Chapter 15: Rose's Thorns

part I

Thank you Water Goddess and YSYF and Icy Fae Tears. Reading this chapter you must come to realize that Hachel is the Violet Dragoon, for now. You know Lightening. And it IS violet! Why? Because I looked it up. This chapter is very serious. Prepare for the whirlwind to hit. Thanks for reading so far. And I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

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Morning obviously did not dare to leak it's light upon the city. Clouds were formed all above Kazas and it's lands. There was thunder and lightening everywhere. And especially rain. The rain pelted down and gave everything and everyone a gray glow, something dim but sure. I walked in the lead, my black hair soaked already. Ella was wearing a cloak to conceal her identity, as well as Aron. Zeek held no fear. The rain slid off his armor, which made it stick out like he was bleeding. And we tread through the path. The horse's were left at the stables in Lohan. I didn't want the excellent steeds to get damaged. The rain never stopped, not through the whole day we walked there. Well, I thought it was a day. The only sign of it being night was if it was getting darker. The lightening struck and lit the way. A roll of thunder soon followed. I could feel the vibration as we walked through the gates. The gates were guarded by stone gargoyles. That was a new addition. I glared at them, my eyes snapping in the light and becoming mere slits. Zeek and Aron also glared, but Ella glanced at us, she started to shake a little bit.

When we walked into the city, there were soldiers every where. Along with the foul stench of orc. Children were crying and parents tried to protect them from the newcomers. Us. I watched them move back as we headed for the back of the city. To the Castle that loomed and opened all hell. I stepped over drunkards and walked blatantly past guards like I didn't see them. I even didn't care if the other three were behind me. I had my mind set forward. My blood was pounding in my temples like the rain on my skin. A few fellows darted past us and stood, barring entry to the castle. Gargoyles were set up here as well. They huffed in the rain and were in dirty and muddy clothes. They glared at me for a moment.

"Stop! You can't enter the castle!" they yelled. I drew my sword.

"The hell I can't. Stand back." I said. I felt Zeek's and Aron's gaze.

"No! Aron told us to make an easy entrance for you. Come with us! It's this way." one man said, and they both ran off. I sheathed my sword and looked at Aron.

"I did tell my men. And they were those men that stayed. They've gathered some people no doubt against the Sandora Army. Follow them." he said. I walked ahead and said nothing. I felt the rain drops beat along everyone's bodies and saw only my destination. The castle. I would do almost anything to get into that castle. I continued walking.

When we did arrive, there were houses underground. They smelt musky and rained on and in. I stepped through and held the door open for the rest. At least we were out of the right? I didn't much care. I continued my way down. And I walked to the men who had talked to us.

"Well, where's the entrance?" I asked.

"It was old and abandoned. It was used a long time ago. Probably before Albert became king." he replied.

"I don't give a damn about that!" I yelled. Some children were frightened of me. I felt a little guilty and lowered my voice. "Where is it?" I asked.

He looked up at me and we started to walk down the stairs. We passed several families and then we entered a wet and leaky basement. He tugged on a rope twice. There was only one tug back. The bells stood still for a few moments. I looked to the man.

"You can't go there right now. The tunnels are blocked off by more soldiers. The bells will sound when you have the time to get there. My friend Lenny will tell you through these bells when they ring constantly. Okay?" he asked. I nodded.

We left the basement and went into the next level, which was a bar. Ella was drying her cloak by the fire and playing with a little girl. Dart was checking out weapons as a couple of boys admired him. Aron was chatting with his comrades. I knew these were the rooms used for the game when the dragoons entered the castle. I put my head against the wood panels and watched Zeek. He was so sweet, talking with those boys like they were cool too. They were trying to impress him greatly, but they ended up hurting themselves. Zeek became concerned and started to help. I smiled and watched him try to act like they had done a great feat. He then looked over to me. Our dragon eyes met and held. Something was grabbing my chest. That's what it felt like. I smiled and left the room.

I walked into a vacant room and removed some of my wet clothing. I left on only the clothes that were underneath all of the others. Just the purple or navy blue shirt and short tight shorts that had been under the cool skirt. I was barefoot as well. I took the weapon out of its sheath and started to practice. My clothes were drying by a fire. I had to keep my body moving. My anger flowing. Just then I heard some gasps. I stopped and looked around. The children that I had scared earlier were cowering in the corner. I put the sword down and got on my knees.

"Hey, I'm not bad." I said, smiling at them. I was crouching like a child. Some kids came closer. I smiled and made a silly face. You know. I pulled my nose out as far as possible and my ears as big as possible and my tongue sticking out. They laughed of course and ran away. I smiled and continued my fighting the air. I remembered how I used to do Dart's and Rose's additions with simple button pressings but I usually let myself fall into the game. You know, I felt each time that person hit with that weapon. And after the first three fourths of the game I got the ultimate war god calling. Yeah, I considered it a wonder item to have. But this time I felt my arms move and felt the weapon sling. I let out yells and words, and after I was tired I sat down. And obviously I had drifted off.

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"Why would Winglies do this, Zeig? Why would they resort to such voilent matters?" Rose asked, gazing at the gruesome battle field.

"Melbu is leading them. Come on. We have to fight. If we don't they're gonna kill our race." Zeig said. Rose watched him transform and kill the Winglies. Rose took out the dark stone she had been found with along with her and her diary. She had once killed a man. She gripped it in her palm and felt it rage through her. She transformed and started to kill. The darkness felt like pleasure as the sky rained Wingly blood. Zeig watched her and bowed his head. When the battle was over he embraced her. She tried to fight him. And then she returned to normal. Zeig had cuts from her sword and she fell to her knees.

"No! Zeig! I'm sorry!" she said, over and over.

Zeig held her and said nothing, but stared into the gray clouds that hung over the battlefield.

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Warm hands were rubbing my shoulders. I registered Zeek's voice and then curled back up into a ball. I didn't want to be disturbed. I felt warmth and tried to snuggle closer to it. I opened my eyes and came face to face with Zeek. I was in the middle of the floor in the room I had been training in. he had his hands on my shoulders and was worried about me. He was holding me close and tight. It was rather nice.

"What?" I asked groggily.

"We need to go. The bell's have been sounded. And you were yelling in your sleep." he said. I looked away form the tawny eyes and slid to my dry clothes that rest near the fire. I stood and dressed myself. Zeek was turned respectfully away. Once I was ready, I sheathed my sword and lead the way out. My hair was down because I couldn't find the tie I once had. In my pocket rested the diary of Rose. I clutched the small book in my hands and thanked Zeek. I smiled before taking off to the basement.

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I waited for the guards to move. Lenny had given us the entrance to the castle. And we got in. but now we were stuck in the sewers. Orcs filtered the place, along with that nasty smell in the air. Zeek was behind me and along the side of the wall, crouched low. The rest were about the same. Ella was fierce and brave with her bow. Aron was fearlessly ready to kill any one that tried to hurt us. Once the guards had gone, we ran into the corridor and up some flights of stairs until we were in the bath rooms of the castle. It was steamy, but empty. We walked through and came into the hall. I should have looked before I leapt again. There were an entire battalion of guards in this room. My face went into that shocked anime look once again and I lifted my sword. They stared at us.

"Well, 'ow the bloody 'ell did you get in 'ere?" asked one of them." I lifted my brow. They started to attack.

I swept through quite a few as Ella's arrows flew past me and into soldiers. We were all four back to back.

"Ella, you good?" I asked.

"Yeah. . ." she said. I heard her cock another arrow in her bow. Zeek steadied his sword and Aron placed his lance in the most offensive position.

"Well, are you boys just gonna stand there, or are you going to try to kill us?" I asked. They started to attack. Oh yeah. Worked every time.

I Lifted the sword and sliced through each man, blood spilling everywhere. I gashes some man in his stomach as the evisceration allowed his innards to spill out.

"Bloody Calm," I said, laughing. I then thrust the sword into another man's neck, and ripped upward. Blood gently spewed and then I tuned to look at the rest. I felt someone hit my back and then a loud thwang and thud. I turned and saw a dead body at my feet with an arrow in the back of his head. Ella smiled and started to shoot more. I turned and sliced through some men. My shirt had been cut and a shallow slice had been made along my back. I didn't really pay it much mind. I was too interested in my prey. I started to transform with this thrill running through me. Some men saw and started to run away. I smiled at the remaining lot as my teeth grew sharp and my hands became claws.

"Boo." I said. They ran. I laughed and returned to normal. I looked at the others. Zeek was okay. Ella was running out of arrows. And Aron was breathing hard.

"Anyone need to go back?" I asked, sheathing my sword again. They shook their heads as we walked along. We turned the corner and found a large hall that emitted with purple light. I followed the path and walked into a room that could have served for the dance hall.

There were devices all around and scientist were all working hard. They yawned and growled. When one of the Wingly scientists saw us they stopped their work completely.

"The outsiders." he said. He was a handsome Wingly with purple eyes and the natural silver hair. The rest of the scientist stopped their work also.

"You're not here to kill us, are you?" he asked.

"Depends," Zeek said. "Where's the Dragoon that you're keeping locked up for your sick experiments?" the scientist arched an eyebrow and folded his arms.

"Look, young man, do you think we wanted to do this? We want our research and findings to be for the good of the world! Instead that bastard General is making us make damned weapons!" yelled the Wingly. I smiled at him and then Ella looked at him.

"I am the Princess of Serdio. I will do all in my power to get you men out of this place and into safety like we did Raymond. I promise you will not be harmed for your science." Ella said, taking the initiative. The scientist smiled and looked to the rest of his science team.

"Ya hear that? Raymond's alive. Those Asses lied to us! They din't kill him. He got out alive." he turned back to us. "As for the dragoon. Yes, he's been loosing his life energy along with every bolt he's been creating. Take the hall out that door and go through the last door on the right. And then go up those stairs. To set him free, use this key." he handed us a key. "And be careful about the Gargoyles you see. They transmit images to the main room. There are none in this room but you should jut be careful. They also have magic in them so when ever their eyes glow red, started to get your weapons out."

We thanked him and traveled to where he had told us. We climbed up stairs that hid behind a large beautiful statue. It had gargoyles along the posts of the stairs. We ran up and into the corridor with a single room at the end of it. Gargoyles lined the door but none opened a red eye. We walked in.

Haschel's hair had become white. And he sagged in his dragoon armor. His wings were pinned up like a butterfly. When the door open he glanced up at us. He started to recognize me.

"Rose." he said. His voice had grown feeble.

"I am a different Rose. Ut I am here to save you along with—"

"Zeek!" Haschel yelled. Zeek looked for the lock on his the cables that held him. I looked around as well.

The room was glowing purple and a few hues of green in the corners. I saw the control panel and the lightening rods about the room. There was no ceiling and the rain beat upon our skin lovingly. I splayed my hands across the board and felt power rush through my veins. I yelled and smashed it. Aron looked at me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"No more, I won't have anymore die. Not Dragoons. Not Winglies, Not humans or Giantos!" I yelled. Every person I had killed. Every person Rose had killed filtered me and ran through my head. Haschel was free and his dragoon armor was gone. I looked to Ella and Aron.

"You two. Take him back to Bales. Zeek, you should go too. I need to settle a score." I said. I bowed my head and felt the rain come over me, washing every memory away for the moment. And in that instant I was myself. I could feel the tears and the hatred. I turned to make sure that everyone had left. And then ran to the door at the end of the room. I then heard one last lightening bolt. I felt something tear in the fabric of time and space behind me. I turned. A portal was opening, but fading quickly. The cloaked being stepped out. He chuckled.

"Why are you doing this?!" I demanded. He walked towards me and held another dagger with a black blade.

"What a stupid question. I want to recreate this damn world. I want Armageddon to occur. You were summoned here to stop it. Why do you think you are here? Just because you loved the game more than any one else? Please. Different people form your time had been so infatuated with that game, they killed themselves, hoping to come to this time. Stupid. You can never get reincarnated into the past."

What he was saying made no sense. I unsheathed my sword. He smiled and chuckled again. He showed me his bared chest as I saw the purple markings. I bet that had had the silver ones on his back as well. I growled and started to transform. He did as well.

I couldn't see anything as I felt my rage and anger sink. While I transformed I heard someone's voice.

"Don't fight like this. You must fight with a pure heart to truly defeat him. You know better. Maybe I should have tried to stay alive."

 I looked around after transforming. I had just heard the old Rose's voice. Well, that was weird. I looked at my opponent. He had transformed as well. His face was still concealed, though, by long black hair. He had wings protruding through his back and a sword in his hand. His body was nearly fully covered in scales. I watched him move his arms and look up at me with one eye. I couldn't really see it from the distance that we were at. I leapt up into the air and threw myself at him. He too came at me. It was an aerial fight, and every so often, we would land. I fought with my astral drain and physical attacks. He did so as well. But he countered my actions with precision and accuracy. The sound of clashing rang through the stadium. I could hear demons clapping and cheering. I could see their faces as I wished this man dead. We both drew back at the same time. And then our swords struck.

It took me a moment to realize with joy that mine was through his stomach and gleaming red on the other side. But I felt his blade within my gut. I looked into his eyes. It was the colors of the northern lights. He was breathing hard. I was breathing hard. We dislodged our weapons and went on fighting. And we struck our swords together once more, before collapsing in the rain. We laid still for a while.

"What's your name before I die? I want to kick your ass in the underworld." I said.

"Michael."

"Damn. . . ."

I felt the darkness come over me with power. I wasn't really afraid anymore. I had been fighting either Rose's dragon or the archangel of God from Earth. I didn't much care anymore. Except for the fact that I wanted to see Zeek before I really died. So I could tell him that I loved him. So I could see his reaction. And feel his touch. To feel him living would be enough, even if he didn't love me back.

But all I really felt now was the darkness. I felt like a child curled up in a mother's womb. Waiting to be reborn. Or was I just dead and hoping I was alive?

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Well, what'd ya think? That was chapter fifteen part one of Rose's Thorns. Is Rose really dead. Maybe. Is Michael really dead? Maybe. Or has the war already ended and peace and happiness all around. Yeah right. So I'm glad you read it. Chapter sixteen will be part two and now I gotta go! See you at the end of Chapter sixteen. . . . hehehehehehheheh!!((is totally hiding something)) Please Reveiw now, if you don't mind. Thanks for reading! Oh yeah. I MIGHT just do the next chapter in third person POV. or Zeeks. ((just trying to be mean ))((gets hit by her muse Anlon.))((if you don't understand, you don't wanna kno. if you do, then email me and ask.))((I'm done now.))