~kai~: -_-  you don't like it when people get too close to her nor do you like it when Tala makes her mad, I'm not even going to try to get it right…it's impossible.

whisper*2*imaginary: Yeah!  They all look at you with this expression that says, "WHAT???  What happened to you???"  Happy birthday!  Read the dialogue below, lol!

Reicu: O_O Did the machine explode???  Did it???

neko-jin: Ray's stalling…lol, at least he's in this chapter…nightmare!  ^_^

~*~Prodigious girl*~*: Okay…I think I get it.  ^_~  She wants to be a doctor??

scarlet diamonds: Yeah, I need inspiration!  ^_^  Thanx!  Of course, he's not dead, I need to hug Enrique!  ^_^

Beyblader-grl: The site's done…finally, took me forever and a day.  I think they're cute when they argue.  ^_^

Just-some-girl1: I will!

The Great Kuro Neko: CLONE???  Gosh, you cloned him???  *runs off scared*

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* ~ ¤ ~ Quøte ~ ¤ ~ *

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable."

~ Sydney J. Harris

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Oh, before I began…

Me: *nudges Johnny* Come on pal, do it!
Johnny: *rolls eyes* Do I have to?

Me: YES!!!!  Now do it before I take that axe of yours and chop off your head!!!

Max: ^_^U Can I say it?  Please?
Tala: Yeah, Johnny's being pathetic, just spit it.

Johnny: *mumbles something inaudible*

Me: What???  I can't HEAR you!!!

Max: Ha-

Me: No Max, not now.

Max: But…please…?

Me: NO!  Johnny…?

Johnny: *groans* This chapter is dedicated to whisper*2*imaginary because it's her –"

Max: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! ^_^

Tala: -_-U Bit obsessive, isn't him?  Happy birthday!

Johnny: At least he said it for me…but happy birthday…good luck… *sulks off to a dark corner*

Me: Now that that's all over.  Happy birthday whisper*2*imaginary, hope you have a great one!!!  ^_^  Thanx for all your reviews on my fic, it's really helped and inspired me!

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Chapter 22: Curse of a Black Rose

         "We killed vampire bats, destroyed Dark Devils, crossed a graveyard, fought ghosts and spirits, what's next??" Carly complained, "I'm starting to get really sick of this Kingdom.  It's so dark and boring and empty."

"Next is the Dark Palace," Willow said softly, "We're almost there."

"We need a plan of action," Kai said, "Remember in the Fire Kingdom?  We were all over the place, any of us could've been killed!"

"We should try to stick together in the throne room this time," Holly suggested.

"That won't do!" Carly objected, "If we all squish in there with all those monsters and junk, there'll be bearly enough room to breathe, much less fight!"

"She's got a point," Enrique said, "It's much too crowded in there for all of us."

"Enrique, you always agree with Carly," Hru remarked, "But it is something we should consider."

"How about half of us stay in the throne room and fight the Dark Warlock and the other half lead the monsters outside and kill them there?" Johnny said, "That way we're not completely separated."

"Sounds like a plan," Willow said, "But who's going to go where?"

"Well, Willow has to go inside of course, it's her Kingdom after all, Holly should go too," Johnny mused, "She'll be strong against the Dark powers.  And..."

"Me," Kai said firmly, "If Holly's going, I'm going too."

"Then I'm going too!" Kailee chirped.

"Me too!" Max said.

Johnny sweatdropped, "Okaaay, sure, how about one more person?  Six inside, five outside."

"I'll go," Cassandra said, "Willow's my best friend, I'll make sure she'll be okay."

"Okay!" Carly said, "Then Johnny, Enrique, Hru, Tala, and I will do some damage to those monsters."

"I want to fight the head honcho," Hru complained, "Why do I have to stay outside?"

"So do I," Carly said, "But Johnny and Enrique are both here and I wanna stay with them.  Anyways, there's enough people going inside, after you help us kick butt outside, we'll rejoin them and kick some more butt inside!"

"Okay," Hru said, smiling, "Let's do it then."

"I hope you won't go crazy for the Dark Scepter like Ray did," Holly remarked.

Willow paled, remembering how wild Ray acted, "Me too..."

"Don't worry," Cassandra said, "If you do, I'll dump ice water on your face!"

"There's the Dark Palace," Kai said, pointing to the grand structure ahead of them.  It was much like the Fire Palace.  There was a black gate in front of them, the bars were flaming with dark energy.

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         "That looks great," Ray said to one of the construction workers, "We'll have the Fire Palace fixed by tonight!  Awesome work!"

"Thank you kindly your Highness," the worker said, jumping back to work.

Ray couldn't believe how supportive and willing his subjects were to help.  They were rebuilding everything without any quarrels, he could slowly see the reformation of his Kingdom.  Houses were being rebuilt by the men and there were hard-working fire creatures willing to lend a hand anytime.  The women and the children were cooking or planting crops.  Everyone was working together perfectly to restore the place they used to call home.

"Your Majesty, is something troubling you?" the Fire Mage said, coming up behind Ray with a bow.

"No, it's nothing," Ray said, sighing deeply, "It's just that my friends left for the Dark Kingdom today morning and I didn't go with them."

"Ah and now you feel guilty," the Fire Mage said understandably.

"Yeah," Ray said, "Especially since it was Willow's Kingdom too and she saved my life here.  I didn't know what I was thinking this morning, but I wanted to fix my Kingdom so much that I forgot that there were others counting on me.  It's too late anyways, who knows where those guys are now?  I just hope they'll come back in one piece."

"Your Majesty, it is not too late to undo your wrongs," the Fire Mage said, "People make mistakes, but it's our own job to correct them."

"Perhaps..." Ray said softly, "Let's finish this up first."

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         Willow pushed the gates open and they all went into the vast courtyard.  Kai cautiously pushed the large doors open and peeked through, "Coast is clear!  Let's move."

"I feel like a robber," Kailee remarked as they sneaked in.

"I'd rather feel like a robber than feel the Dark power of the Dark Warlock," Kai pointed out airily.

"The throne room is straight down this long hall," Willow said, "Then all the chaos start."

"Or it starts now!" Johnny yelled.  Some monsters were hurrying down the stairs and waving their weapons threateningly.

"Come and get us!" Carly snarled, zipping an arrow straight into a monster's chest.

They were ugly monsters, really ugly.  They had four arms and six legs and their heads were twisted into ugly shapes.

"What are those things?!" Holly said in disgust, "Gross!"

"Dark Mutants," Willow hissed, "That's what it says in the Locater Card."

{ ¤ Dark Mutants ¤ are weird creatures who were once normal animals, unfortunately, they suffered intensive torture and pain, therefore transformed into mutated beings. }

"EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWW!!!!!!" Kailee shrieked.

"Whatever," Carly said, stringing five arrows and firing them all at a time.

"You've gotten quite accurate, haven't you?" Johnny said teasingly to Carly.

"You had better believe it!" Carly said enthusiastically, "Let's see what you've got."

Johnny nodded and flashed her a reckless grin, "You asked for it!"  He leaped up the stairs and smashed his axe recklessly through some of the mutant monsters, killing them instantly.

Kai and the others sweatdropped as the rest of the monsters ran away.

"What a bunch of cowards," Kai scoffed.

"Those were sweet moves, Johnny," Tala said.

"You're a big show-off!" Carly said, laughing and punching his shoulder, "Oh Johnny, what would I ever do without you?"

Johnny felt that feeling again, a feeling that he couldn't shake off.  //Curse, whenever I look at her, I get this strange feeling.  What the hell is wrong with me?//

"You guys really shouldn't do that," Max complained, "This isn't some game, now's not the time to be playing around."

"Boy, man, you're gonna die a pretty miserable death with that kinda attitude," Carly said, cart wheeling around, "So what if we have a little fun in between, they're monsters, we'll kill sooner or later!"

Suddenly the door to throne room burst open and a tall dark figure stood glaring at them, "What is all this COMMOTION??!!"

"Whoa, no need to yell," Hru said, wincing.

"I am the Dark Warlock," the figure said menacingly.  The monster was clad in hard, darkmetal armor and wore a Viking helmet. Willow could see the Dark Scepter hanging by his side, "How dare you pathetic mortals enter my Kingdom without my permission??!!"

"This is MY Kingdom," Willow insisted, "And I will take it back."

"Ridiculous!" the Dark Warlock sneered, "The Dark Kingdom ruled by a pathetic mortal girl!  I will punish you for invading my Kingdom!"

"No way!" Cassandra put in, "We'll put you in your place just like we did to the Fire Warlock!"

"WHAT????  You are the ones who killed the Fire Warlock??" the Dark Warlock raged, "Then you are the Elemental Warriors!  Ahh, I see now, the Warrioress of Darkness, yes, returned once again to reclaim your throne.  Well, sorry, it isn't going to happen, this is my Kingdom now and as long as I have the Dark Scepter, you cannot rule!  HA HA HA HA!!!"

"Psychopath," Carly muttered, "All of them are."

"Don't worry," Johnny said with a sneer, "We never expected that you'd hand over the Kingdom to us, we're prepared to fight for it, just like we did in the Fire Kingdom."

"So you face the wrath of the Fire Warlock and still lived to tell the tale?" the Dark Warlock jeered, "I never knew the Fire Warlock was so weak!  Me, I'm a completely different story."

"We will stop you," Holly declared, "And you will stop your assault on the Light Kingdom!"

"Ah yes, the noble Light Warrioress," the Dark Warlock said mockingly, "Your powers are useless against me, I'm afraid, for I am made of eternal Dark energy, your pathetic Light cannot penetrate me!"

"We'll see about that!" Holly snapped.

"Dark Mutants, ATTACK THEM!!!!!!!!!" the Dark Warlock commanded, "KILL THEM ALL, BUT BRING THE WARRIORESS OF DARKNESS ALIVE TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!  NOW GO!!!!!!!!"

"Remember the plan?" Kai said in a hushed voice.

"Who's forgetting?" Johnny said, leaping on the stairs.

"You're mine!" Willow shot after the Dark Warlock, "Give me that scepter!"

"Hey follow us!" Hru called to the Dark Mutants, "Or are you too scared to fight the Spirit Warrioress?"

Enraged, several Dark Mutants rushed after Hru outside.

"And me," Tala chimed in boldly, "Come and get me if you dare."

"Yahoooooooo!" Carly said, letting out an ear-splitting yell, "Come on your ugly, disgusting beasts, let's see what you're made of!"

"Let's get moving," Enrique said teasingly, using his Psychic powers to blow the Dark Mutants outside.

Holly and Cassandra tried to fend off the remaining monsters, but there were still too many.

"Johnny, do something!" Holly shrieked, "There's too many of them!"

"Gotcha!" Johnny jumped up to the highest floor and chopped the chain that was holding chandler with a quick swipe of his axe, "Get outta there!"

Holly and Cassandra cringed as the huge chandler smashing on the mutant monsters and killed them instantly from the blow.

"Sorry Willow," Johnny called, "But you'll get a new one when you're queen!"

Willow gave him thumbs-up and nodded.

"Thanks Johnny!" Holly called.

"Right, later!" Johnny leaped outside quickly.

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         "Get back here!" Willow snapped, chasing the Dark Warlock as he fled into the throne room.  Holly, Cassandra, Max, Kailee, and Kai followed close behind.

"You're pretty smart for a bunch of mortals," the Dark Warlock sneered, "And not to mention cheeky and rude."

"He hasn't even met Carly yet," Kai whispered to Holly.

"Give me that Scepter!" Willow cried, "It doesn't belong to you."

"My dear girl, I can't get simply give you the Scepter," the Dark Warlock drawled, "It belongs to me and it shall belong to whomever rules the Dark Kingdom."

"The rightful ruler is Willow!" Kailee said shrilly.

"Ah yes, but I have taken over and you'll have to kill me to get the Scepter," the Dark Warlock said, flailing his cloak in the air, "And I assure you that won't happen.  Dark Blast!"

They all ducked as the black energy ball came zooming at them at amazing speed.

"That was close..." Kai breathed.

Holly try to blast out Light from her hand, but to her frustration, the Light simply evaporated and disappeared, "No...it doesn't work...now I know how Carly felt in the Fire Kingdom...useless!"

"Get down!" Kai grabbed her waist and pulled her roughly on the ground, the Dark Blast barely skimmed past their heads.

"Thanks Kai," Holly breathed, blushing.

"Now, to get rid of the useless friends," the Dark Warlock sent bolts of Dark power raining down on them.

Kailee was hit and she collapsed on the ground with a cry of pain.  When Max tried to reach her, he too was shot down mercilessly.

"Kailee!" Kai yelled, sounding furious, he drew his sword, "NOBODY hurts my sister!"  Before Holly could stop him, Kai slammed his sword at the Dark Warlock who blocked the blow with his scythe.  Kai struggled to gain control, but the Dark Warlock was much more powerful physically.  With a strong shove of his scythe, the Dark Warlock sent Kai slamming into the wall, knocking the wind out of him

"Kai!" Holly hurried to him and touched his battered body, "Oh Kai..."

Willow gasped at the Dark Warlock advanced towards her, "Stay back."  She yanked out her staff and filled it with Dark powers.

The Dark Warlock merely laughed, "Foolish girl, your powers cannot rival mine.  Give in to evil!!!!  Ha ha ha!!"

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~*~Ray's Dream~*~

         Ray was standing in a garden full of beautiful flowers, pansies, daisies, tulips, carnations, and more.  "What am I doing here?" Ray wondered aloud, "In a garden???"

"Hi Ray," Kai said, coming through the gate, "I thought I'd find you here, found one yet?"

"Why?  Found what?" Ray asked in confusion, "What am I looking for?  What am I doing here?"

"Well, I'm assuming you're here to find a present for Willow," Kai said, looking puzzled, "It is her birthday today, we're going to her party this afternoon, remember?"

"Yeah right," Ray said, it hit him suddenly, "Willow's birthday.  Gosh, I gotta find something special then."

"Willow likes flowers, doesn't she?" Kai said, "I'll bet she'll love whatever you can pick from here."

"But I want to find a special flower," Ray insisted, "One that represents something."

Kai shrugged, "I dunno much about flowers, I'll see you later!"

After Kai left, Ray wandered the beautiful garden, but he couldn't seem to pick one.  Finally he came across a single pink rose that bloomed in the rose tree before the others.  Its petals were a soft pink and it was opening in the most perfect way.  "Beautiful," Ray said in awe, he reached in and gently broke off the stem, "Now this is what I'm talking about."  The minute he had the rose, the whole place was drenched in pure darkness.  Ray gasped and stood up, "What's happening?"

"Ray..." Willow called, "Ray, please help me!"

Ray turned around, "Willow!  Where are you?"  Then he saw Willow far away, her face veiled with sadness and pain.  "Willow!  What's wrong?"  He tried to approach her, but she just drifted further away, "Stop, wait for me."

"You don't care about me at all Ray," Willow said angrily, "You're just too busy with other matters and not to mention that you like Mariah anyways."

"That's NOT true!" Ray said desperately, "Listen to me, don't go, let me explain, please, Willow!"

"You never really cared about me," Willow said in a hollow voice.

"Willow, stop it!  That's not true!" Ray said.

Suddenly Willow was engulfed by black flames and her eyes flickered in pain.  Ray felt as if someone stabbed him in the heart.  "WILLOW!!!!  NOOOOOOOO!!!"

An evil laughter filled the air.

"What did you do to Willow!!!!" Ray yelled, angry tears stinging his eyes, "Answer me!"

{Foolish boy, you don't care about her anyways, I will do as I please, it's your fault really.  If you had only taken better care of her this wouldn't have happened to her.}
"Willow!" Ray shouted, "Come back, please, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!!!" Ray gasped as the rose in his hand suddenly turned deathly black.  "Oh!  A black rose!"  The rose withered in his hand and then burned into ash and his world shattered.

~*~End of Ray's Dream~*~

            Ray gave a yell and shot up, sweating heavily.  "Just a dream...or was it?  What if it's happening to Willow right now????  What if she's hurt and she needs me???  Gosh, I should've gone with her in the first place."  He sprang out of bed and yanked on his clothes, "I just hope I'm not too late...Willow...I am so sorry..."

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            That's all for now, I'm going on a week's trip away from home and away from a computer, so you'll have to wait till I get back for the next chapter, which is October 18.  Oh, and don't forget to take a look at my website, it's totally redone!  ^_^  Sooooooooooooooooooo busy, ^_^, laterz and enjoy!

PS: If you like Beyblade, check out my site @ www.hostinganime.com/icearchergrl/.