Author's Note: If anyone is wondering I stopped proof reading each chapter. I figure if enough people complain about my grammar and spelling I'll change it. Until then, sorry!
The Lost Protector
This story is dedicated to Chichirui for she is the reason for most of my inspiration and without her these stories wouldn't be half as fun! So this one is for you my hyper active friend! Keep the hyperness alive!
Chapter 7: Found YouKat silently walked through the forest. She had to be silent, if she didn't want her prey to run away. This wasn't just any normal hunt for her; this was the hunt for life. She was in the exact forest Willow was hiding in just behind Fanellia.
Why was she alone in this position? Because she had to be-it was her destiny. Oh, it was hard enough keeping Dilandau and the Slayers from burning down the city. Since they were there why not finish off the deed, get back, right? Also they could smoke out Willow. At least, that's what they thought.
She knew they hated Folken ordering them around for Van. They wanted to just burn the city and be done with it. But she wouldn't let them do that. Too many would die soon enough. If they don't and they reveal them before I have Willow war will break out and Willow's "other side" will break free from whatever binds she's holding onto. It thrives on despair, bloodlust and harm. But I do hope they keep to my orders-if they don't I only hope Nicole and Alex can hold everything down until I return, she thought.
As she moved she kept an ear out. She knew it was drawing ever closer to midnight on the second day. Without a guymelef traveling was slow. Lucky we're here now then later, she reminded herself. But why did I know about Willow… suddenly a sound caught Kat's attention.
It sounded like labored breathing and whimpering. It also sounded strangely human. Frowning, Kat followed the sound, shrinking down into the shadows and keeping an eye out. She didn't have to follow the sound long before she found a small campsite.
In the campsite was a distressed Willow. Sprawled out on the ground, her chest rising and falling rapidly, she looked pale and sweat covered her face. "Willow?" She asked, walking into the camp without fear.
Willow turned her head and stared at Kat for a few seconds. She was trying to place the woman. A small smile lit up her face once she recognized her. "Kat," she whispered. "You've grown."
Kat smiled back. This was the real Willow. "Willow, are you okay? What's the matter?" Kat asked, worried as she kneeled down next to Willow.
"You shouldn't be here. It's getting out. I'm having troubles keeping it in," Willow whispered. Now Kat could see that her skin was slick with sweat and that her skin seemed to be crackling. Her breathing came heavily the results of an inner battle being fought.
"Willow, listen to me. I know what you're going through. I know what's in you, and I know how to destroy it. But in order to do that…" Kat trailed off.
"You'd have to destroy me or force the thing out, which would kill me," Willow finished.
So she knew… "Yes but there's still time. I can get the thing out of you know, Willow, without killing you."
"No, it's too powerful. It'd kill you and then take me over completely. Just go now, Kat, while you still can! I don't know how long I can keep it in!"
It pained Kat that Willow was going to sacrifice herself just for her. It was so like the little girl Kat knew so long ago. "Willow, at least let me-"
"NO! GO! I can feel it-" Willow suddenly doubled over and let out a cry in pain.
"Willow!" Kat started to reach for her friend.
Suddenly Willow's hand shot up and hit Kat's away. "You should've listened to your friend while you had the chance, little Kat," Willow said. She turned and looked at Kat. "Because, now you will have to die."
With that said Willow's eyes turned totally black. Kat's eyes widened as she backed up. She was too late. "Like Willow said, you never should've come. Well, I guess you should've, because now not only do I get to destroy Gaea, but I get to kill the leader of the Protectors. Oh, what will the poor Protectors do without their commander?" Willow taunted.
Kat bit her lip and jumped to her feet. "Why do you want to destroy Gaea so much?" She demanded.
"Because Gaea killed me. Gaea killed my mother, father, and even my brother! Why else should I destroy it?"
"But... what about you? What are you going to do?"
"Innocent little Kat. You just don't understand, do you? You don't even know! Hah! Don't you see that I am Folken and Folken is I? I am Folken for this is my body with a new spirit; I am Folken's old spirit. Willow's spirit is gone and Folken's old one took over. Once my family was gone, Gaea sensed that I was a threat to her and she took me out of my body! She gave Folken a kinder spirit! She's a traitor!"
"Okay... so that's why you want to destroy Gaea… but why Willow?" She might as well get some real answers instead of her guesswork she would be going on.
"Curious aren't you? Well, since you're going to die anyway, I'll tell you. It won't do you any good because you'll be dead. Willow, as you all ready know, has the power of light. She was supposed to come here and help you bunch keep Gaea safe but she didn't.
"She's the Lost Protector, the Lost One. I kept Willow locked in a time ripple, a small section of space where all time and gravity is a trivial thing, so Gaea could not call her forth to serve. All I needed was to make Willow a willing subject, change her mind, warp her sense of reality, and make her grow older in my conditions.
"I took Willow from the hospital when she was weak and not suspecting. The first night she woke up inside the time ripple I invaded her. It was easy; she was still weak from the ordeal. With a part of my spirit inside of her, I could extend my reach from my so-called body into her, but I still kept my body, not wanting to over work poor Willow. After all, this was a delicate matter.
"My work paid off as I carefully pulled Willow into my web. She didn't even know I was part of her now. It took her so long just to figure it out.
"Once we arrived here on Gaea I became more powerful. Gaea was after all my home so it was only natural that I would become stronger once I was returned. It was wonderful; I was taking Willow over faster. Everything she knew was a lie. Then she realized who I was and started fighting. It wasn't hard to fight her but as she fought her hopes rose-then when she saw you her hopes rose even more.
"She fought harder, believing that you would rescue her. Her mind was a mess, she couldn't tell when she was in control and not, her memories so scattered it was like a wild chase just trying to recall what happened last night. It didn't take long before I won her over again. My plan was working now all I needed was a place to work from. And then I remembered something. If I went back to Fanellia and worked there, no one would be the wiser.
"Who would suspect that such a little country would suddenly rise up and take over Gaea? It was perfect-the perfect cover. So I worked, got on the good side of the king, made him trust me and then got supporters and even projected myself into others to gain more control. It worked perfectly.
"Then the stupid king had to fall in love with me. Even though he was annoying, it opened up many opportunities. I took that chance and played along with Van. Soon I had all his advisors under my control, even his generals.
"Again Willow interfered. She came back stronger and I knew that if I wanted everything to go on then I must leave. So that night I left and I've been here ever since. She knows what I'm doing and she fought me hard. But I eventually won. And now that I have control again, it's time to start war."
Willow gave Kat and evil smile that made her beautiful face twist into an ugly vision of hell. That look made Kat's blood freeze and her senses dim. It was like she was looking into the face of true hell. That sense when you know destruction cannot be fought any longer and it had taken refuge in a person.
Willow was totally under control of Folken now and there was nothing she could do but try to rescue her from her prison. And that meant killing her. What a choice, killing my best friend to save her and Gaea, or letting my best friend destroy innocent lives and Gaea, she thought.
Author's Note: Ooooh! Face off! Willow reveals her true self again and the thing with Van is revealed also! Sorry Hitomi lovers, I do not like her, nor Van. Anyways, what's going to happen to Gaea? Willow could do some serious damage. You'll see in my next chapter! Ciao!
~The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat~
~~ShadowKat~~