Chapter.9
Beautiful Dreamer/
Mad (not angry) Dark Magician
Lance, Drake, Neo, and the sleeping beauty were about four hours into the maze that was the Mystical Labyrinth and they couldn't be more lost. "Oh my goddess we couldn't be more lost," Lance sighed. He was dead tired from carrying Christine on him back, but he didn't mind it. (If you know what I mean ^__~) "Hey Neo, can we take a break since we don't seem to be getting anywhere?" He questioned.
"Well I suppose, we seem to be getting nowhere real fast," Neo nodded. Lance propped Christine against the wall and he dropped flat on his butt. Neo sat down next to Lance and sighed, "I expected more from the Gate Guardian. His strength is beyond most and his skills are legendary, but he seemed to have Drake's stupidity."
"Speaking of that dip-shit where is he?" Lance questioned.
"Ooh, you're the dancing queen, young and sweet only seventeen. You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life!" Drake's melodious voice rang. Standing on the top of the walls Drake sang with all his being as always, his tune perfect, and every note better than on key.
"You got to give him credit though, his voice does lift your spirit," Neo smiled, crossing his arms and closing his eyes.
"Maybe it lifts your spirit after all you are the dancing queen," Lance joked, closing his eyes and resting his head on Christine's shoulder. Drake smiled his song going silent and his voice picking up a new tune.
"After the sun goes down and the sky embraces the moon, the time will come. I want to stay with you forever, no matter where future leads. I want to hold you in my arms, only you can set me free. There's no such thing as tomorrow if you aren't here with me, could be my other, the one meant for me? I will confess to you before the clock strikes ten and you'll confess your love to me and we'll love…till…the end," Drake fell silent and Lance and Neo were asleep. "I have made my prediction and the future will unfold around it, be wary Lance for your love will last only if you choose Christine over your name.
Two hours later
Lance and Neo awoke and everybody was ready to get going again. "Hey Neo would you mind carrying Christine?" Lance asked.
"Fat chance she's your girlfriend Lance you carry her and I'm sure she'll let you "ride" her when she wakes up," Neo snickered, standing up and stretching. Lance growled drawing his legendary sword against Neo. In a flash their swords met and sparks flew. "You dare speak of Christine that way!?" Lance leaped on top of the wall and Neo followed after him.
"I'm just saying what you're already thinking," Neo grinned evilly striking Lance. Lance caught the blade with his left and elbowed Neo's arm. Neo released his sword, caught it with his other hand and kneed Lance in the stomach. Lance spun, throwing Neo off his balance then grabbed Neo in a chokehold. "I don't think of Christine as a plaything to be discarded, I care deeply for her and I…I." Neo teleported from Lance's grip and held his sword to Lance's throat.
"You, you what her?" Neo sheathed his sword and hopped down from the wall and looked down at Christine. "Lance you have taken an oath, as a 'Celtic Guardian' you must put your mission before anything and everything, even the ones you love." Neo looked at Lance then Christine then began to walk. Drake appeared from nowhere and leaned on Lance's shoulder.
"So what are we doing next?" Drake asked.
"I don't know, you should go and follow Neo," Lance said looking into the distance. Sensing the seriousness of the situation Drake gave Lance a wedgie and ran off. Lance wanted to chase after his and beat the living shit out of him, but he didn't want to leave Christine unguarded for a second. Hopping off of the wall Lance lifted Christine onto his back, turned around and walked the opposite way of Drake and Neo.
"So Drake you decided to follow huh?" Neo asked.
"Of course, without Lance or Christine here I can repay you for the training you put me through," Drake smiled, sinisterly uncharacteristically. Neo gave Drake an awkward stare as Drake reached for his face and began to rip it off. The skin peeled and blood poured from behind it, and with a hard pull the skin came off and his hair began to streak white. It was then that Neo saw the horror that was Drake's true face. His face was extremely pale, scarred and covered on the left with strange mark. Neo didn't speak as Drake clapped his hands together and slowly separated them, his staff forming in between them.
"Drake are you okay? You don't seem yourself," Neo said reaching for his sword.
"It's quite the opposite my friend, this monstrosity is my true face and this is my true nature," Drake spun his staff with one hand and pointed it at Neo. "My real name is Mandrake and I am not the idiotic, pathetic, Dark Magician you know I--"
"Am Batman?" Neo smiled fully drawing his sword. Mandrake raised his staff and struck down with all him might, Neo parried in defense, but--*CHANG! CRACK!!* Neo's sword smashed in two and the tip landed point down. Looking in shock at his sword, then back at Drake err…uh…Mandrake. Mandrake gave Neo a full anime villain grin and held his staff to Neo's forehead. "Who…what are you?" Neo questioned sweat running down his head.
"I am a Mad Dark Magician and I have power over all Dark Magicians and power over you," Mandrake explained.
"So why didn't you attack me while Lance and Christine where here?" Neo questioned, stepping back.
"You would've had Lance back you up, but since you two are fighting right now this is the perfect time. He wouldn't come to help ever if you called him telepathically. And by the way don't try I've set a thirty-foot radius barrier around us. The only way to get out is to defeat me! Now prepare yourself!" Mandrake finished charging towards Neo.
"So be it!" Neo yelled rushing Mandrake.
Lance carried Christine on his back, walking down random corridors wandering around not going or getting anywhere. "Stupid Neo with his making fun of me, find a sharp object, shank him, rip his stupid jokes outta his stupid ass," Lance mumbled frustratedly. Lance and Neo were always good friends, but Lance always attacked Neo when he joked alittle too hard or annoyed him alittle too much. Lance liked being alone though it gave him time to think and to train by himself. He was with Christine however and with her unconscious he couldn't do much, but walk and complain to himself. "I wonder why I haven't seen one monster since I came here," he asked himself, almost expecting an answer. He stopped walking for a moment waiting for a roar or some kind of monstery sounding noise, but nothing.
Making an angry chibi face he set down Christine and sighed. "You know if you were awake you could hear me complaining, but nooooo. You had to go and go into a coma, what is this? A soap opera? And why is it called a 'soap opera' anyway? I don't see any singing and I don't know of any operas where a guy falls for a girl that ends up being an alien, that's the guy's second uncle's, third cousin, twice removed. And they still somehow happen to have a normal human baby, until they wake up and realize that it's a coma fantasy!" Lance growled stomping around back and forth. "Why does this stuff only happen to me?! (And sometimes Christine)" Lance propped up against a wall and sighed again heavily looking at Christine. Still as beautiful as ever or possibly even more so in her sleep.
Lance thought of life without her and just couldn't image things being any different. "If you never wake up, I don't know what I'll do," he whispered drooping his head down. Reaching into the pouch his wears on his belt, Lance pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a ring, nothing real fancy, it was solid gold and had three perfectly cut diamonds on top. It was so well kept you could see your reflection in it, and inside the ring was an inscription that read, "To my first and only love, Christine." Lance held the ring in his hand, closed his eyes and tried to imagine the look on Christine's face when he finally presented it to her. Her eyes would light up, she'd gasp as she gazed at it, then would look to Lance and say--
"I do," Lance heard Christine say.
Neo and Mandrake were in the heat of battle. Neo could barely do anything to Mandrake. Dodging left and right nothing he could think of was going to work. Neo did teach Drake some new skills, but he never thought he'd pick them up so quickly. Mandrake held out his staff, "Dark Magic Attack!" The bust of, well, dark magic tore through the air and Neo just barely dodge it. "You can't dodge forever," Mandrake yelled impatiently, "You will tire and the second you begin to slack I'll finish you!"
"You many have a weapon and the skills I've taught you," said Neo as a half grin stole across his face. "But I've Knowledge and Experience on my side!" Neo held out his hand and Mandrake felt a his staff pulling away. Mandrake steadied his grip was Neo continued to pull relentlessly, but he was losing every step. In a furious burst the staff was forced from Mandrake and fly into Neo's hands. "You are strong, but without a weapon you are only half of your true potential," Neo yelled breaking the staff like a twig, then incinerating it in his hands.
"You underestimate me if you think I need that ,tool to beat you!" Mandrake jumped into the air and hovered in place, now level with Neo. They both rushed each other and met in the center. Neo leaned back and threw a jab to Mandrake who caught it and began squeezing Neo's hand. Neo winced in pain as he felt his bones beginning to bend. Neo forced his gripped hand down pulling Mandrake with it, and Neo kneed him in the head causing him to lose his grip. Mandrake rocketed towards the Earth, but stopped an inch before and in a flash was next to Neo. Mandrake flipped backward kicking Neo upward, but before he could go anywhere Mandrake grabbed his leg. Pulling Neo down Mandrake punched Neo in the stomach, then elbowed him in the face. Neo flew into the barrier surrounding they battle area and he began to feel burning sensation all over. Mandrake hovered in front of him and pulled an "Machinegun Punch" on him. (A.N. Machinegun Punch- where you're being punched at speeds of 40 m.p.h.) Neo was taking a worse beating than a sand bag being pummeled by 8 guys with brass knuckles. Mandrake finally stopped and Neo fell to the ground with a loud crash. "You are nothing compared to my strength, speed, skill!" Mandrake snickered standing over Neo's barely breathing body. Neo looked up and began to stagger to his feet. Mandrake snickered again, "You must be going senile in your old age, I'll be glad to put you out of your misery!" Neo suddenly reached out and grabbed Mandrake by his throat, and a strange energy began to push its way into Mandrake. Mandrake began to stagger himself as an immense pain shot through his body, the pain almost consumed his when his legs gave way and he collapsed. "W-what have you done to me?!" Mandrake demanded weakly. Neo smiled widely, now standing as if nothing had happened.
"I cast a spell on you."
"You lie! No spell could heal you completely and, argh! Force me to submission," Mandrake yelled the markings on his faces beginning to melt off.
"No spell you know of, I cast 'Share the Pain' on you. You now feel everything I do right now," Neo smiled sinisterly. Mandrake's hair streaked back to purple and his face was back to normal. Drake was back, but Neo could see he was beaten to within a centimeter of his life. Neo was trained to withstand pain about five time that of Drake, so Neo would be well come tomorrow. Drake however would need some serious medical attention. Neo lifted Drake as the barrier surrounding him. "Now I need to find Lance, and the way out of this shit hole," Neo thought.
"What did you say?!" Lance yelled looking to Christine.
"..."
"Huh?" waving his hand in front of Christine's face Lance noticed that she wasn't awake, just talking in her sleep. "Phew! Damn girl gimmie a heart attack!" Lance sighed in relief, putting the ring back in the box and putting it in his pouch. Lance shook his head still alittle startled from the "I do" incident. He looked at Christine and leaned close to her. Closer and closer still until he could feel her breath on his, closing his eyes Lance kissed Christine firmly on the lips. He felt himself grow weak for a second, then he reluctantly pulled away. Opening his eyes he saw Christine was glowing a golden shine. "Christine?" He whispered raising to his feet. The glow faded and Christine began to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was Lance, who looked like he was in shock.
"Huh? *yawn!* Lance?" she said rubbing her eyes, What am I doing here?" Lance didn't speak, but dropped to his knees and embraced Christine.
"Never do that again," Lance said, tears running down his cheeks. Christine didn't understand, but she hugged him back and replied,
"Alright." Lance slowly let her go and looked into her eyes, smiling. Christine wiped his tears and smiled back. "Lance?" She whispered moving closer to him.
"Yes?" He replied moving closer to her. They both closed their eyes moving ever closer to each other.
"Lance..."
"Christine..."
"HEY you two!" Neo shouted. Lance jumped back a smashed his head on the wall and Christine turned her head away from Neo blushing. "So looks like Christine woke up, huh?" Neo smiled.
"Oww! Shit my head! What're you doing here?" Lance questioned.
"Well after you turn this corner the maze ends, don't tell me you gave up right here!" Neo laughed lightly.
"What!?" Lance yelled looking around the corner seeing the exit leading to a vast plain of flowers, "Holy shit, it is the exit!" Jumping to his feet Lance grabbed Christine. "Come on! Onward to free--" Lance paused looking back to see he accidentally had grabbed Christine's breast. "--dom, oh crap..."
"I'll freedom YOU!!!" Christine growled as both her and Lance broke into a sprint. Neo chuckled alittle following after the two love birds.
"And the destined two ran through the flowers as the girl threw her shoe at the boy, both laughing as they went," Neo thought.
To Be Continued...
So ends another Of Elves and Magicians, thanks to all those loyal fans out there who continue to support my odd sense of humor/action/and romance. There are only about 5 chapters left, I hope you stay tuned. I update monthly so the next one should be around, October 23rd or so.
Next time on O.E.A.M. Lance, Drake, and Christine say their final good-byes to Neo as he heads home. The wandering trio end up in a place known as "the town forgotten by time", incidentally Drake's home. And Drake reunites with him girlfriend the Dark Magician Girl! But not all's well in the town forgotten by time, when Drake disappears. It'll take Lance, Christine, and Drake's girlfriend to find him, it's gonna be a night to remember! Next time on Of Elves And Magicians! Until next time!
Ending theme to Endless Waltz
(Translated)
I feel your love reflection In your eyes as they gaze back into mine Writing a distant, neverending story
As if throwing off the sadness and pain, I flap my wings, and in my heart, I spread wide the wings of courage that you've given to me
Ah... I want to feel the beat of this irreplaceable love so much, it's heart-wrenching and maddening.
I feel your love reflection
passionately uniting our dreams into one, in our youth, we seek each other out, without being afraid of our own faults!!
I feel your love reflection In your eyes as they gaze back into mine Writing a distant, neverending story
We quietly express our overflowing emotions with our bare skin, as if to embrace the strength to be gentle...
Ah... Aa, I want to hold my head up high, And lithely go beyond this violent era!
I feel your love reflection
The truth that we share As long as we exchange kisses, we don't need anything else anymore!!
I feel your love reflection
We'll stand firm and fight, believing in the passion we'll never give up. It's our neverending story
I feel your love reflection
passionately uniting our dreams into one, in our youth, we seek each other out, without being afraid of our own faults!!
I feel your love reflection
In your eyes as they gaze back into mine Writing a distant, neverending story