Chapter.15
Of Elves and Magicians Final Chapter:
Defying Destiny
Drake drew his staff and let out his furious battle cry. "My…milk shake brings all the boys to the yard. And their like it's better than yours!" Lance, Christine, and Demi looked at each other and shrugged then shouted out.
"Damn right it's better than yours!" They called in unison. They found themselves standing in a vast room, the ground was stone and above their heads the heavens could be seen. The planets and stars shined over them looking down with shining eyes. The door they entered from suddenly pulled away from them and vanished into the distance. Not even Lance's trained eyes could see it.
"Welcome on and all!" A monster called out. His muscles where lined on the outside with bones resembling armor. In his right hand held a mighty blade and the horned bones that rose from his head resembled a crown. The ground they stood on was like that of a giant chessboard and all the pieces stood in their places. "This one deems thee worthy to behold the arising of the Ultimate power in all the lands!"
"Well, you can kiss this one's ass." Lance snapped, "We aren't gonna let you summon this…ultimate evil…thing." The beast raised its hands and cried out in laughter and its minions laughs thundered with it.
"Be thou ignorant well as foolish? The beast as we speak has begun to wake from slumber and once it has so, I will take myself and fusion with him. Becoming the most powerful being in existence!" Christine stepped forward onto the board and addressed his monster.
"Who are you?"
"Who am I? Who am I?" It questioned. "At time this one is a ruler residing within Pandemonium, at others a general leading an invincible army, but this one no matter the place or time will always be…Celestin! The TerrorKing Archfiend!" Lance, Drake, and Demi stepped onto the game board, holding their weapons in hand.
"I won't let you! If I must sacrifice my life I will stop you!" Lance stated. Before another word could be spoken a thunderous roar erupted as if from the depths of Hell itself.
"Thou art too late! The Forbidden One, Exodia has awakened!!!"
All eyes fell upon the stars that glow overhead and in the very center of the planets and star a single sun began to shine. With that single sun the stars and planets too began to sparkle. The stars began to spin until their light created a perfect circle. And in the circle the planets inside deflected the light from the sun and a star formed from their light. "Come forth, he of unspeakable power, he of limitless strength, he that makes the Gods cower at his presence. Come forth, EXODIA!!!" Cried the TerrorKing. The right hand burst from one side of the stars and the left hand followed. Celestin tossed his sword to Lance to caught it at the last second. "This one and his royal court will depart. This one will enjoy watching you die." With his final words the Archfiend King and his army vanished into nothingness.
"Lance I want you to know…I l--" Christine said turning to him.
"Christine…" He interrupted, not shifting his eyes as the first of the two legs burst forth. "We may not survive, but if we do after word I want you to…" The second leg broke through causing a shock wave that knocked Lance, Christine, and the two magicians off their feet. Lance shielded his eye and climbed to his feet. "Christine!" He called. Christine found her way to her feet and Demi helped up Drake. "Christine meet me at…" another thunderous blast drowned out Lance's voice and Demi's voice took over.
"It's coming…" she said.
"I will protect you." Drake said taking Demi's hand in his.
One more blast exploded in the sky once again drawing their attention to the stars and Exodia's head came through the star's head. His face hideous was revealed and he began to fall like a meteor towards the heroes. "Take cover!" Lance ordered, everyone scattering out of his monster's way. With a Earth shattering slam Exodia hit the ground. The giant room was swallowed by dust and nobody could see anything. Exodia breathed in deeply and inhaled all the smoke clearing the room. The four warriors grouped together and stood ready for combat. Exodia breathed out the smoke slowly the smoke coming out black as a moonless night. Lance held his sword in his right hand and the TerrorKing's safely sheathed. Drake and Demi stood their staffs crossed forming an X, he to the left and she to the right. And finally Christine looked up at Exodia adjusting the ring on her finger. (If you don't remember, Christine was given an Ookazi ring in the first chapter) The giant beast looked left and right down upon the four warriors and opened his mouth.
"I am Exodia! Banished from the Heavens and forbidden from Hell! State your reason!" His mighty voice boomed like thunder. Lance, Christine, Drake, and Demi shot looks back and forth between one another. "State your purpose!" Exodia stated again. None of them could move much less speak before the terrible monster. "Thou hath called me forth for naught?! This is punishable by pain of Obliteration!" Exodia cupped his hands together and light began to shine from between.
Christine was struck by terror as she suddenly came to realize Exodia couldn't be stopped. The stories she was told as a girl, the research she did as a student all of it was true. "But something's……different."
"What's that Christine?" Lance asked. Exodia balled his energy into his fist and fired, his sights on Christine. She stood motionless, her eyes fixated on the forbidden one's approaching attack. And emerald lightning bolt blazed at the last moment pushing Christine to the side, out of harm's way.
"Are you alright?" Joey asked, holding Christine.
"Exodia, h-he can't be stopped." She said. Lance ran to their side and Joey handed Christine to him
"Christine," Joey began, "Christine you mean more to me than life itself. When you two survive consider this your wedding present." Joey nodded to Lance and tipped his hat. "Take care of her."
"Joey!" Christine shouted, her voice echoed in Joey's ears as he ran towards Exodia. The tears flow like a river down his face. Raising his staff he leapt into the air meeting eye to eye with the Forbidden One. All the magic in his body gathered to the tip of his staff as Exodia too gathered energy for another attack. Joey fire his blast first, a brilliant stream of magic shot forth from the magician's staff, its emerald glow illuminating everything in a shimmering green. Exodia's blast soon met Joey's. His, a sudden burst of light that blinded all around him. Joey put all his effort into a single inch thick shot.
"Joey!!!" Christine cried, watching helplessly in Lance's arms as before her eyes her first love was vanished into oblivion. "No…Joey." She whispered, as a lone tear fell from her eye to the cold ground.
"Christine I'm glad I got to hear you sing one…last…time…" Joey's voice whispered faintly in Christine's ears.
"Christine!" Lance shouted, "We can't worry about him right now! We need to figure what he was planning or his sacrifice will be for nothing!"
Exodia suddenly howled as if in unspeakable pain. Everyone's attention suddenly was drawn to the ankh on his chest. There was a hole in Exodia's chest that went straight through his torso and came out through his back. Drake's eyes opened wide and Demi stood on awe.
"Joey put a hole in Exodia!" Drake shouted.
"If our attacks could be concentrated on that one spot--" Demi started.
" We could blast straight through him!" Drake finished. Demi and Drake once again crossed their staffs as they stood beside each other. Magic began to flow from their bodies forming a blazing ball of energy.
"DARK BURNING MAGIC ATTACK!!!" They both shouted sending their energy blast straight at Exodia's chest. The Forbidden One quickly swatted the blast with his right hand redirecting it wards Lance and Christine. Christine was trembling and Lance didn't know what to do. Lance grit his teeth and ran forward towards the blast.
"LANCE!!!" Christine shouted reaching out her hand as if to stop him. But Lance ignored her and took the TerrorKing's sword from his sheath. Both swords in hand Lance crossed the swords as the blast collided with them. Lance could feel a strange energy from the King's sword and as he fought to hold control of the attack his other half called to him.
"Lance you can't defeat Exodia." He spoke.
"I don't have time to argue with you!" Lance shouted.
"You still think you can don't you? You think that you stand a chance against an invincible monster.
"If it means going against the Gods themselves I will do anything for her!" Lance yelling striking down the magic blast, holding both swords firmly in his hands he charged towards Exodia. The giant monster raised his enormous fist and like a meteor it collided with Lance. The force from the impact cracked the ground creating a hole 20 feet deep. Christine cupped her hand over her mouth, unable to move or speak. Exodia raised his hand then it jolted to a stop. Lance had stuck the TerrorKing's sword through a link in Exodia's chains, and Exodia had only smashed it in. Lance stood in front of Exodia and in a lightning fast attack he struck the Forbidden One's wound. Driving his sword in as deep as he possibly could, as Exodia howled in pain. Through his pain Exodia managed to grab Lance with his free hand, his powerful grip almost insane he began to squeeze the life from the elf.
"Demi, go help Christine. I need to save Lance!" Drake stated taking to the air. Demi rushed to Christine and knelt down next to her.
"Christine are you alright?" Demi asked.
"Why, what did we do in life to deserve this? Our old journeys were always little things like to offer support to a town, or aid allies in battle, but this… So much has happened to us and now Exodia. We can't stop him…what…why are we fighting? What are we fighting for?" Christine sobbed, her tears flowing almost uncontrollably. Demi held Christine in her arms and rubbed her back attempting to comfort her.
"I know it seems hopeless and I can't tell you what you're fighting for, but I can tell you what Lance is fighting for. Lance fights for you and the belief that one-day you and he will live happily together. Christine looked up and wiped her tears. She saw Drake using the best of his magic to get Lance free. "My Drake needs our help, come on!" Demi shouted running to Drake's side. Christine climbed to her feet and followed after Demi,
"There's no use in giving up, not when everyone else is willing to risk their lives." She thought to herself. "I'm coming Lance!" Drake and Demi where attacking Exodia's ankh and their magic taking serious effect on the monster. Exodia's grip slipped and Lance fell right into Christine's. She then dashed to a safe enough distance and set him down. Lance held his right arm, and grit his teeth in pain, but through it he smiled at Christine.
"Thanks, can you do anything about my arm?" He asked.
"I help you and all you can think about is your arm."
"My hand actually." Lance replied with a hint of sarcasm. Christine smiled and closed her eyes and began to glow.
Exodia was growing impatient and his rage was building with it. It roared again then raised his arm, destroying his shackle. Christine's glow had vanished and Lance's arm was healed. Demi and Drake were dead tired, they could barely stand. Exodia placed his two hands together and his infinite energy began to take form in his hands again. The four gathered together again and watched Exodia. "HEY!" someone called. Everyone, including Exodia, looked and saw the Mad Dark Magician.
"Bruce!" everyone cried.
"Hey look, it's Exodia!" He yelled pointing with confusion. "What's he doing here?"
"He's going to kill us!" Lance yelled.
"Little help?" Drake asked.
"But Exodia can't be here, he's dead."
"WHAT!?" Christine yelled.
"Yeah, take a look!" Bruce smiled holding up five head stones, each labeled with one of Exodia's body parts. Exodia clenched his hand into a fist and brought it down at Lance. Lance smirked and held up his sword. The force pushed him back, but didn't hurt him. Everyone looked in amazement as Exodia stumbled back.
"That explains it!" Christine shouted. "When I first saw him I knew something was different from what I had researched! His skin is black instead of bronze!" That monster is Exodia Necross!"
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US SOONER!!!" Drake and Demi shouted in unison.
"This version of Exodia has a major weakness that we could use! He can't be anymore than ten miles from his remains or else he'll rot into nothing!" Christine explained.
Lance stepped up and looked back on his teammates. "Drake, find that floatation ring controls and destroy them. I can handle this…now GO!" Christine did have the chance to argue, as Exodia launched another attack. "Come and get me!" Lance shouted furiously.
Drake found in him the strength to carry Christine on his back, as he and Demi flew as far from Exodia as possible. "You think It'd be easy to find something as big as a control panel for a giant floating ring, but no." Demi sighed. "And especially in this story, you think someone would've trip over it by now."
"You think the author would've had your mouth stitched closed by now." Christine thought. They flew and flew, but nothing looked even remotely like a control panel for a giant floatation ring.
"This suck there isn't even an in flight movie." Bruce complained.
"Oh, shut up you pervert." Demi snapped, "You're just lucky Drake does kick you ass right now."
"Were is Drake?" Bruce asked. Demi stopped and looked around, but Drake was nowhere to be found.
"Demi! We found the control panel!" Drake yelled. Everyone crowded around the giant rubber ducky shaped button. "Looky Demi! That button looks like a big rubber ducky!"
"Oh my Goddess, it's so cute!" Demi squealed.
"Well, we found it, now how do we shut this thing down?" Christine said, partially to herself partially to the others. Drake leaned over the duck and examined it closely.
"Just push the damn button!" Bruce shouted pushing Drake. Drake was forced forward and landed right on the duck.
"QUACK!"
"You bastard! Why'd you push Drake, you pervert!" Demi shouted raising her foot to kick Bruce in his gonads. He, however, swiftly dodged to the side and appeared behind Demi. Before she could react, he clamped his hands over her breasts and held on as if his life depended on it.
"I'm tired'a this bull-shit!" He yelled. "No one's kicking me in my gonads for the rest of this fic! Got that author boy! You get me kicked again I'm gonna rip off your arms and beat you with the wet ends!" Drake slowly rose from the ducky and it began to talk.
"Floatation ring deactivated. The castle will collide with the earth in approximately sixty quacks." Stated the rubber ducky button.
"What are 'quacks'?" Christine asked.
"Quack!"
"I think they're minutes," Demi replied.
"Quack!"
"Or maybe they're seconds…" Bruce corrected.
"Quack!"
"Maybe we should get going!" Christine shouted.
"Quack!"
"Shut up you stu--" Bruce began suddenly being cut off by the duck.
"Quack!"
"AW, hell naw you did not just--"
"Quack!"
"Let's go already!" Christine yelled pulling Drake and Demi, Bruce following giving the duck the finger.
Lance was holding well against Exodia Necross he seceded in cutting off Exodia's right arm and engraving an "L" into his forehead. But in return Exodia had shattered Lance's armor and broken the tip of the blade off his sword. "Hey, what's the sound of one hand clapping?" Lance joked breathing deeply. Suddenly quack and the castle began to shake!
"Lance!" Lance turned around saw Christine and the others running to him in a panic. "The castle's on a collision course with the Earth, we have to get out of here now!" Christine yelled. Exodia cried a furious roar and lunged his left hand towards Christine. Lance jumped in from of the hand and parried the blow. "Lance, we have to go!" Christine demanded.
"Then why are you still here!?" Lance yelled. "GO!"
"We're runnin' low on time blue girl!" Bruce said.
"Pervert's right! We have to go!" Demi agreed. Christine shook her head grabbing onto Lance's arm desperately. Tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. Exodia cried out again and began to advance as the castle gave another violent jolt.
"Christine I don't have time to argue! Go, I'll make sure that your escape route is clean!" Lance said again pushing Christine out of the way, then gripping his sword. But again she grabbed onto his tighter than before.
"I'm not letting you go!" She cried. Lance sighed and directed Christine's eyes to his.
"Christine, I can't let you stay. I love you so please leave with this…" Lance raised Christine's chin up and kissed her. All their love for one another expressed in such a small thing. Christine suddenly began to tremble and she began to collapse. Lance caught her and walked her to Drake. The magician took the girl in his arms and Lance handed him a note from his belt pouch. "This letter is only for Christine. Give it to her when she wakes up." Lance said. Turning his back to his Christine, facing the monstrous Exodia. "Go now! Go now and leave me!!!"
(35 quacks till collision)
Drake, Demi, Bruce, and the unconscious Christine were off. The stars in the sky above the room began to fall crashing around the four escaping heroes. "Drake, where's the exit?!" Demi asked in a panic.
"It's somewhere…………THERE!" Drake yelled pointing at the door almost dropping Christine.
"Be careful! She's too hot to die here!" Bruce scolded.
"Bite me!" Drake shouted, turning the corner at the door dodging a piece of ceiling. Blazing through the castle the four made their way to the main hall. When the castle jolted again sending the front doors of the hall flying off their hinges. "Bruce, watch it!" Drake shouted. The doors flew slamming into Bruce, throwing him back into the castle while Drake flew out with Christine. The castle's entrance was buried in rubble behind him, almost crushing him alive. Drake kept flying blindly until he was a safe distance away. He watched as the castle continued fall helplessly to the ground. "Looks like we made it, right Christine. You alright Demi?" Drake asked looking around. "…Demi…Demi!" Drake searched frantically searching for her. "DEMI!!!"
(Back inside the castle, 14 quacks till collision)
"Exodia, I won't let you live. This is your end!" Lance took his sword and the palm of his left. His blood began to glow with a shining green aura. Lance charged forward toward Exodia dodging his attack and in his last effects Lance shattered through the monster's ankh. Exodia screamed in confusion and pain as Lance began to rip Exodia's soul out through his chest. "Find your peace IN HELL!!!!" He shouted tearing out a glowing black orbs from Exodia's chest. And with all his strength Lance shattered Exodia's soul. (Technique: Soul Release) With one last cry the Forbidden One crumbled to the ground breaking into little of shining light. There was a brief silence as Lance stood perfectly still. The castle continued to fall around him. "Christine…" He whispered opening his eyes looking at the stars that still fell from the heavens. "CHRISTINE!!!" He shouted as the castle gave one final jolt before crashing into the earth.
Drake watched as the castle crash into the ground and explode in a brilliant jubilee of black light. "Demi…" Drake whispered as a lone tear streamed down his face onto Christine's cheek. She winced and opened her eyes to the crying magician.
"Drake? Where's…LANCE!" She yelled looking down at the clearing dust from the fallen castle. She could only place her hands over her mouth and wrap her arms around Drake. She cried and cried her heart out once again for Lance.
"Christine, we have to go back to the castle." Drake said his melancholy tone breaking through her sobs. "The king will be waiting for us." The elf only nodded still holding Drake tightly.
It was a lone trip back. Drake and Christine stood in front of the doors of the main hall once again she looked to her right where Lance had stood next to her the first time they passed through those doors together, before they were a couple, before they were lovers, before he sacrif… Christine's thoughts were suddenly cut off when the trumpets signaled that the two could enter. They walk down that long carpet again, but the room felt empty. They knelt before the king again and addressed him.
"Your highness," Christine began. "The threat to the land has been neutralized. The castle that made the evil mist fell and was destroyed approximately one hour ago." Christine said trying to cover her broken hearted tone.
"Very well done!" Spoke the king. "Your efforts will be duly recorded and stored in our royal library. "I again thank you for your service you are dismissed. Christine nodded sadly bowed and turned around, but Drake remained standing before the king. "You may leave Drake." Spoke the king.
"I shall, you majesty, but not a moment before you grant me this request." Christine was shocked and curious to see what Drake's wise was. "Your majesty, our friend Lance the Celtic Guardian fell to secure our safety in escaping the castle. I humbly request that you carry out his last wises." Drake spoke.
"…Agreed." The king said with the wave of his hand.
"I thank you." Drake said bowing then exiting the hall with Christine.
"What last requests?" Christine questioned desperately.
"Lance said that upon his 'departure' if he hadn't given you his ring, that it would be delivered to you. Oh, wait and this!" Drake said pulling the note that Lance had given to him out of his pocket. "Lance told me to give this to you when you woke up." Christine took the letter from Drake and ran off to her room. And Drake returned to the tower top, which he called home.
Christine ran into her room and opened the letter, being very careful not to damage it. It read: "My Dearest Christine, if you are reading this message, then I have left this world. But before I go I have to tell you this. I may never have told you this, but you are my world. Not a moment goes by when I don't think of you, and every second I live I wish to have lived it with you. I may never give you the star, the oceans, or the world, but to you I give the most precious thing I can. I can only give you love that lasts forever. And this last present…" There was a knocking at Christine's door and as much as she wanted to read the letter she answered it. There was no one there, only a small ring box and another letter attached to it. She took the box and the note and continued reading her letter. "The ring you now hold is a symbol of my love for you. Just as it has no beginning and no end, my love for you is also eternal, so live you life, be free, and don't regret what we lost. Be happy for what we had. Eternally and forever yours, Lance." Christine dropped the letter and opened the ring box and in it she saw a solid gold with three perfect diamonds lining the top. It was so fine Christine could see herself in the gold and the diamonds. She looked inside the ring and there was a message engraved in it. Reading, "To my first and only love, Christine."
"Lance…I love you." Christine whispered. She wiped the tears from her face and looked at the second note that came with the ring. It was another letter from Lance, but something was strange about it.
"Dear Christine, now that you have my ring I must ask one thing of you. The garden behind the castle the one with the stone walkway, lined with roses. At the end of the flower path there is a small gazebo with Joseph's coats forming a curtain over it." Christine pause for a moment picturing the place that Lance was talking about and recalled it, but only faintly. She hadn't been there too many times in the past, only three or four times when she actually had free time from her studying or to paint. She recalled that the sunset was very beautiful from there. She snapped out of her fantasy and continued reading. "There is something there that only I can show you. So I please ask you to go and wait there. Everyday just before the sunsets, and I promise that I will show you that special thing that only I can. I can't promise that I will be there today or tomorrow, but someday I will come back to you. Please just wait for me." Christine closed her eyes and looked away from the letter. It was like a sick joke, who would do such a thing? She began to crumple up the paper and she threw it to the ground.
"Lance…uh?" Christine looked at her hands and noticed some of the ink had smeared off. Gasping she got the paper uncrumpled it and compared the handwriting. They were exactly the same! At a loss for words Christine ran to her door and threw it open screaming. "Lance!" But there was no one there. She ran into the down the hallway and turned the corner to the window that looked over the courtyard. She leaned out the window and yelled out. "Lance! I love you! I'll wait forever!" Christine ran back to her room and jumped onto her bed smiling. Yawning heavily she fell into a deep sleep.
Drake was in his tower silent nothing dared make a noise. Demi hadn't been seen after the castle fell and he feared the worst. Drake sighed and looked around his room. "Not one picture." He said looking at the paintings that lined the walls. He had pictures of everyone he knew, but none of Demi. Drake roared out as he spun his staff and his dark magic filled the room. The tower roof exploded and only Drake's room and the stairs that lead to it were left. "Demi…" Drake called falling to his knees.
"Together forever no matter how long." A voice sang in a cheery tone. Drake's jumped up and spun around and saw a miracle. Demi was standing behind him completely safe. Drake couldn't move and he suddenly became a sort of purple. "Drake remember, Breathe! Oxygen = Good!"
"Demi!" He yelled tackling Demi to the ground.
"It's porno time!" Demi shouted wrapping her arms around Drake. Drake jumped to his feet and raised his raised his staff, the tower reassemble and they talked. No sex, they just talked all night until they fell asleep in each other's arms.
Night fell over the land that night and all rested safely. It was more peaceful that night than it had been in years. The elf slept and dreamt of her love and Drake shared something more special than physical love with Demi, they shared emotional love. The night lasted almost forever and it was silent.
A dark silhouette stood in Christine's window. Watching her as she slept. It's wings blocking the rays of the moon on the cloudless night. Christine began to turn in her sleep and the figure sang to her in a sweet soft voice. "I can only give you love that lasts forever, and a promise to be near each time you call. And the only heart I own, for you and you alone. That's all, that's all." Christine began to calm and she rest more peacefully. "I love you Christine."
"H…Mmm…I love you too…Lan…ce." She said in her sleep.
"fare thee well." The shadow jumped from the ledge and took to the skies. The moon still high above, shining beautifully in the night sky.
THE END.
…………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………… Dear Readers: So that ends my first fic. I hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I did typing. But don't forget me too quickly! I'll be writing "After all is said and done" soon. It's just to wrap up any loose ends from this fic. It'll be up in two - three weeks tops promise! So I'm glad for those of you that actually stuck with me for this long. My best thanks go out to you.
And to keep up with a broken tradition I'll end this with an song that really defines me pretty well. It the one that, that shadow sang to Christine. Enjoy and hope to hear from all a' you soon, Later!
~Krimson
That's All
I can only give you love that lasts forever,
And a promise to be near each time you call.
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone
That's all
That's all
I can only give you country walks in springtime
And hand to hold when leaves begin to fall;
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the Winter's night
That's all
That's all
There are those, I am sure, who have told you
They would give you the world for a toy.
All I have are these arms to enfold you,
And a love time could never destroy.
If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'' be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore,
For now and evermore
That's all
That's all