A winner is crowned, and the true journey becomes ever more clear. Sometimes it's not the size of the person who is entering the fight that matters, but the size of the fight in the person. The bulk of the plot is finally revealed as well, but more mysteries await as all the pieces fit into each other. There is more danger ahead after this installment, as our heroes must deal with the danger that threatens humanity and the very fabric of reality itself.
Round 42 – Riddel (K), Grid: 2
Exhausted and in a general foul mood, the three women gathered their belongings from the previous night. So much had happened in the past week, that the constant exertion and death was beginning to take its toll. Only having a general idea of where the warped version of Serge may be, the trio finally decided to head back over to the waterfall. The underground caves in this area had been previously explored, but this time they wanted to give the top section of the water cascade a try.
The three walked in silence. Each had something on their minds. Neither knew what the other was thinking nor did they wish to intrude on each other's private thoughts. Finally, Riddel was the first to speak up.
"I have been having these weird thoughts lately," the princess spoke. "I often find myself wondering if any of this is for real or not."
"What do you mean?" asked Leena.
"I am not entirely sure," Riddel answered. "But my dreams have been disturbing as of late. I see Guile in them."
"Non, do not be sorry for what vous 'ave done," Harle consoled her. "It was ze only way to free 'is mind."
"It is not that," expanded the Lady of Viper Manor. "In a way I think Guile was happy for us to break the evil influence held over him. But at the same time I do not believe he was finished telling us everything he wanted to say."
"What are zees dreams vous are 'aving?" questioned Harle.
"Well, it has only been two thus far," said Riddel. "Yet there were so different in nature that it was startling."
"What did you see?" wondered Leena.
"The first one was a few days ago," replied the princess. "I saw a ghastly image of a place not our own and at the same time, it still felt like I should be familiar with it. There were all these mechanical drones everywhere and people were starved and had no zest for life. They all seemed to be serving this head machine. I did not much care for what I saw. I just know Guile meant the image to serve as a warning."
"A warning for what?" mused Leena.
"I do not know," answered Riddel. "Let me tell you the second dream, though. This one was the polar opposite of the previous vision. Everyone was happy and there was laughter in their eyes. There were a few things I did not understand, but the inconsistencies seemed to fit in well with this place regardless. Then, Guile appeared and beckoned me to turn around. I saw the most magnificent rainbow arcing across the sky. It shone with all colors of the world and seemed to be in complete harmony. What was behind the rainbow really shocked me, though. Kid was there and she was looking down upon all that took place! Feelings of love and peace were washing over everything."
"Kid?!" asked a shocked Harle. "But iz mademoiselle Kid not deceased?"
"Yeah and Guile is dead too," added Leena.
"I cannot explain it," conceded Riddel. "As crazy as it may sound, I believe these two visions to be two sides of the same coin. Just like our dimension originally separated itself from Serge's before we united the two, I feel this is the case in my dreams. There appears to be one event that we must prevent if we wish the more peaceful dimension to come to pass and the bleak one to fail in its fruition. I do not know what it is we must do, though. All that seems clear to me is that it involves Kid, or at least some other version of her."
"But can we trust Guile? Wasn't he the cause of all this?" reasoned Leena.
"Monsieur Guile was not in 'is right mind, zen," revealed Harle. "Maybe zis iz 'is way of making it up to us. Giving us a warning zat crosses all space and time."
"I just wish I understood all the complexities of what he tried to convey," said Riddel.
"Vous can t'ink of zat later," Harle stated. "We are here."
The three women gazed at the mesmerizing flow of water. The river started in the high snowy areas of the dormant volcano and traveled a good distance. A few tributaries fed into other areas of the island before the thundering rapids finally fell in a huge cascade over the cliffs. The ladies then spread out to maximize their search area.
"Just call if vous need 'elp," said Harle, before she teleported to look over the other side of the stream.
"I shall cover the area by the cliffs," Riddel told Leena, as she began to hover off. "You should start here. Just make sure to be thorough in your search."
"Sure," piped Leena, as she began peering at the ground in intense concentration.
'I will scan my part magically to save time,' thought Riddel. 'This way I will have more time to sort out my thoughts. The more I can piece Guile's message together, the better off we will all be.'
Leena was trying her best not to let her thoughts wander, but eventually she found herself walking down a different mental corridor. 'I just don't know how we're going to help Serge,' she sighed to herself. 'Even if we do find him, his Atikon side seems to be completely in control. Nothing we do seems to make a difference. I was able to crack through his psyche once. I just hope I can do it again.' Suddenly a voice startled Leena out of her daydream.
"Leena," it called out. The village girl looked around before finally settling on the source.
"Serge!" she said, shocked. "How did you get here?"
"I don't have much time," he said. "You need to help me! He's coming back..." Another form then crashed into Serge.
"You are coming back with me!" boomed Atikon.
"No!" cried Serge. "He's trying to reabsorb me. Help me, Leena! While he's distracted!"
"What should I do?!" she asked, her heart fluttering.
"There are rocks at the bottom of this waterfall. Quick, knock him down!" Serge yelped, still struggling with his evil self.
"I'm coming, Serge!" Leena yelled out. "Whatever you do, keep fighting!"
'This is still troubling me,' mused Riddel, as she glided around her area. 'The rainbow and the machines...what is the connection? They have no more in common with one another than this ocean has with space or the rocks with the trees...' Suddenly a revelation hit Riddel.
'They are all one and the same!' she thought, everything making sense to her. 'The healing melody is the only way to truly stop Atikon. We must play it to stop a fate worse than death from transpiring! This is what we must wish for at the tournament close! I need to tell Harle and...'
"You'll pay for everything you've done, you bastard!" Leena screamed, as she interrupted Riddel's thoughts. She slammed into the princess with all of her might, bringing both to the ground. Riddel had been caught unawares and was now fighting for her very life.
"Leena, it's me!" Riddel shouted. "Snap out of it!"
"I'll snap your neck, alright!" Leena said, still fighting wildly. Riddel tried to break the village girl's hold, but it was no use. Despite appearances, Leena was fighting with an indomitable inner strength. The last thought the princess had was, 'I need to tell them' before Leena knocked Riddel's head onto a rock, causing her to lose consciousness. Leena did not stop there, though, as she picked up the limp body of her adversary and threw it over the falls. She then turned back to Serge.
"I finally beat him! Together we can do anything!" Leena said, joy in her voice.
"Leena, you are truly something else," Serge replied. "I couldn't have done it without you." He then gave her a loving embrace.
"Oh, Serge, I wish it could be like this forever," she sighed in his arms.
"Well, it could be," he replied. "But you'll have to keep help me kill Harle like you did to Riddel, first."
"I-I-I don't understand," Leena stammered, shocked at what she had just heard Serge say. She then slowly backed away.
"When I said I couldn't have done it without you, I was being serious," laughed Atikon, as his hair slowly took on its familiar red shade and his eyes burned with their own fire. "You helped me get rid of another person who knew how to stop me. Kudos to you."
"Harle!" Leena called out, terrified. "I need your help here!"
"You can't save her, you know," said Atikon. "And it's getting so close to our dance."
"When will you end this?" pleaded Leena.
"It ends when I say it does," roared Atikon, as his illusory self then began to fade away. "Keep looking, for all the good it will do you. The only place I want to watch you squirm is where this all began. Ta-ta, toots!" The doppelganger then vanished into the air.
"What iz it, mademoiselle Leena?" Harle asked, as she appeared next to the shaken girl. "Where iz mademoiselle Riddel?"
"She...I...it was an illusion," Leena sputtered, her eyes filled with tears.
"Say no more," Harle said, not wanting to press the girl any harder. "Just point to where she iz." Leena then pointed her hand at the base of the waterfall. Not saying another word, the jester vanished to the bottom of the water cascade.
It took her a second to get her bearings, but Harle soon became familiar with this layout. Her eyes scanned the water for anything unusual. They settled on a pool of red forming outside the mountain of water. She quickly rushed over, only to find the mage impaled upon numerous jagged rocks sticking out of the water. Riddel was shivering and her skin was as white as chalk.
"It was...not...fault..." Riddel began.
Harle shushed her. "I know. Do not struggle, mademoiselle. Zere iz too much pain."
"But...I..." Riddel continued, desperately trying to relay what she had discovered.
"What iz it?"
"To stop...him...prevent...machine..."
"Pleeze, continue."
"...wish for...cross..." Riddel finally said, as her eyes glazed over and saw no more. Harle lifted the corpse off the rocks and then teleported back to the top of the waterfall. Leena and her said nothing as they dug a shallow hole. When it was big enough off to suit their needs, they lowered the princess into the ground. After both stared at the grave in silence for a few minutes, Leena finally spoke up.
"Harle?" she said.
"Yes, mademoiselle Leena," the jester replied.
"If it ever comes down between my life and freeing Serge, which would you pick?"
"I do not know ze answer to zat."
"That's what I thought you would say," said Leena, tears still streaming down her face. "I just hope that when the time comes, you'll make the right decision." The two then hurried off to another part of the island.
By: Daredevil3181
Round 43 – Atikon (K), Grid: 6
The jester and the village girl from Arni were preparing themselves for a highly anticipated confrontation with Serge's negativity. Both had fully stocked their elemental stores and made sure their weapons of choice were in tip-top shape. Finally, when neither could do anymore, they knew it was time to leave.
"Do you really think Atikon will be there?" Leena asked.
"Zat iz what 'e said 'imself," replied Harle. "I t'ink 'is confidence 'as gotten ze best of 'im. Zere is no doubt in my mind 'e will be zere."
"If he is in the ruins, what will we do? Will fighting him bring back the real Serge?"
"I do not know ze answer to zat. Even if it does not, we ztill need to beat 'im. Riddel made zat perfectly clear before 'er death."
Leena and Harle then hurried off to the one part of this island that was colonized at one time. This was the area they first saw the totem when they arrived on Perfidia. Here was where it all began and here is where it would end. Suddenly, Harle spotted a lone figure standing against the setting sun.
"Look zere," the harlequin said, as she pointed toward what she saw.
Atikon was there in all his glory. His chest was puffed out in a haughty display of pride. Between his hands he held the swallow that had served him for so long. The blue bandanna he wore over his mop of crimson hair was only loosely tied on. In his eyes there was nothing but hatred and doom.
"I see you've come at last," Atikon bellowed. "It's about time. I was beginning to think you'd be too dense to understand my clue. Good thing you proved me wrong."
"Come out and show yourself, trickster! No more illusions!" shouted Leena.
"Although I can't guarantee I won't use my powers of perception very soon, I can assure you that right now I'm very real," Atikon responded. "This is me in the flesh. I'm the one you want. Whether or not you can get me, though, remains to be seen."
"We are toug'er zen we look!" warned Harle.
"Believe me, I'm not underestimating you," Atikon said. "It's just that I know I'm better. So, shall we start this little battle of epic proportions? Good versus evil. Right versus wrong. Whatever you want to classify it as, it's going to happen." The duplicate readied himself with his swallow out in front of him. "Ladies first."
"Zis iz it, mademoiselle Leena," Harle whispered. "Do not 'old anyt'ing back. And remember, if vous see an opening...take it."
Leena nodded in understanding. "Let's do this. Anything to get Serge back."
"Well, 'ere we go," Harle said, as she vanished into the air. She rematerialized behind Atikon and threw one of her darts at the double. But he was not surprised. He brought his swallow around like a bat and hit the projectile back at the jester. She dodged it easily.
"You'll have to do better than that to get me," he laughed. He then glowed red and aimed his swallow at the jester. "I have a few projectiles of my own, you know. Here, try these on for size!"
Dozens of miniature swallows materialized from behind Atikon. With a flick of his wrist, they ripped into Harle. A plethora of miniature cuts appeared across her body. For the most part, though, she appeared unfazed.
"Zat iz a move from mademoiselle Kid!" Harle exclaimed. "But 'ow did vous...?"
"I told you I'm stronger than you'll ever be," interrupted Atikon. "For every person that has departed this island, I grow stronger. I gain their abilities and can then use them on you!" The boy who used to be Serge glanced over at the village maiden. "Is she going to do anything other than just stand there?"
"Leena, come and 'elp moi out!" Harle shouted, trying to bring her ally into the fray. The jester then rushed at Atikon.
"I think it's time you cooled off!" Atikon shouted. He glowed blue and strummed some notes on his weapon, playing it like guitar. The resulting sound froze Harle in her tracks, as she was now encased in a block of ice, a shocked expression etched on her face.
'This is getting serious,' Leena thought. 'I can't afford to stay back and let Harle lose! Time to prove my worth.' The villager accessed her elements to find the one she needed. A pillar of fire materialized underneath Harle, effectively thawing the jester out.
"Hey, teamwork," Atikon said. "Not a bad idea...provided both of you are alive to pull it off!" Atikon held his open palm in front of him and gathered blue energy in his hand. Glaring at Leena, he ran right at her. Just before he hit her, though, he tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.
"Guess vous are not ze true 'ero," laughed Harle. The jester then cast one of her yellow elements as a huge bolt of electricity arced out from her fingers and slammed into the doppelganger. Atikon was thrown a few yards back from the force and clenched his teeth as he waited for the tingling to pass.
"That hurt me," Atikon fumed. "You'll pay for that one, you !" He shone with a red light and appeared to have something caught in his throat. Atikon coughed out a small fireball. Spinning his swallow around, he quickly fanned it to a larger size before blazing Harle and the field around her. Blistered and in pain, the jester fell back.
Not missing a beat, Leena glowed white and threw a healing light over Harle. It came in contact with the harlequin and the blisters and burns immediately subsided. In fighting condition once again, the two ladies closed in on Atikon.
"I don't think so!" the double growled. "You're going down!" He leapt into the air and hovered for a little as his hair began to turn black. The energy grew in intensity before he ripped off his bandana and swung his head around, releasing a gigantic laser. The attack knocked Harle and Leena back, as Atikon then dived straight down at the battered jester.
"No!" called out Leena, as she shook with the force of gravity. She hurled her element at Atikon and her aim was dead-on. Entrapped in the magical energy, the duplicate could do nothing but brace for impact as the ground rushed up to meet him. He slammed into a stone slab with bone-crushing force, crashing right through. Adding insult to injury, Harle complemented the maiden's attack with her own gravitational force, drawing Atikon down even further to the ground as he made an indentation into the earth.
"Ugh," Atikon said, as he struggled to his feet. He was bleeding from a huge gash in his head and his shoulder appeared separated, as his arm hung limply at his side. "You two are something else. And I can't very well fight like this, so..."
The doppelganger's hand emanated a green light as a vine shot out from it and latched itself onto Leena. Screaming, she could not untangle herself from it. She then watched in horror as she felt her own energy being leeched away and flowing into Atikon. His shoulder moved back into its socket and the wound on his head closed up before he finally retracted the vine back to where it came. Drained, Leena slumped to the ground.
"MMMmmm...much better," said Atikon, as he licked his lips. "Let's see what else I have in my repertoire..." He glowed blue and then started to stumble toward Harle.
"Vous are drunk wit' power, monsieur," Harle seethed, as the duplicate lumbered over toward the jester. She readied a dart to place between his eyes and put an end to his terror. When she looked around for Atikon though, he was nowhere to be seen. "Where...?"
"Psyke!" Atikon laughed, as he brought his fist home across Harle's face. The harlequin rolled with the impact, but the blow had still rattled her very hard. Her mouth began to fill up with some liquid and as she spit it out she noticed that it was bright red. She stared at her own blood for a second before she realized what it was.
"Vous..." Harle began, as she looked right into the twisted smile of the double. His swallow was beginning to glow with a condensed yellow energy. Before she could dodge out of the way, Atikon let his shot fly, catching the jester squarely in the chest. Her lungs and abdomen burning with pain, she slumped to the ground.
"You go boom!" Atikon laughed.
Leena had regained sufficient strength just then and pushed herself to her feet. She took one quick look at how the battle was faring and was not happy with what she saw. A healing blue aura surrounded her and Harle.
"Awwww...just when I was about to win, you go and do something like heal," Atikon sneered. "Tsk, tsk. Guess I'll just have to knock you down harder this time."
"You're so cocky, but you haven't proven anything!" Leena retorted. "Serge is better than you and always will be!"
"Is that so?" asked Atikon. "I almost had you on the business end of my swallow once. I assure you I won't make that mistake twice." The doppelganger grasped the power inside of him and then split into four identical images. "Guess which one is the real deal." With a mocking grin, Atikon charged at Leena.
Harle fired a dart at one of the images, causing it to vanish upon contact.
"Wrong one," Atikon said. He continued to advance toward Leena.
In quick succession, the village girl cast three blue elements, one on each clone.
"That was a big waste of magic," the double said. He was now growing ever closer.
Harle threw another dart at an illusory form, reducing the images down to two.
"Didn't I already knock you out?" Atikon sighed. Both copies brought their swallows out in front of them and let a black blob appear in front of them. When they deemed its size sufficient, they sent it hurtling at the jester. The two blobs then combined in midair and formed one gigantic life form, landing on top of Harle's head. Unable to breath, the harlequin fought to free herself from this scientific monstrosity.
Desperate, Leena ran up to one of the Atikons and slapped him hard with her hand. There was nothing there but air, though, as the real Atikon was finally revealed. He had a murderous gleam in his eyes as he advanced upon the village girl.
"You're no match for me," he breathed.
"That may be true," Leena responded. "But try and dodge this!" She then brought her oversized frying pan around and aimed for the double's head.
'This should be easy to maneuver around,' Atikon thought. But try as he might, his evasion reflexes just weren't up to the task. 'What the...?' he wondered, as the frying pain took him right under his chin. The world began to spin as Atikon sailed through the air before crashing in a heap.
"Time to finish 'im," said Harle, as she had managed to free herself from the strangling blob.
"Just get it over with," said Leena, tears in her eyes. "It's for the best." She suffused Harle with a blue glow then, causing the jester to feel full of vigor and life.
"I'm going to..." Atikon started, before he was interrupted by a swift kick to his midsection. Harle followed that up with an elbow to his chest. Calling on the power of the moon, the jester blasted Atikon with a dark beam, and appeared quite satisfied as the duplicate collapsed onto the ground.
"Do vous give up?" Harle asked.
"Not before I play out my last trick," Atikon whispered. A white glow surrounded him as Harle heard him praying to something. "Guardian eidolon, come to my aid..."
The ground began to shake as a giant mechanized form erupted from beneath Harle and Leena. It had circuits all over it, which were continually pulsing with life. Two giant hands were clenched at its side as its mouth was forever opened in a silent scream. Fear came over the two women as it began to dawn on them what Atikon's protective source actually was.
"What shadow have you summoned?!" cried out Leena, shocked.
"Your doom," Atikon replied. The mechanical figure then brought back one of its fists and swung it toward Leena. Bracing for the blow, Leena was surprised when a form materialized right next to her, absorbing the brunt of the deathblow and crumpling to the dirt. Part of the fist still crashed into Leena though, and she rolled over the ground. Harle was lying right next to her. The jester was not moving.
"I told you that you were no match for me," Atikon said, coldly. As he kicked the limp form of Harle, the shadow of what he had summoned again vanished into the nothingness from which it came. Leena could only stare helplessly as Serge's embodied hatred approached her. He brought his weapon back for the blow that would surely end her life. "Any last words?"
"I love you, Serge," the village maiden whispered. Atikon just laughed as his swallow shot forward. Leena closed her eyes as she knew this was to be the last moment of her life.
"No!" cried out a voice. Leena was surprised to find herself still alive. Atikon was still in front of her with his weapon mere inches from her neck. He held that position like a statue, though.
"I won't let you harm anyone else!" the voice shouted.
"You fool!" Atikon squirmed. "What do you hope to accomplish? If I die, so do you!"
The air next to Atikon seemed to waver with some unseen heat source. Although the village maiden could not discern anything at first, the more she stared at the anomaly, the more it took shape. With a slight squint in her eyes, she could make out the familiar ghostly form that now halted Atikon's killing blow. It was Serge.
"Serge!" Leena called out.
Ignoring her, the translucent Serge was still fighting his battle with Atikon. Looking very dejected, the normally quiet man said, "To begin the prevention of a grave travesty, there is no other way." Then he turned his head toward Leena, gave her a nod, and whispered, "Kill me."
"No, I can't, I..." Leena sobbed. Then, Harle's voice echoed in the back of her mind. 'And remember, if vous see an opening...take it'. Knowing what she must do, Leena brought her hand in front of her.
"I'm sorry," she said, as she allowed the air to cool down in front of her. A lance of crystalline ice formed and aimed itself directly at Atikon's chest. With a flick of her wrist, the ice lance shot out and tore into the twisted Serge's shoulder, ripping through a number of vital arteries. Pouring out massive amounts of blood, Atikon slumped to his knees.
Leena cradled her dying friend's head beneath her arms. She glanced over to see Harle was again moving and slowly bringing herself to her feet. The eyes of Serge were still red, however.
"You think you've stopped me, huh?" Atikon taunted. "You haven't done anything! See you on the other side, suckers!"
"No, but...we...you have been stopped," said Leena, confused. The eyes of her friend then returned to their piercing blue.
"You need to help me. He's waiting for me," Serge said, fear in his voice.
"Who?" asked Harle, as she inched ever closer.
"My...father..." Serge replied, as breathing now became more labored.
"How can we help you?" Leena pressed. "Just tell me and I'll do anything!"
With a glazed look in his eyes, Serge turned and stared right into Leena's very soul. "Where stars...cross...fate..." he croaked out, before he was able to speak no more.
"No...don't leave me, Serge! Come back!" Leena said. "I don't want to be alone anymore..."
"Does mademoiselle Leena t'ink zis Serge was being 'onest?" asked Harle.
"I think, in the final seconds he was here, Serge was being nothing but truthful with us," Leena answered. She then ran her hand through the mime's hair. There should found a little tuft of blue buried beneath all that crimson.
"Well, we should give 'im a proper rest..." Harle began, when Serge's body suddenly started to melt away. Leena and Harle looked on in horror as the very air itself seemed to consume his pale flesh. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.
"Can't we just go home now?" Leena sobbed. "I just don't think I can fight you, Harle. Any more death would just cause more problems."
"I am sorry, but this abomination of a tournament must end," an unfamiliar voice said from behind the two women. Sitting on a slab of stone five feet behind them was a hollow figure. The form was wearing a deep purple robe that was secured around its waist with a rainbow colored sash. Gazing into its eyes, the two ladies could have sworn they saw whole planets being born and solar systems being destroyed.
"Who are vous?" asked Harle.
"My name is Trutin," replied the figure. "But that is not important now. What really matters is what my subordinates have set up without my knowing. Because of certain events that have transpired recently, life as we know it is in severe danger."
"I don't get it," Leena said, confused. "We stopped Atikon and Lynx. People died for what they thought was right! How could our actions mean nothing?"
"What you have done is not in vain," Trutin answered her. "You have prevented Atikon from gaining the wish, which also could have proved disastrous. However, you must finish what you have started. The only way to do this is for a true champion to emerge."
"After zo much moi 'as been t'rough," Harle said. "Now vous propose one of us killz ze ozer?"
"How you end it is up to you," Trutin sighed. "The only thing I know for certain is that it must end. I now bid you farewell. You will see me again when a champion has emerged. Only a true heart can lead Serge back down the path of redemption and save all life from the encroaching darkness. Do not waver in your resolve." The figure then vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving the two contemplating the meaning of its words.
"Harle, I..." Leena muttered, unsure of what to say.
"Mademoiselle Leena, vous 'ave shown moi not'ing but kindness zees past few months," Harle responded. "Yet vous heard ze person. I am sorry, but ze next time we meet, we must fight. I will meet vous back 'ere in ze morning." Harle then teleported away, in order to gather her own thoughts. Leena was left all alone, as she felt scared at the looming destiny she had entangled herself within.
Atikon was floating in space, as he looked around at his surroundings. 'Where am I?' he thought. There was a featureless landscape in front of him. And at the end, was a solitary figure. As the evil double stared harder, he saw the form beckon to him.
"Hey you!" Atikon called out, as he walked over to this mysterious person. "Just where the hell am I?! And who are you?"
"I was wondering when you would get here," the feline demi-human said, smiling to reveal a row of razor-sharp teeth. "Do all children gain some type of perverse pleasure when disobeying their parents?"
"What's your game, old man?" Atikon said, knowing himself to be far superior to his washed-up father.
"Patience my son," Lynx said, in a soothing voice. "I have a proposal that I believe we will both enjoy..."
By: Daredevil3181
Round 44 – Harle (K), Leena is the Champion!!
In Praetoria, the residence of the gods, six figures of varying color and shape were seated at a majestic rectangular table. Six seats were taken: three on the two opposing sides, divided by gender. There were seven seats total. The lone seat at the head of the table was empty and twelve eyes fixed themselves on the vacant spot.
"So, when does she get here?" spoke Mephos, the stocky god of earth and lightning.
"He better show up soon. I'm tired of waiting!" the goddess of fire, Pyrika, burst out.
Ganta, the goddess of life and nature, fingered the vine shoulder straps of her dress and queried, "What do you think he wants to tell us?"
"I am curious, as well," Scyllor, the god of water and magic, added.
The goddess of darkness and death, Kylin, tapped her fingers on the table impatiently, "Well, I'm not waiting much longer. If he doesn't show up in the next few minutes, I'm leaving."
Pallad, the god of light and rebirth, assured, "She will arrive soon. She has something important she must discuss with us, so we need to wait. Ah, Trutin is here."
Above the empty seat at the head of the table, a body began to materialize. The body was wrapped in a long purple robe tied with a bright sash of all colors. The eyes contained much authority and mystery, but currently they also contained disappointment. The being of all and none spoke, "I thank you for being on time, brothers and sisters. Let us not waste another moment; we have much to discuss."
The males, on the right side of Trutin, nodded at the powerful being. In their eyes, Trutin was a masterpiece of beauty, having the ideal female form. She was full of forgiveness and compassion and was the creator of all. At the opposite side, to the left of Trutin, the females nodded as well. To them, Trutin was the exemplar of the striking male with an adamant persona and the ability to destroy all.
Trutin acknowledged the others' attention and began, "As you know, your tournament is drawing to a close. The champion will soon be crowned. However, it has not gone as smoothly as you intended it to be. A manipulator has shown his face and is threatening us all. You did not treat his proposal of the tournament seriously and you have not been monitoring the events as you should have. Now his evil plan is nearing fruition. You underestimated him and you must pay the consequences."
"Yes, we made a foolish mistake, Trutin. We apologize," Pallad confessed.
"We did not think it through," added Scyllor.
Pyrika slammed her fist onto the table, "All is not lost! We can stop that pathetic mortal!"
"We are the gods of the universe! We can teach that bastard his lesson right now!" proclaimed Kylin.
The being of all and none brought up a hand and silenced the others. "No, you cannot. I cannot directly interfere and neither can you."
Mephos rubbed his brow. "If we cannot directly interfere, how can we stop this?"
"You must help the contestants defeat this threat," Trutin explained. "The balance must be restored. You have dug yourselves into a hole and now you must find your way out of it."
Leena promised Harle that they would meet in the southern area of the island, near the ancient ruins, the location of Atikon's death. She stepped over a few branches on the ground and walked under the thick foliage of a cluster of trees. Ahead of Leena was a statue, so worn down it was unintelligible. Leaning against it was Harle.
"I zee vous 'ave made it, mademoiselle Leena," Harle greeted.
"Yes. We are both here, like we promised," Leena replied gravely.
The two faced each other but made no move. Harle spoke up, "It iz time to decide. Only one of us may be champion and zave Serge."
"I know, Harle," Leena sighed. "Before we fight, let's talk. Let's talk about our feelings for Serge and our desire to bring him back."
Harle responded, a bit relieved to stall the fighting, "Oui. Vous may speak first."
"Okay," Leena began. "You know I love Serge. I love him very much. We've been best friends for as long as I can remember. When we were just little kids, we were so innocent and so happy. When we were older, our friendship grew to love, but our friendship only strengthened. I know that our feelings still exist and I know that I can use them to bring back our Serge. I made a promise to myself and to Serge that I would find a way to bring him back and I will not break it. I know that I must become champion to accomplish this, so I am determined to win. I am ready to fight."
Harle was silent as Leena made her speech. When Leena was finished, Harle went over the words in her head, 'Mademoiselle Leena's wordz are true. She iz sincere.' She looked hard at Leena. The Arni girl had misted eyes due to unshed tears and she was prepared to enter her battle stance at any minute. Aloud, she said, "Mademoiselle Leena, I acknowledge your feelingz for Serge. I realize zat vous 'ave much more to gain and to loze in zis fight and vous 'ave a better chance of zaving Serge. My decision iz to...surrender."
"Surrender? Harle..." Leena gasped at the turn of events. The jester collapsed to the ground and lay on her back. From her feet, tiny dust particles rose into the air and were carried away by the wind. "You're disintegrating!" Leena exclaimed.
"Oui. It iz because I surrendered. Vous 'ave won the contest, mademoiselle Leena. Now it iz your duty to zave Serge and the world." Harle spoke quickly, knowing that she had little time left. Her feet and shins were gone.
Leena sobbed and grabbed onto the jester's hands, "I will, Harle. I am ready to fulfill my destiny. Thank you. I honestly wouldn't have made it this far without you."
"Leena," Harle whispered. Leena noticed that she didn't use formalities. "Remember what vous asked me the ot'er day? You asked, 'If it ever comez down between my life and freeing Serge, which would you pick?'" Leena nodded as the jester's hands disintegrated in her own. "I 'ave decided to give up my own life so that vous may free Serge. I 'ave no regretz." Harle whispered her last words as her mouth and the rest of her face blew away in the wind. Leena was left kneeling in the dirt.
"Congratulations, Leena," a familiar voice said. Trutin materialized in front of the grieving girl. "It is a bittersweet occasion, but you are the champion of this contest. Time is of the essence and there is no time to grieve. It is time for you to make your wish."
Leena dried her eyes with the palm of her hand and stood up. "W-wish? Now? What should I wish for...?"
"You must choose carefully, as you only get one wish and it cannot be taken back. The clues have been presented to you. Now you must decipher them." On the worn statue appeared an antique hourglass, with all of the sand in the upper chamber. Grains began to fall into the lower chamber in a thin stream. "You have one hour."
Lynx and Atikon, father and son, floated in a black space. Lynx was wearing a sinister smile and his eyes were full of mischief. Atikon was wearing a frown and had eyes filled with suspicion.
"You have a proposal? Ha! If there is one thing you have taught me, it is that I can never trust you," the evil double scoffed as he folded his arms across his chest.
Lynx shook his head with a knowing smile, "I knew you would respond this way. You are correct; I am not one to be trusted. However, I created you. I brought you out and gave you power! You are my true son."
"Oh dear, I need a tissue to dry my tears!" Atikon mocked. "Spare me. I don't give a crap if you brought me out. I am here now and my power is withut equal. I'm not interested in your ideas."
"Yes, you have great power, but with great power comes great greed. You crave more of it; I can see it in your eyes! With my plan, we will have all the power we can comprehend. We will be gods!" Lynx declared with clenched fists.
Atikon's eyebrows raised at the words. With his curiosity piqued, he pressed, "Go on."
"I see you are interested," the feline laughed. "Before I reveal my scheme, there is some background information you must be informed of. We are currently in a small pocket of space outside of reality. I was banished here after Serge and his entourage defeated FATE. FATE had a protocol that activated when it died: its technical component links with the nearest being. That being was Serge. Once the Time Devourer was defeated and Schala was freed, the two worlds united to the benefit of all humans. But not to the benefit of us! Humans regained their free will and they began to make their own foolish decisions. With no FATE, there is no certainty in the world and no control. The thought is sickening!"
Atikon nodded at his father and agreed for once, "Yes. That is not the way it should be. What do you intend to do?"
"We must revive FATE!" Lynx bellowed. "But let's not stop there. We will make it stronger than it ever was before!"
"And that is where I come in, isn't it? Since Serge is linked to the technical component of FATE, his body is needed to revive FATE, and I am in control of his body," Atikon said.
"You are correct, my son," Lynx replied. "That is the reason I brought you forth. Serge would never agree to revive FATE, so I had to bring forth his negative side: you. While I was outside of reality, I could not interact with anything within the realms of reality, Serge included. I had to bring him to me. So, I sent a message to the gods of the universe proposing a contest."
Atikon remarked, "Ah, you are the one who came up with the idea of the contest."
Lynx nodded. "Yes, it was me. The gods naively agreed to my idea and invited all who were involved in the defeat of the Time Devourer to participate in a survival contest located on an island in another dimension."
"Another dimension?" the doppelganger repeated.
"Perfidia is located in another dimension, yes," Lynx confirmed. "In addition, the contestants, including us, were not physically there at all. Only our minds were. Our bodies were 'sleeping' outside of reality. Whenever a person died, their mind simply returned to their body, which stays in suspended animation until the contest is over."
"None of it was real...I see..." Atikon took all this information in.
Lynx continued, "I had a few people working for me in reality. A beeba in the Hydra Marshes concocted a sedative and sent it into the Dimensional Vortex, where I was able to collect it. A demi-human named Prot 'accidentally' knocked the Dragon Emblem into Steena's bag. All this was set up to ensure your arrival, my son. Once we arrived on the island and the contest started, I began the corruption of Serge. I sedated Steena and stole the Dragon Emblem. Before I used it on Serge, I tested it on Guile, who was caught off guard. I hypnotized him and left an impression in his mind so I could control him whenever I wished. Every night, Guile took the Dragon Emblem from Steena and bombarded Serge with negativity. I soon realized that Steena had to be alive for the Dragon Emblem to be operable, so I cured her. When you finally made your entrance, Steena, the Dragon Emblem, and our participation in the contest were obsolete. Everything was already set in place. When I 'died,' I returned to my pocket outside of reality and waited for you. I released you from your 'sleep' when you 'died' so we could have this conversation now."
Atikon smirked, "Well, old man, that was pretty impressive, I must say. You went through that entire ordeal to bring me here. You are also guilty of greed for power."
"Guilty as charged," the feline admitted. "Here we are. Two people, father and son, thirsty for power. The means of this power is right in front of our faces...all we have to do is take it! Atikon, my son, let's rebuild FATE, make it new and improved, and be gods! Do you agree?"
Atikon gave it no hesitation. With a sinister smile, he answered, "I agree."
By: TenkoStar17