I can't believe this story's over a year old. O.O But it is…so thanks a lot guys! Sorry I can't sound more enthusiastic – I feel dead right about now – I can hardly breathe, it's this hot weather – I'm allergic to hot weather, I hate it! I want winter!!!!
Emerald Skies – I shall email you when my exams all settle down and I know that I passed with a 95% average… XP
The Great Kuro Neko: O.O That's certainly interesting – what a coincidence!
I'm too exhausted to write to the rest of you - I need to get some rest before I suffocate. XX You just read the chapter – it came out earlier than it should. Errr…Kai has named his phoenix Fushichou, thanks Emerald Skies.
Chapter 46: Same Blood, Different Morals
Kailee along with Kai, Holly, Johnny, Ray, and Willow landed in the Magic Kingdom and looked around. It was quiet and gloomy, traces of the wildlife remained but nothing seems to be alive. Trees were dying, flowers were withering, and everything was drying up into a barren land.
"Oh my gosh, it's awful," Kailee cried, "Everything's dying!"
Willow bent down to touch a withering flower, to her shock the flower immediately crumbled under her touch, "Oh! That's horrible."
"No kidding," Ray said, giving her a hug. Willow shivered in his arms, looking sadly at the dying flowers.
"Looks like someone plagued the place," Johnny remarked loudly.
Kailee's eyes filled with tears and Holly slapped Johnny's arm lightly.
"Ow!" Johnny winced, "What was that for?"
"Be a little more sensitive, will you?" Holly told Johnny, shaking her head.
"What do you think Fushichou?" Kai asked his phoenix, "Definitely the Chaotic Devil's doing?"
The phoenix nodded solemnly, flapping its glittery wings. Kai motioned for it to perch on his backpack so it wouldn't have to keep on flapping and the legendary bird willingly obliged.
"This is bad," Ray said, "Whoever did this has some major powers to be able to kill off the whole place and not allow it to be restored. We might be in over our heads this time."
"I know we can defeat whatever it is," Kai said, "Kailee, let's get moving."
Kailee's eyes filled with tears, "I-I miss Maxie..."
Kai groaned and look at his sister angrily, "Well, stop thinking about him! Hell, we have our own jobs that we have to get done. Take out that Locater Card and point us in the direction of the Magic Sanctuary, now!"
"Kai!" Holly said, "Don't talk to her like that!"
"Well, how am I supposed to talk to her?" Kai demanded, his white scarf swishing, "She doesn't listen to a word that I say, if she likes Max so much then he can be her brother because I don't want to be!"
Kailee started to cry and Holly hugged her, Kailee looked hurt while Holly gave Kai an apprehensive look.
Johnny tried to smooth things over, "Come on Kai, it ain't that bad. Your sister never liked all this fighting to begin with, there's no use in forcing her to do something that she doesn't like."
"Well, if she had her way in everything then she'd be spoiled!" Kai snapped, "It has to be done and we're doing it, regardless of what she or Maxie thinks!"
"You gotta respect her too Kai," Ray put in as Willow tried to comfort Kailee as well, "Not everyone's as brave as you."
"Hmph!" Kai turned away and started walking, his squire followed obediently.
"Come on Kailee," Willow coaxed, "It's okay, Kai didn't mean it, he'll apologize soon enough."
Kailee sniffled and pointed to the direction of the Magic Sanctuary, "It's that way, Kai's going the right way."
"Let's go then," Johnny said.
They kept walking (A/N: What else is new? ) and everywhere they passed was completely drain of any life. Everything was dying; it looked more like the end of a battlezone than a magical Kingdom. The more Kailee saw of this, the sadder she became and her eyes were constantly filling with tears. There seemed to be a gap between Kai and Kailee that was never there before. Everyone knew that Kai cared for his sister even though he didn't always show it, but this time, he was so angry that he said nothing to comfort her. Holly and Willow tried their best of comfort their friend while Johnny and Ray tried to talk some sense into Kai.
"Kai hates me, doesn't he?" Kailee asked miserably.
Holly knew that Kai heard that and she wish he would say something reassuring to his sister, but Kai said nothing.
"He doesn't hate you," Willow put in quickly.
"Then why isn't he talking to me?" Kailee asked, her voice trembling.
"Well, he's a bit angry right now," Willow admitted, "But it'll pass. You two can't see everything eye to eye. Don't worry Kailee."
"Kai, when are you going to talk to your sister again?" Johnny demanded.
"When she grows up," Kai said coldly, "And that won't be for some time. Johnny, just shut up."
"Well, ex-cuse me!" Johnny retorted in annoyance, "Fine, I will."
Ray sighed, now Kai had gotten Johnny into one of his foul moods that no one could break him out of except for maybe Carly. "Kai, don't you think this is going too far?"
"No," Kai said, "We've only been walking for about two hours."
"That's not what I mean," Ray mumbled, "I mean this grudge that you're holding against your sister. And you snapped at Johnny too."
Kai glared at Ray, "Do you have a problem with me? Huh? I'll do what I want and you can stay out of my way!"
Ray fell silent and Willow patted his shoulder, "Don't worry, you tried."
Holly sighed and looked from Johnny to Kai, Great, now Johnny's furious as well, cheery group, aren't we? I sure hope Cassie and them are doing better than we are.//
Suddenly a squawk rang loud and clear in the air.
"Birds?" Kailee asked, looking hopeful, "Maybe my Kingdom isn't all that dead if there's still birds here."
Willow frowned, "It doesn't sound like any sort of bird that I've heard before. It wasn't a friendly chirp, that's for sure."
"But I don't see anything," Ray shaded his eyes and glanced up, "Nope, nothing."
Kai looked at his phoenix, "Well, you're a bird, do you recognize the sound?" Fushichou straightened up in a dignified posture and sang out a few notes.
"How's that supposed to help?" Johnny demanded, "By singing."
Kai gave him a frosty look, "It's his way of communicating."
"What did Fushichou say Kai?" Holly asked.
"Nothing of any use," Kai said, shooting his phoenix an annoyed look, "It said that it's a legendary creature, not some low-life bird."
Johnny reached up and caught a black feather that was floating down in the air, "That's funny, the bird must be real fast, but it lost a feather. It's sure not a crow feather." The loud squawk filled the air again and this time, a series of noisy squawks followed. Johnny's quick eyes scanned the horizon and he dropped the feather.
"What is it Johnny?" Holly asked anxiously, "I don't see anything."
"Vultures," Johnny replied grimly, "Huge, man-eating birds that feed on the flesh of dead corpses. We're in for an ambush. This is no coincidence; the Warlock must know we're here!"
"Or maybe they're hungry?" Willow squeaked as a group of large black birds with hooked beaks and piercing sharp eyes was flying towards them.
"I suppose the warlock told them that their reward for killing us was that they could eat us?" Kai said sarcastically, drawing out his sword.
"I wish Carly or Tala was here," Johnny said, "Their long-range weapons would be most effective against these birds."
"They're so big," Kailee breathed, "I've never seen birds this big."
"They're twice the size as normal vultures!" Johnny said, "Someone's been eating well."
"The Warlock wouldn't just send simple birds to attack us," Ray said, holding his spear, "That would be too easy; these birds must have some kind of powers somehow."
The leader of the vulture pack spread out its glossy black wings and let out a long piercing yell. The other vultures responded with loud squawks and dove down at them, sharp beaks ready.
"DUCK!" Johnny hollered as they all laid flat on the ground.
"That's stupid," Kai said angrily, "I suppose we'll all just stay flat on the ground for the rest of our lives?"
"Then stop your stupid SUPPOSING and come up with a plan!!!!!" Johnny snarled as the vultures looped around in the sky and continued their assault.
Fushichou tugged Kai's scarf lightly and nodded slightly. Kai stood up, "Gotta a plan?" The phoenix nodded, its large eyes blinking. "Fine," Kai said, "Let's see what you're made of." Fushichou flew in the sky, spreading its large glittering wings.
"Kai!" Ray yelled, "What are you doing?"
Kai held up his sword protectively in front of him as two vultures flew towards him, no doubt, wanting to peck his eyes out, "Come and get me!"
"Kai don't!" Kailee cried.
Fushichou flew in front of Kai and let out a strong, ringing trill. Golden sound waves came out of its beak and the vultures fell senseless on the ground.
"Excellent!" Kai said, bringing his sword down through one of the vulture's neck.
Kailee gasped, "Kai!!! Oh, that's so cruel!!!" Everyone except Johnny winced when they heard a loud crunch, no doubt the sound of the dead vulture's neck breaking.
"That's disgusting!" Willow grimaced, "How can you be so heartless?"
"What did that phoenix do?" Ray asked in confusion, "Those vultures looked fine to me a second ago, then Fushichou trilled something and they all fell senseless on the ground."
"Then Kai killed them!" Kailee started to cry again.
Kai looked disgusted, "Get a life Kailee." He held out his arm so Fushichou could perch on it, "Good job. They're coming back."
"My turn!" Johnny said, blasting stars from the palm of his hand and confused the vultures with a sky of glowing stars.
"Neither of our attacks works very well in the skies," Ray said, looking at Willow and Holly, "They'll just dodge our beams. Johnny can only confuse them for so long and then they'll regain their senses."
"Then, it's time to call out the ancient spirits!" Holly released her Beyblade, "Go Enchantary! Attack!!!"
"What about us?" Willow demanded, "Marina's a leopard, not an eagle! And Driger's a tiger! Not a falcon!"
Holly nodded, a plan forming in her head, "Well, we're the strongest when we all work together. Johnny! Keep up the stars as long as you can!"
Johnny glanced over his shoulder and grinned at her, "Aye aye, captain!"
Holly smiled and turned to Kai, "Kai! Use Dranzer, it'll be easier if we work together. Fushichou can keep up whatever attack its using to knock out the vultures and Ray can finish the them off -"
"In a more civilized and clean manner!" Willow couldn't help putting in, "I'll look after Kailee." She nodded towards the girl who was covering her face with her hands and sobbing.
Kai grunted and nodded at the phoenix who immediately flew over to Ray to obey. Then Kai launched his Beyblade, "Dranzer!!! Flame Sabre!!!!"
"Why do they have to kill the birds?" Kailee whispered to Willow.
"Because those vultures want to kill us," Willow replied, "We can't die, not until we've saved the Elemental Galaxy."
Kailee's eyes welled up with tears, "It's still cruel and unnecessary." Her voice broke and she continued to sob.
"Holly, I'm tired!" Johnny hollered at her, "Can't keep this up much longer."
"It's okay, Kai and I have got it covered!" Holly yelled at him, "Cease fire!"
Johnny stopped his Astro attack and wiped his forehead, "Phew, I'm drained!"
"Dranzer!!"
"Enchantary!!"
Their combined efforts smashed into the horde of vultures, killing off many while the rest retreated, squawking their threats.
Suddenly, Kailee screamed and everyone whirled around to see what was happening. Willow shrieked as two vultures clawed at their clothing and scratched their necks, "Go away!" She reached for her staff and smacked it hard on one vulture. The other vulture was trying to drag Kailee in the air with her struggling, but it didn't get far. Kai angrily thrust his sword right through the vulture and pronounced it dead while Kailee dropped on the ground like an anchor, crying at the terror of seeing an animal killed right in front of her. Willow meanwhile shooed the vulture away by repeatingly hitting it with her staff.
"Stop that Kailee!" Kai said in a disgusted voice, "You're not hurt at all." Fushichou came back to perch on Kai's shoulder.
"W-why did y-you kill that bird?" Kailee sobbed, shaking like a leaf.
"Why?" Kai sounded incredulous, "You wanted to learn to fly? Huh? You know, one day, your stupidity for love of all animals will end you in a coffin!" Kailee just cried harder.
"And one day, your recklessness will end you with a sword through your neck, just like you did to the vulture!" Willow spluttered, barely able to control her rage, "You know your sister's afraid, but you insist on showing her death in her face, don't you??" Ray pulled her back.
"This is all wrong," Holly said, "The animals here shouldn't be violent at all. They're the kindest in the Magic Kingdom, this evil's really spreading. Animals love it here and they're kind and gentle to everyone, even the meanest of all animals."
"It's the evil," Johnny said curtly, "Once the evil's taken control, nothing's right, ever. Let's keep it moving."
"Why is Kai being so mean?" Kailee asked Holly, "He's never this mean."
Holly gave Kai a meaningful look which he ignored, "You should just give him time to cool off. He loves you, really, he's just a little annoyed that you don't defend yourself."
Kailee looked miserably at her wand, "I can't kill animals, it's cruel and unjust."
"But they're not happy being evil either," Ray said in a coaxing voice, "Wouldn't you rather be dead than be evil?"
Kailee gave Ray a horrified look. Willow sweatdropped, "Ray, that's a weird way of looking at it."
"Well, I'd rather be dead than be evil and hurt others," Ray said defensively.
"That's not the point," Johnny said roughly, "The point is that they're trying to kill us and we have to kill them before they kill us, simple as that."
"But they're still innocent," Kailee protested, "It's not their fault that they're being control by evil. And Holly can't keep using her light powers to purify them, it's so not fair! Stupid evil!!!!"
"Are we close to the Magic Sanctuary?" Holly asked, "It's getting pretty late."
"Yes, just a little further," Kailee said dejectedly, "I wish Maxie was here..."
"Well, he's not!" Kai snapped, "So stop wishing, it doesn't help, if you ever want to see him again, you had better toughen up and quit whining and defend yourself!"
Kailee started to cry again, tears spilling down her face.
"Really Kai!" Holly said angrily, "I cannot believe you're acting like this to your own sister!"
"Oooh, she's mad," Johnny whispered to Ray.
"So what if Kailee's not the exact duplicate of you!" Holly continued, "The way you're treating her is wrong! She needs support right now, not constant reminders that she'll end up dead the next minute!"
"Oooooooh, she's really mad," Johnny said.
"You're her brother; shouldn't you be the one that's comforting her? She looks up to you and looks to you for moral support," Holly said, her eyes flashing, "We all have our own morals. You like to kill, and Kailee doesn't, so at least respect that! It's not like we're making you follow Kailee's lead, just respect that! She's been feeling horrible ever since she lost that tennis match and she doesn't need anyone else putting her down. She feels bad enough as it is already! Why can't you understand that???"
"Woooooooow, she's really really really mad," Johnny added.
Kai turned around and faced Holly, "You know what? Just mind your own business, okay? This doesn't concern you Holly. I'll treat people how I want to treat them, okay? You want someone who understands her? Well, try looking in the Earth Kingdom, I'm sure Maxie would meet your expectations!" He whirled back around and started walking again.
"Well, don't get mad at me!" Holly spluttered, "Everything I said is true and you know it!"
"You're right," Kai said without turning around, "It's true, we have different morals, very different." He kept walking, his white scarf swishing with the wind.