern Continent by nightfall. What are you waiting for, get going!!"
A crush of bodies headed for the portal, demons and lesser evil spirits rushing for the portal to prove their loyalty to their Master, even in their own deaths.
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Holly worked along side others as they tore down the shelters and stacked the logs and slats along natural rises and dips in the land, creating mini forts here and there that could be used as cover during the battle ahead. Dousing the few fires that were left and hiding the majority of their force in the forest behind them, everything went still as it took on the feeling of long abandonment that it had had before.
Thankfully, several others had arrived that night as well, boosting their numbers up over 200. Monsters and humans alike that Zephyr had called on to rectify past debts, many were present that Holly and Genki hadn't seen for years but who were more than willing to lay down their life in the name of saving their realm.
"How are you feeling?" asked Kenjou as he took his place beside Annie among the archers, both also armed with swords in case they were needed on the ground as well.
"...well enough." Her face was drawn and worry had furrowed her brow. "I'm not so much scared as I am nervous...mom and dad are out in the front, and while I know they've beaten back the odds before I've never been in battle like this with them. I worry about them..."
"They'll be fine," whispered Kenjou, giving her hand a quick squeeze before he settled himself more comfortably on his branch. "They weren't made Phoenix Guardians for nothing, you know."
"I know..."
Zephyr stood before the portal in the lead, his winds whipping about him angrily as they felt his wrath and anger at the battle to come and took that same feeling upon themselves. Genki, Pixie, Holly, and Slip took their place behind him in an arch, each already transformed through the power of their pendants and waiting expecting for the inevitable clash of forces to come.
Genki stood to the far right wearing his green shirt and pants with gold trim, green and gold gauntlets covering his arms and his boots a dark brown with gold edging. His Tai chi sword with the pendent in the hilt was already drawn and held at the ready, the occasional flutter of the tassel in the wind the only sign that he wasn't a statue of sorts.
Holly stood beside him with her hair full of random braids and feathers as usual, her scarlet kimono with it's gold obi and phoenix prints shining in the rising sun behind them. A fan she'd acquired awhile ago was held in her right hand, slightly unfurled to show the gold and red birds that flew across it.
Pixie was next, arms crossed over her chest as her wings twitched from the tension they bore for waiting so long. Her clothes were the same dark pink as always, this time a top with one long sleeve slit from the elbow down and one with no sleeve at all, that arm having the silver armband that held her pendent. Her pink skirt went from her waist to the ground, slit at different intervals from the knees down to allow for more movement. With an elegant dagger in each hand that Blue had given her, she was ready for anything.
Slip held down the other end on the left, standing with his feet apart and his short sword drawn. His gel armor had grown with him, the same dark blue with his silver center showing and his pendent right in the center of it below his chin. His shield was on his arm and ready as well, his helmet's visor already pulled over his eyes. All he needed now was a few demons to sink his dirk in to.
By the way the portal was beginning to shimmer, the gel warrior would soon get his wish.
"Are the archer's ready?" asked Zephyr, still standing facing the portal in front of the others.
"Yes," replied Holly calmly, furling her fan with a snap. "And waiting for your signal."
"Good."
The sky suddenly burst with bright lights, other beings landing among them with grim, determined looks on their faces. One of them, a silver dragon that shone like the sun itself in the coming light, landed beside their leader gracefully. "We have come, Wyndcatcher," he rumbled deep in his throat, the very ground beneath them shaking from it.
Zephyr acknowledged them, the wolf-like creature motioning for them to stand on the outsides of the arch that was already formed. "As I knew you would, Starhunter. Thank you." The dragon nodded, then winked roguishly, the Guardian of the Wynds grinning back despite himself. Starhunter went to the right beside Genki, Tintaro going with him while Ophelia took the left. The twins stood directly in the middle, Tris and Chris each one step behind Wyndcatcher.
"We won't be pushed to the back," growled Chris as Wyndcatcher glanced back at them in puzzlement. Seeing the dangerous gleam in the other Guardian's eyes, he just nodded his consent.
There was a loud *crack* as the seal was shattered and a huge dog-like creature stuck it's head out, seeing Zephyr standing there like a Warrior of sorts with the four Phoenix Guardians at his back and the five Guardians interspersed among them as well. It stood a head taller than the Guardian of the Wynds, sniffing with distain as it took in the lone tiger-breed with wings and his seemingly small troop .
"Stand down, Guardian!" he thundered, stepping fully out of the portal and growling at him menacingly. "This is the age of Darkness! All those who oppose us will be killed!"
Zephyr bared his teeth and growled back. "I don't think so." Shifting his right paw the archers saw the cue and let loose a hail of arrows, slaying the demonic beast instantly, others tumbling through after him to help defend the portal as they realized they were under attack. The two sides flowed towards each other like rivers going opposite directions, meeting in a clash at the center where they swirled and mixed in amongst each other until there was no distinct boundary between the two. Bodies from both sides lay everywhere, and it was impossible to tell who was the enemy and who was not from a distance.
Annie watched with Kenjou at her side, automatically reloading and shooting her bow over and over again like she had been taught though a sick feeling grew more and more in the pit of her stomach with every kill that she made.
Hearing something behind her, she swung around in time to duck under the spear that had been thrust at her head, a soldier from the other realm standing across from her on the braches on the others side of the tree.
"Jump!" yelled Kenjou as he threw an empty quiver at the man, sliding down the tree quickly as Annie grabbed her own quiver and leapt after him. Landing side by side on the ground, they were quickly enveloped into the fray and lost from sight. Both drew their blades and fought back to back, their minds numb with fear and death and their sole wish to make it out alive.
Holly shielded the group from overhead attacks and took the brunt of the Destroyer's energy beams upon herself, darting through the melee as well to heal those whom she came upon that were wounded. Still, there were far more wounded than she alone could handle and more than one of theirs died because there was no one there to save them.
Genki and Slip charged side by side among the higher demons, twin silver arches flashing simultaneously to demolish their enemies. Both were hard pressed to keep up with the flow that came from the portal, but they battled on tirelessly, determined to do their best for their people.
Tiger fought among his fellow tigers as proudly as any of them, his mate Storm right along side him the whole time. Fangs flashing, claws slashing, lightning zapping, they warred with the other units of humans and monsters that came through and fought as one in their pack. Their numbers began to whittle down, each new group that came through pushing them farther and farther beyond their limits as a group. Still, they never gave up and committed themselves to the death for the cause which some of their own had already died for.
The Guardians fought wherever they were needed most, holding down a line here, and adding strength to a group there. The twins never left the other's side, often times being over looked as just lost children before they destroyed their opponents. Chris using his earth skills would open jagged crevices below, Tris then washing them into it with flows of water she drew up from underground springs. They were a deadly duo, and would stop at nothing to destroy those who threatened their home and their Firesprite.
Starhunter ranged above them in the skies, using his sun beams and falling star attacks to incinerate the Dark armies below, as well as his razor sharp claws and tail spike which were dripping with the black blood than ran in their veins.
Ophelia brought up zombies of her own, using them to slow down and confuse the other armies, bringing back to life the bodies of their dead and turning them against their own. Seeing their own march against them shattered the unity of the army, and soon they were no more than a leaderless rabble that killed wherever there were enemy soldiers regardless of where they were supposed to be.
Tintaro attacked on his own, a single being that with his two broad swords wreaked massive amounts of damage on the other side. Twirling around, slashing on demon's head off, jumping to avoid the body that toppled down and then leaping at another, he was truly in his element and thrived upon bringing one more of those against him to their final end.
The sun had risen past the horizon and hung fully in the sky, no one else able to force their way through the portal for the bodies that were crushed against it. Those fighting to protect their land noticed this with grim joy and battled on, resolute to drive them back completely forever!
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The Destroyer of All stood there sucking on another one of his suckers, gloating over Firesprite's limp for as he continued to expound upon the ways he would make the Mortal Realms bow to him.
"And then I'll have them build a monument in every town square! One of me, dressed in my ceremonial armor of course, and they will be forced to bow to it whenever they walk past it and when they wake in the morning and go to sleep at night! Any who disobey will be...I can't say whipped to death because that I used for those who refuse to house my soldiers while they're on campaigns." The young boy paused, rubbing his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "Being dunked in boiling oil might do nicely, though..."
"Sir!" cried Keitaro, the Destroyer of the Living, as he ran up, interrupting his leader's speech. The Destroyer bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching his knees.
"This had better be good," the boy threatened, an aura building around him of dark energy as he mood went instantly from happy go lucky to temper tantrum in an instant. Unfortunately for his followers, his temper tantrums had a way of killing others instead of just getting him what he wanted. "What is it?"
"The portal, sir," explained the Destroyer of All as he pointed back towards where it was. Half the army was still on their side, trying to get through. "Something is blocking us! Rumors are coming through of a vast army that's stopping our progress, but we do not know for sure if it is true..."
The Destroyer of all glanced at the prisoner who was coherent but not moving at his feet, a sly look coming on his face. "Grab her," he ordered, heading towards the portal quickly. "I think I know who it is." Keitaro immediately slung the chained and shackled Firesprite over his shoulder, jogging after his Master as fast as he could without dropping her.
The boy moved everyone out of the way with a single command, blasting through his own forces to clear a space outside the portal. Motioning to Keitaro, the Destroyer of the Living chucked the Guardian of the Living through the portal, the Destroyer of All following immediately after to stand there with the Guardian at his feet.
The fighting stopped and both sides drew apart, each only glaring at the other through some unspoken agreement of a truce for the moment.
"I see you've managed to...pause our invasion," commented the boy, his voice ringing over the silent defenders. He spotted Zephyr and nodded to himself as if confirming something he already knew. "Impressive. I have a wager for you, though, so neither of us will continue to waste our fighting resources needlessly. A death match between me and your leader, for this Guardian's life as well as control of this portal." He paused, waiting to see if any would immediately reply. "Well?" he asked tauntingly after a few moments of silence had gone by. "What, there's no one brave enough on the Guardian's side to face a little kid like me?" He spat the last part out, as if disgusted with the words.
"I will!" cried Genki, stepping forward and redrawing the sword he had sheathed.
"No," cut in Zephyr before the child could reply, stepping forward instead. "If there is none stronger than I, then I will fight."
The boy was about to reply when a massive explosion rocked the portal, blood and guts flying through it to spatter his uniform and those of the soldiers near him. Silence fell as its surface began to blur, another figure stepping through.
"That won't be necessary, Zeph," said a familiar voice, one which rang even louder and truer than that of the Destroyer of All. Allen stepped into the light, drawing his sword and holding his shield at the ready. "I am the Guardian of All! Destroyer, your armies who awaited you are gone and those who are left here are not enough to win alone. You have no choice but to face me."
The form at the boy's feet lifted it's head slightly, Firesprite so lost in her grief and the painful drugs that had been fed to her that she could do nothing but whimper softly.
The boy smirked and drew his sword of rough iron, flames appearing along its length as he swung it a few times expertly. "Bring it on."
The two charged at each other, Allen switching one sword for the other as Fire met Ice in an explosive rein of ice splinters and sparks. The two continued to exchange blows for a moment before backing off, Allen realizing this was going to be a lot harder than he thought it was going to.
The boy was good, he couldn't deny that. Fast and strong as any grown man, surely he had not been like this his whole 7 or 8 years of life but unless Allen could disarm him in some way he couldn't beat him through his sword work.
Shielding himself against the blast of fire sent at him with a wall of ice, he continued to puzzle it through while raining bolts of ice lighting down on the young boy. There had to be a loop hole he had not yet seen...
Drawing back as his wall of ice shattered from the overbearing heat, he switched tactics and blocked each burst of fire with a separate burst of ice, dousing them in midair. Standing across from each other with their opposing armies backed up enough to give them sufficient room and Firesprite still lying there to the side, he began to feel a few beads of sweat drip down his face from the tension in the air.
"You're strong," panted the young one as he drew himself into another fighting stance. Smirking he added, "And fast. But I am stronger, and faster. HA!" He flew forward, his shield on his back and both swords out and ready.
Allen furrowed his brow, then nodded to himself as he charged forward as well. "We'll see about that."
Once again they met in a clash, but this time Allen paused and let his guard down, the Destroyer leaping forward at the chance to spear him through the middle. Allen barely turned at the last second, his ice blade reaching out as if to stab the Destroyer in the back...only to catch the tip of his crown and sending it flying through the air.
The boy felt it left off his head and turned quickly, catching the tip of the blade on the edge of his face and slicing across his cheek. Seeing it whirling in the air, he ran after it trying to catch it before it hit the ground. Allen merely pointed his sword at it and let off a stream of ice, the two together combusting and destroying each other. The crown on Allen's head shattered as well, his ice sword and the boy's fire on crumbling away at the destruction of their base power.
"You're powers are gone!" called Allen as he sheathed his sword and kept his shield on his back, holding his arms out imploringly. "Give it up, Destroyer of All. Return back to your castle now and I'll let you live another thousand years to challenge me again!"
The boy just laughed maniacally, his body changing and reforming itself to that of an older man with wild black hair that trailed down his back, eyes red as blood taking in the scene as the boy had before. "My powers gone??" he queried, his voice growing deeper by the second. "I think not..."
Throwing his hands apart, he drew upon all the pain and destruction of the last few hours, bringing that energy into a single band between his hands. Breathing deeply, he roared, "TOTAL ANIALATION!!" The band expanded, then contracted into a single blade that shot towards Allen faster than he could react. He closed his eyes, accepting his death from his own foolishness as it split into a thousand more beams that he could never hope to dodge...
"NO- AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
Allen got a deja vu feeling as something slumped against him, opening his eyes to see Firesprite, still chained and shackled as she was, standing before him with her wings spread wide. Or what was left of them. Flesh hung in strips from the stark white bones which protruded from her back, everything else completely disintegrated by the force.
Catching her as she began to slip, he felt a rage build inside him that hadn't been there before. At first, Allen had wished only wished to stop the Destroyer of All, perhaps find a way to divert another death from happening. Now he wanted to murder him with his bare hands.
"You fool..." he said gently as he laid Firesprite to the side, Holly and Pixie on either side of her in an instant.
"You're...even...more so...than I..." she retorted quietly, unable to move from the pain that now paralyzed her body. The two Phoenix Warriors supported her on either side, Holly taking some of the pain for herself as the Destroyer of All just stood there bringing another beam together while laughing all the while.
"I missed last time," he called mockingly. "Not that it matters. I won't make that mistake again..."
Allen raised his blade high, building upon the trust and the courage of those who had fought and died that there would be others after them to do the same. Lowering it slowly as he used his anger to focus the flood of power that engulfed his body, they both began to glow as one as each set of their final attacks.
"TOTAL ANIALATION!"
"RIGHTEOUS THUNDER!!"
Everything imploded with an uncontrollable force, both those of the Dark armies and those defending their Realm knocked over by the blast as everything went dark...
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Allen stood across the boy in a black void dotted with stars, neither one armed except for a single dagger which stood between them. The Guardian looked around, extremely confused. "Where am I?!"
"Where we would have fought had things gone as the prophecy had originally described," explained the boy lightly with a shrug. "Now, one of us must die." He glanced at the dagger, surprised that Allen had not made his move yet. "What are you waiting for??"
"...am I supposed to do something??" Allen gave him a puzzled look.
"You're supposed to kill me, moron!" The Destroyer shook his head in frustration, huffing in annoyance. "Well come on, get on with it already! I'm still waiting..."
"What if I don't want to?" Allen crossed his arms over his chest, looking at him defiantly. "I don't believe in killing needlessly in general."
"You won't deny me this!" cried the boy, rushing forward to grab the dagger and place it in Allen's hands and then put the tip to his chest. "It is my destiny to die at your hands. DO IT!"
Allen dropped the dagger, turning away slightly. "No."
"It's what you owe me! You destroyed my crown and my sword, now destroy me!"
"I owe you nothing! It doesn't have to be this way!"
"It does so." The boy picked up the dagger again, placing it to his own chest with a slight smile on his face. "One of these days, when you have read the chronicles they require you Guardians to write, you will understand. Perhaps then next time you will give me my satisfaction." He plunged the dagger through his chest, the blood dripping to the floor as the void began to fade, Allen trying to rush forward and stop him from doing the deed as he was thrown from it into empty space...
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Allen woke staring at the stars in the sky, feeling the grass beneath him and hearing the murmur of others who moved around him quietly. A blanket had been placed over him, someone lying beside him on their stomach with their back thickly bandaged.
"...Lili...?" The someone turned their head towards him, not bothering to move but giving him a slightly smile and a nod. Allen sat up slowly, brushing his fingers along her back, making her wince. "Your wings..."
"Gone," she replied softly. Closing her eyes, a single tear fell down her face. "I'll never fly again..."
Allen wiped it away tenderly and kissed her cheek, promising to be back soon as he got up and moved among the others, searching for certain people among the crowd.
"Genki!" He grabbed the man's shoulders, turning him quickly.
"Allen, you woke up!" Genki gave him a quick hug before waving aside Allen's questions, smiling slightly. "You're friends from the Spirit Realm brought back those who were too far gone for us to save after the battle, and our losses were none because of it. Not that everyone has their same abilities as before, but being a cripple and being a alive is a heck of a lot better than being dead. Everyone is fine."
"I'm glad," replied Allen, sighing gratefully. "Lilianne, though..."
"Those from the Spirit Realms are waiting for you over there," explained Genki, pointing to the edge of the camp. "Go, they've already explained things to us."
"Thank you," said Allen, clasping hands with Genki one last time before running towards where a lone fire was outside the edge of the camp.
"Allen!" He felt two pairs of arms encircle him from behind just before he reached it, turning to see Chris and Tris both standing there with worried looks on their faces. "How is Firesprite?? The Phoenix Warriors wouldn't let us see her and Tintaro said we had to do whatever they said!"
"She's fine," Allen assured them, patting them both on the head as they lead him over to where the Guardians sat. "Not in the best of shape, but she'll live. What of the other army, though?"
"Gone," said Chris with a shrug. "Banished to the other side once again since they've lost this round.'
"You've succeeded," said Tintaro gruffly as he saw them approach, standing and bowing stiffly. Allen saw the bandage around his arm, though, and motioned for him to sit.
"I have," replied Allen, frowning as he did. "What now?"
"We go home," replied Ophelia as she rose slowly, Starhunter towering behind her and the twins on either side. "It's time you took your place among us, Guardian Lavan. For that is the name Celeste has chosen for you, and you shall be called it from now on."
"What about Firesprite?" asked Allen, turning back towards the others.
"We will take her with us," Tintaro assured him. "We've already spoken with the rest of your people, and they know we have to leave quickly. There is something we can do for our fellow Guardian's wings, but it requires your help and it must be done soon. Are you ready to go?"
"I am," replied Allen with a nod. They all began to glow, Starhunter flying overhead and picking up Firesprite gently to bring with them. "Let's go home."
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And that my friends, would be the end if I weren't kind enough to type you an epilogue as well. ^_^ I'm sorry if it doesn't quite fit my usual writing style, I've been very out of sorts as of late and its affecting most every part of my life. I'm sorry. Hopefully I'll have time to go back and do some revisions later, if not I hope this will satisfy you along with a little bit soon to be posted about what happened afterward. Please review, is it really the kind thing to do.
~Crosseyedbutterfly~