Chapter Nine: Broken
"Impossible. It's too dangerous. I simply cannot allow you to risk your lives, or furthermore, the lives of the people of my village." The village magistrate told them firmly. "I'm sorry, but you cannot."
Rose clenched her fists tightly. She admired the loyalty that the magistrate felt toward his village, but it was also irritating her to no end. She felt Darius shift position next to her. "So you'll let these people be killed?" She asked calmly.
The magistrate's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Guards, be so kind as to show them out."
Two men came in, placing a hand on their guests' arms, gently urging them out of the room. The taller one must have been very surprised when the harmless-looking female couldn't be budged, even when he pushed.
"I've seen what the Dragon can do." Rose said coldly, tearing her arm from the grip of the soldier who was holding her just a bit too tightly. "He's gone insane and he's in bloodlust. He destroyed a large farm in Ceplao without breaking a sweat. He's killed half the villagers there without batting an eye. Do you really think he will hesitate to do so here?" She paused. "I saw your daughter in the other room, magistrate. She's a young girl, still very innocent. It would be a great pity for her to die."
The magistrate faltered at this low blow, but recovered quickly, "We have our own soldiers standing by. They can take care of this matter."
-If anyone is going to kill Michael, it's going to be me!- Rose snarled in her mind.
"Sir," Darius said, interrupting. "I'm sure your soldiers are fine warriors. But Lady Rose here has been tracking this Dragon for a year now. She knows many things about it. It will only risk a few lives, our plan. A handful versus the thousand that you have here. Your people could be evacuated."
"How exactly do you plan on beating this Dragon?"
Dar gave the old man a charming smile. "Let me tell you about Spirit…"
After an hour of persuasion and ten seconds of Rose's threats, as she had long since lost her patience, the magistrate hastily agreed to the plan. The people were evacuated, aside from one villager whom Rose had requested.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Y-Yaryl, ma'am." The boy was fourteen and the swiftest runner in Tatren.
"Do you understand what you are to do?"
"Yes, sir—ma'am!"
"Good. Get into position." Rose watched him run off and then glared at Darius. "Do you understand?"
He winked at her and she had to fight back a smile. His cheerful disposition and charming personality was contagious. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Let's go." The village was silent without the people bustling about. They had long since fled to the forest, where their trained soldiers would protect them from monsters.
Kristoff was waiting for them on the rooftop of the building. He was standing next to an enormous strange contraption that had taken them two days to create. Made of wood and metal, it was strong and had a good range.
A catapult.
Rose had gotten the idea from the Dragon Campaign, where the Humans on the ground would fire catapults up at the Winglies in the sky. Long-range weapons. Good. She didn't feel like getting too close to an enraged, bloodlust Michael.
Kristoff walked over to them and glared at her. She had long since received many glares of hatred and pain, accusation. But every time, it still hurt her. "I don't know who or even what the hell you are, but if you're helping us to avenge my sister, then you're not an enemy…for now. After this, then I will decide whether or not you are responsible for her death."
"Understood." Rose nodded. "The Dragon should be here soon. I've been studying its flight patterns and Tatren should be the next town it attacks. We're just going to have to wait until then. Be ready at any moment."
She sat cross-legged on the rooftop, meditating and bringing out inner power. As a child she had never believed in anything like this, and had laughed at her nanny when the old woman told her she had great power. But during the Dragon Campaign, watching the Winglies form the multicolored spheres that sapped away energy, and the sparkling visible jewel-like powder that had fallen from the Dragoons wings, she started to believe. Magic supported her beliefs.
It was probably an hour later that Darius shook her shoulder. "Rose!"
She snapped to life immediately, uncrossing her legs and standing up. A dark shadow was appearing in the distance, and if she stretched her mind just a little, she could feel him, roaring and tormented with a need to kill.
"He's here. Get ready." She stood up and shrilled a sharp whistle. The boy looked up and she waved frantically. He nodded, not hesitating for a second. Crouching down in starting position, one eye on her, he waited for her signal.
-Wait…wait…- Rose knew that the life of the boy was dependent on her split-second timing. He needed to shoot out just Michael was glancing in that direction. He would capture Michael's attention, drawing it long enough for them to attack and then he could go somewhere safe.
Michael was coming closer now. She could see his wings beating. The image of him was burned into her mind. Rose shut her eyes briefly and then made a sharp motion with her hand.
Yaryl shot off like an arrow in a taut bowstring. Michael's head swiveled and he roared. It caused the boy to stumble once but it didn't slow him down.
-Keep running- Rose thought frantically.
Michael was in range now, a few more seconds, and… "Darius, now!"
Kristoff lit the oiled ball of rags with a torch, setting it aflame. Darius took the little dagger she had given him and cut the string on the catapult. The ball sailed up into the air in a graceful arc, elegantly moving toward Michael.
-Spirit…guide me…lend me your power-
She didn't see what the catapult did but she heard Michael's scream and the fluttering of wings.
She gathered the Spirit around her. From the flame on the torch and the life of the trees to the Spirit inside her and the ground beneath her. The energy of the wind and the water of the ocean a few miles away. The power of Nature and the humans beside her. Spirit…the living essence that created all things…and could destroy all things.
She could feel the very soul of the elements. She realized the toughness and the frailty and the purity of them. The immunity and the vulnerability of the virtually untouchable Spirit formations. Every little thing that the wind had brushed by, every cheek it had cupped in its embrace. Every petal of every beautiful flower that sprung from the womb of Mother Earth, every tree that swayed hypnotically, every grain of sand and dirt that the roots spread into. Every powerful water wave that ever crashed onto the beach, every rip tide that ever existed. Every metallic item that lightning had struck, every child and pet that had been terrified by the yawning growl of thunder. Every building that fire had destroyed, every group of travelers that depended on its warmth, even the heat of two passionate lovers. Everything rushed into her head in a sudden bout of knowledge, so strong and forceful and almost physical that she stumbled back, her head snapping back on her neck.
And darkness…her most familiar element. That she already knew all about. She drew on its power, on the darkness within her, the darkness of the night, and the darkness within every person's heart. She took the elements and her own and combined it.
The light…and that light was so damn bright! It was like looking straight at the sun with her naked eye. She shut her eyes and freed her mind, allowing the energy to stream through her.
She screamed at the energy that she had drawn and saved up. Tearing her arms away from herself she splayed her fingers at her longtime friend. The power, no longer contained, fairly flew out of her, out her fingertips, directly from her energy reserves, untainted by her thoughts or mind, pure as snow. She felt the wholeness of it, stretching out, yearning for something it could never reach. The light…what color is it? Violet? Silver? Gold? She couldn't understand. Whatever the color, whatever the power, it left her hands and streamed along toward the Dragon.
Perhaps the purity itself would destroy him.
The elements slammed into him, and he was too weak and slow from the first catapult attack to avoid. Seeing that it had him in its clutches, Rose continued the attack, pouring out all of her energy reserves, draining herself. There is no risen dust, no swirling leaves and feathers. It is just light, so much light that it seemed to fill the entire world, so that the air itself is tinted with gold and violet and sky blue and carmine. So much light it is as if there had never been any darkness, never been her. She could see clearly; she didn't need to squint her eyes shut.
Michael tried to defend himself. She could feel him tossing up a mind barrier, but he couldn't block it off. It was impossible. This…this was the purity of the elements, the virtue and strength of their existence.
As a last attempt, though it was useless now, she stretched out her mind. –Michael, don't resist it. It hurts more if you resist…- Her message was bounced back to her in anguish and fury. She reached out again, trying to get into his mind, but she was pushed back, against a wall. A barrier made of darkness. How ironic, that the darkness that bound them together as partners and friends was the same darkness that kept them separated now.
The energy was gone now. She had gone past her limit. The elements had helped her and so had Spirit. Now she was empty.
Her Darkness Dragon screamed, a sound that pierced the air. She screamed with him.
And then they both fell.
Darius was there faster than she thought was possible, catching her before her head hit the ground. "Rose!"
She groaned as she pulled herself back into consciousness. "Dar? Is Michael…?"
She allowed him to help her to her feet and point her in the right direction. It took her a while to realize that the twitching heap of black flesh in the fields was Michael. He was screaming still, an anguished moaning, a cross between a lost child searching for his mother and a being who has lost his best friend. He was writhing, but the skin on his chest remained lax. He had no power left for the dark laser now.
Kristoff and Yaryl were approaching him. Darius's brother had a sword in his hand and the runner boy had a torch.
"No!" Rose screamed. The wind carried her word in the wrong direction and the two did not stop. She turned to the man beside her. "Dar, I can't let them kill him!"
He took her shoulders, stopped her hysterics. "Rose. You of all people must know what has to be done."
"I know! But I have to do it! No one else!"
Dar considered her words and then nodded, taking her gloved hand and leading her into the building, down the stairs, through the paths and streets and finally toward the fields. She tore her hand away and put an extra burst of energy into her tired legs. There was little Spirit left in her, but for Michael…
"Get away!" She came up behind Kristoff like a wraith in the night, jabbing the side of her hand into his neck. He crumpled without a sound and Yaryl barely had time to turn before she grabbed his neck as well, turning him to face her. "I'm going to release you now." She said calmly. "Snuff out the torch somewhere far from here and run toward the forest where the rest of your village people are hiding."
The boy stared at her blankly, the hand with the torch still creeping toward Michael's body.
"Do that," Rose said pleasantly. "And the breath you take will be your last."
The hand stopped.
"That's a good boy." She paused. "Never get in the way of a Dragon hunter and her prey. Now get out of my sight." She dropped him and he fled in the direction of the dense woods, terrified of the pale ice maiden with dark fire in her eyes.
Darius came up beside her and whistled softly. "Remind me not to get you angry."
She ignored him, kneeling down by her lifelong friend. She probed with her mind first, tentatively examining the barrier of darkness with a light touch. Sensing her warm familiar mind signature, the walls collapsed and she could see her friend for the first time in a long time again. "Michael?"
Master.
His psychic voice was normal now. Weary, fatigued, dying, but normal. Not a trace of bloodlust.
"How are you doing?"
Well, let's see…I'm dying, so I guess I would be doing badly.
She chuckled as she laid her head at his neck, stroking his muzzle. "I hope you understand what I had to do, Michael. I couldn't let you kill more people."
I understand perfectly. I thank you.
"Michael…" her voice was the quiet voice of a lost child. "Why did you do it? What made you go insane with the bloodlust again? I thought we were over that."
We were. I had learned to control it. But…that day when we destroyed Tratmick and you went into Bale…
"The day we met up with Feyrbrand again?"
Yes, that fated day… Michael sighed in his mind but his physical body was wheezing, jerking in an effort for air. What Feyrbrand said to me…that was what made me go insane.
She dropped a feathery kiss onto a burn welt on his forehead. "And what did he say to you?"
He said that it was my fault about the Dragon Campaign. You were nearly killed, Rose-master. You barely made it out of the floating castle in time. You could have been killed. Feyrbrand told me this, and told me it was my fault that I didn't stop you, that I didn't go in to protect you. And if I was outside, why didn't I help the other Dragoons? It was my fault that you nearly died. It was my fault that you had to become this Black Monster that you so hate…
"Oh, Michael…" Rose's words were a sobbing gasp and she allowed herself to cry into his scaly skin. "It wasn't your fault, my friend. I saw what happened to Zieg…and to the others. There was no way you could have helped any of them."
You could not have helped any of them either. But I did not go insane with that fact. I tumbled into bloodlust because I nearly lost you. So I figured if I killed more monsters, it would be like redemption. But when I killed the pack of Forest Runners that first night…I couldn't stop myself. It just kept building up until I eliminated the dera herd. I almost lost you, master. I nearly lost you again, during my rages, and I'm sorry for that.
She shook her head. So it was for her that he went insane. –It wasn't your fault. I too, understand bloodlust. I'm just glad that you stopped before killing more- She had to speak in mind-link now. If she spoke physically her tears would definitely overflow and drown her in their watery subtlety.
How many did I kill?
She wanted to laugh. –No more than the ones that I've killed.-
Michael shifted slightly and she could tell that slight motion brought him another step closer to death. That young man behind you, I killed one of his clan? Is that why he follows you?
Rose considered his question. –You killed his sister- she answered, but she didn't reply to the second question.
Please tell him I'm sorry.
She stroked his muzzle again, curling closer to his familiar warmth that was quickly diminishing. "Dar," She called. "Michael apologizes for what happened to Kata."
Dar sat down next to her and nodded, forcing a grin on his face. "If you do that to all your friends," he waved a hand at her snuggling and petting. "Can we try it sometime?"
Rose glared at him. "Ask me that again, and I'll maim you." –Michael, are you okay?-
If okay means dying then yeah, I'm perfectly okay.
"I'm sorry." She choked out the words through the tears clogging her throat and she started to sob. "I'm so sorry, Michael."
Stop leaking. It was necessary. As the Black Monster, you know what needed to be done in all occasions. You are very brave.
"I don't want to be brave anymore. Are you leaving me?"
Everything that comes must leave eventually. I'm just leaving a bit earlier. Stop that infernal sound you're making.
Rose stopped sniffling and swallowed her hiccups. "Is there anything I can do to make it better?"
His eyes were so sad as he looked up at her. Yes. One thing.
She understood immediately and rose to her feet, drawing her sword. "I'll do it, but only to make your passing easier."
Thank you, my friend. He opened the skin on his chest and pulled the ribs apart. She could see the sluggish beating of his warm loving heart.
"I love you, Michael."
And I, you. Don't forget me.
"I won't. I promise." Rose drew her sword arm back and thrust it forward.
She shut her eyes immediately. She couldn't bear to watch. The blade met resistance, and the most awful sound filled the air.
When it faded away, she opened her eyes. His eyes were so sad, but he was smiling. Content.
It was a long time before the passing was complete. She knelt down, sword on the grass, hands folded in her lap, and watched. His body faded slowly, faded. It shifted form from solid to something not quite a state of matter, a black cloud of darkness, their element. The black cloud hovered in the air for a second and then headed toward her. She didn't flinch.
It stroked her face with Michael's gentle caress, and she reached out with her mind. It whispered eight words to her and then disappeared, being drawn voluntarily into her Dragoon Spirit. Forever would he be bound to her now, and she could draw on his shade's power for her spells.
She stood, wavered.
"Rose?" Darius reached out to hold her before she fell. She didn't care. "Rose, are you okay?"
She had never fainted from shock before, but there's a first time for everything.
As she swooned, she could still hear Michael inside her mind.
I'll be with you forever. I love you.
It was done.