The Great Kuro Neko: *nodz* I know, Aquana went so well with Enrique. ^_^ Johnny's evil, but he's still human, you'll see, it's not going to be KABOOM, they fall in love, it'll happen gradually, lol! Aww…sorry for Tala's lack of appearance, he's entering in this chapter. ^_~
Reicu: Thanx! I will! ^_~
Master Kyu: Hey! ~_^ More fantasy! XD, never enough! No…they're not in it. ^_^U Sorry!
Cry Of The Red Phoenix: Thank you! ^_^
Silver Swiftness: *nodz* Yeah, dancing bear, lol! Well, Daeloth just can't, not giving too much away, he's cursed from there. YAYZ!! You updated!
Magical Soul: Me love fantasy stories too! Lord of the Rings is THE BEST!!! I updated pretty often actually, unless homework drowns me or something, then I can't help it! :P Reviews are great inspirations though, *nodz*, yes they are, lol! Thanx for reviewing!
Spitfire-Sae: Ah I read one of your fics too, it's REALLY good!!! Fantasy too, love it! Oh yeah, I always seem like Carly after writing, she's my character after all! I'm glad it's understandable and I always try to watch my grammar, but I'm not the greatest at that. Thanx for reviewing!! And I hope you update soon! And thanx for visiting my website, cute guys. ~_^
Yin: YES!! KANE!!! MINE!!! *grabz and hugz* Enrique's cute, I know, I love him too! Johnny's very bitter and angry, but so is Carly. You even reviewed the past chapters too! *glompz* I love fantasy too! Wow, you have tonz of fics!!
whisper*2*imaginary: *nodz* Sound right to me! Tala enters today, but only for a short while. I like Mariam, she's pretty, maybe it's because I don't really like Dunga that much. :P Love Kane tho! Aww…I just saw your profile page and I'm on your Friends list! *glompz* ^^ You're right though, it's gonna be long, lol, wonder how you ever guessed that!
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Author's Note: Hey everyone, thanx for reviewing! ^_~ I'm back with chapter 4, hope you like it. I think you'll notice that I've made Carly slightly more aggressive by disrespecting her honor. I didn't really want to make Carly seem like she's perfect, I mean, it's one thing that she can fight well and rule well, but she has to have faults too. Everyone does, that's why I try to portray a character in a way that it would be believable. I would like your opinion on how my characters are, if you don't mind. Anywayz, enjoy!!!
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Chapter 4: A Taste of Dark Power
Johnny galloped towards Ithildin at top speed with his soldiers thundering behind him. His lilac eyes narrowed when Ithildin came into clear view and his blood boiled at the thought of the princess. Urging his black stallion to go faster, Johnny and his army of soldiers stormed into Ithildin, past the gates, knocking down the gate doors and trampling through the green fields. Johnny was perplexed, there had been no guards to stop him at the gate, no one protecting the kingdom boundaries. There was no one in sight even though the soil of the farms clearly showed that people have been watering and weeding their crops. //Maybe they all went into hiding or something…// Johnny thought in puzzlement.
"Get off the grass!" a commanding voice broke out.
Johnny looked up and stared right into the eyes of an all too familiar face, "You!"
Carly's voice was filled with contempt, "The plague of death is cursed about you. Even the mere touch of you kills the grass and drains their life."
Johnny ignored her comments, "Well, if it isn't my welcoming committee."
"You are so predictable, intruder," Carly said steely, "Oh wait, I shouldn't call you that, what suits you, Death Knight? Or should I say Nonda`Kanoste?"
Johnny once again ignored her comments, but it didn't stop him from smirking, "My name is Johnny, and I did not make up those names. They're names made from the people."
For some reason, that made Carly angry, "You are not worthy of your name, you bastard!"
Johnny smirked at her, "Call me what you like, princess. It makes no difference to me. Your time as ruler of this kingdom is almost over."
"Considering the fact that I've heard that threat countless times," Carly said with a yawn, "Once more will not make a difference."
"It's your own arrogance that will be your downfall," Johnny spat. He ducked when a shower of arrows came raining down at him.
"I said get off the grass," Carly said calmly, "There's no need to ruin the land by trampling it. State your business, knight, I have no patience towards intruders, especially those cursed by Daeloth."
"I'm sure you know very well what I want, Tariena," Johnny said slyly, saying the name with a mocking drawl.
"Call me that again and I'll throw you in the hottest lava a volcano can produce."
Johnny grinned, knowing that he hit a sensitive spot and that was key to breaking his enemy down, "Bold words for a young girl."
"Why don't you just tell me what the hell it is that you want????" Carly snapped, "Either you tell me or get the hell outta my face!"
"What Daeloth has been after for say the last 50 years?" Johnny said, smirking, "The Imperium Gem."
"You're delusional if you think I'll just hand it to you."
"There's no use in resisting," Johnny said, "You have no allies, I've personally made sure that all your Allied Kingdoms have fallen, just make it easier on yourself and hand over the gem."
"I'd rather jump into the nearest burning pool of lava." Was Carly's furious reply.
"You're welcome to go ahead, Tariena."
"Shut the hell up," Carly snapped, "I'm not going to give you the gem so take your soldiers and turn back around."
Johnny raised his hand and dark fire burst out of his palm and smashed into the kingdom wall, creating a small rockslide. Enrique gasped, anger sparking in his hazel eyes, Carly barely flinched. "See the power I have," Johnny gloated, "And that wasn't even a fraction. If I wanted this whole kingdom could crumble into pieces in mere seconds."
"I am unimpressed, knight. And I definitely don't fear you."
Johnny sighed impatiently, "I'm sick of talking with you. I challenge your strongest knight to a duel with one of my best. If I win, I'll take the Imperium Gem and that will be the end of it."
"And if I win you clear off the land immediately," Carly said without missing a beat.
"Dream on, Tariena," Johnny drawled.
Emerald eyes flashed in hot fury at the name, "When you die, knight, I'll personally make sure that I cut off your tongue."
"Lovely. Whatever," Johnny shrugged, snapping his fingers. On cue, a tough looking soldier clad in indestructible armor from head to toe grunted forward. He was holding a huge star mace on a long heavy chain. A cruel sneer lit his ugly face and he grunted, swinging his mace threateningly.
"Where's his horse?" Carly asked, her voice ringed with disgust.
Johnny's eyes lit in a similar cruel smile, "He doesn't need one. He can crush horses with one swipe of his arm."
"Beautiful," Carly said sarcastically.
"Let me go at him," Enrique whispered, tugging her sleeve, "I promise you I won't fail."
"You????" Johnny started to laugh, "Please don't tell me that he's the best you can do, Tariena?"
"Would you quit calling me that???" Carly snarled, "Call me Carly or whatever, don't even call me at all, just quit saying that cursed title!"
Amethyst eyes sparkled in delight at her fury, "Why not? It's becoming of you, Tariena."
"That's it!" Carly muttered, swinging off her horse and slinging on her quiver of arrows, "I'll make you pay for that."
"Carly!" Enrique cried, "Flora would have my head if I let you battle."
Carly growled at him, " And I would have yours if you do not! Stand back Enrique, it is not you whom he insulted."
"But Carly!" Enrique exclaimed, desperately clinging on to her arm, "NO, don't, let me fight him or any of the other guards for that matter, it's not worth risking your life for."
"For goodness sakes Enrique, release me!" Carly said, impatiently shaking the blond boy off, "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."
Meanwhile Johnny was looking from Carly to Enrique, shaking his head, "Either you're insane or delusional, or probably a bit of both. My soldier's going to snap your neck in two!"
"I'll show you insane, Nonda`Kanoste," Carly walked up towards him, her eyes glittering maliciously, "Let's go."
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Johnny scowled as the princess calmly shrugged out of her coat and threw it on the ground, loading her arrows into her quiver. For some reason, he didn't want to fight the girl, he just wanted to beat her best fighters, but obviously Carly wasn't going to back done from this fight no matter how much that blond knight begged. He turned to the tough soldier who was fighting on his behalf, a deep frown on his face, "Okay, I don't care that she's a girl. Just crush her. Run that mace through her face, I don't care, just so long I get the Imperium Gem, do you understand?"
"Completely," was the strong soldier's answer.
"Good," Johnny said, "Ithildin will learn to fear me. I want no mercy."
"None will be given."
"Come on, come on, I'm a busy person, I don't have time for this light chit chat," Carly called, tapping her foot impatiently.
Johnny scowled at her as his soldier strode forward.
"If you think that bigger is better, Nonda`Kanoste," Carly said, "You are terribly wrong."
"Just get on your horse and let's start," Johnny said, losing his patience, he had no time for bouncing insults, he just wanted the full powers of Morin and be done with it.
"If your soldier won't ride a horse, than why should I?" Carly retorted.
Johnny gaped openly at her, "You mean to tell me that you're going to fight him without a horse?"
"My words are obviously heard better by deaf ears than the ears of an arrogant knight."
"You're committing suicide!" Johnny said incredulously, "You must be mentally ill or something."
"Perhaps I was mistaken. Are you a knight or a healer?"
"That's it," Johnny growled, "Let's get this started."
Carly dug her heels into the ground as the burly soldier lunged at her. Whirling around quickly, she ducked the slam and leaped on the nearest roof, rapidly shooting arrows. The soldier groaned and ducked for cover as a rain of sharp arrows sprinkled down. She leaped away as the mace came down close in a crushing blow, grinning as she dodged and fired. //Too easy…should've chosen someone smarter, instead of someone strong but dumb…your mistake Nonda`Kanoste, but don't worry, you'll learn fast…//
"Oh curse…where did she learn to fight?" Johnny muttered, watching Carly's swift moments, "I should've chosen someone more agile instead of choosing someone who I thought would scare her…" He noticed Enrique glaring at him and glared back, "What do you want?"
"If you harm the princess you'll regret it," Enrique said through clenched teeth, gripping his sword very tightly.
"She's the one who chose to fight," Johnny said in annoyance because it didn't look like Carly was losing at all, she was practically running circles around his soldier. "What are you doing???" Johnny barked at his soldier, "Finish her off already!!!"
Carly whipped around and fired arrows behind her, scoring a hit on the huge soldier's arm. Blinded by pain and rage, the soldier swung his heavy mace carelessly at Carly, attacking on pure fury. Carly ducked, but the house behind her wasn't so lucky she tumbled away, the house crumbled to pieces. "HEY!!!" Carly snarled, "There are people who live here!!!"
"Too bad," the soldier growled, "You won't get to see them again."
"More bold words," Carly snapped, whipped out her bow to block the incoming mace which was aimed at her head. They locked weapons, trying to push each other down, although Carly clearly didn't have the physical strength as this soldier did, she still didn't back down. The longbow was bending under the pressure, obviously not meant for this kind of combat.
"Push harder," Johnny yelled, "Break that stupid bow or whatever, just get this over with, I don't have all day."
Sweat trickled down Carly's face as she concentrated on pushing the enemy back, but she was obviously fighting a losing battle and quickly whipping back, she released her longbow, letting in fall harmlessly on the ground and rapidly leaped backwards. The soldier let out a grunt of disapproval and torn after her. Johnny chuckled to himself, now that the princess had dropped her bow, it was going to be piece of cake to beat her. Carly leaped into the pile of rubble where the house used to stand and leapt aside as the mace came crashing down beside her. "Amateur," Carly said with a sneer as the rest of the rubble crashed down on the mace. The soldier tugged and tugged, trying to free his buried mace, but no avail, the mace was jammed underneath all the broken rubble. Letting out roars of fury, the soldier still couldn't release his mace. Carly dropped down beside her fallen bow and fitted an arrow neatly into place and pointed, "And that's all. You're defeated."
Johnny was clenching his fist angrily, not believing that this was happening. This was not what he had been expecting at all. The girl fought as well as any man could and perhaps even better. Even more, she fought almost as well as him! "You-"
"Get out Nonda`Kanoste," Carly hissed, as the soldier was still dumbly trying to pull out his mace, "Your time here is done. Get out. I despise the sight of you."
Johnny hated to admit defeat, but he had no other choice, he didn't want to risk losing a good, strong soldier, especially one of his strongest. "Grrr…you're going to pay dearly for this humiliation." Hatred boiled in his veins and anger was set deep in his eyes, "Pull that cursed mace out and let's go!"
Carly laughed, her emerald eyes as matching the cold hatred in Johnny's, "You are so naïve." She tightened the arrow and released, "Go to hell!" The arrow ripped through air and sank into the huge soldier's neck and he crumpled on the ground, dead and a shocked look on his face. There was gasps from both sides, Johnny's dark soldiers and Carly's cavalries. Johnny looked especially pale and angered.
"You'll regret that!" Johnny snarled, lighting burning black flames on his hands, "Pelekta yassen runya!" (Flame Strike!)
Carly watched in horror as black flames burst from the knight's hands and hurled against village houses, burning them to ashes in mere seconds. Screams of terror and fright could be heard around the village. "STOP TERRORIZING MY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!" In rage, she fired an arrow at him and missed.
Johnny ducked to one side, "You asked for it, you stupid girl! Pelekta yassen runya!!!" More burning black flames whizzed past Enrique and Carly, crashing down more houses and lighting trees on fire which burned faster than ever. Carly cried out as a flame ripped past her waist, tearing her the side of her cloth and burning her skin. Falling on her knees in pain, she glared at Johnny through hated eyes.
"Carly!" Enrique rushed to her aid, supporting the princess as best he could.
Johnny smirked, "What's the matter Tariena? Can't handle the heat?" Flames were still dancing hotly on his hands, "Can't you feel the power? Feel what I control. If you were smart, you'd give up right now."
"Oh yeah?" Carly struggled on her feet, "Taunt me all you like, you'll never defeat Ithildin. Keep your honor, your word, and leave now."
Johnny spun around, his cape flying in the wind, "Very well. I will be back Tariena, be prepared."
"Carly," Enrique said urgently, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Carly breathed, "It's burning, really badly. And bleeding too, must've cut too deep…ohhh…come on, let's go back, Flora will know what to do."
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"Oh Carly, this will be the death of you!" Flora said, busily, applying a gently salve on the wound which had turn an unpleasant black. "What were you thinking? Killing his soldier after he had admitted defeat. You'll turn just as bad as he is, you should've kept your word and let them leave quietly."
Carly stared angrily out the window, "Why should I be honorable towards him? He would've killed me."
"But you don't know that," Flora said patiently, smiling sadly, "This will have disgraced yourself Carly. If you had just let him go peacefully, you wouldn't have been hurt nor would the village have been attacked."
Carly pounded the table with her fist, "I don't care."
"And what have you gained from this recklessness? Nothing." Flora said gently.
"His hurt pride is enough," Carly spat, "What does honor mean to him?"
"Because good or bad, you know that honor is still importable," Flora said practically, turning around to put away her supplies, her pretty brown hair tumbled down in waves behind her.
Carly sighed, she didn't know how Flora did it, but even though she was the same age as her, or perhaps only a few months older, she was always completely reasonable and self-righteous. She always had answers to everything and was perfectly mature and soft-spoken. Carly envied the way she was able to express her opinions without creating a national riot, her, on the other hand, said it bluntly enough to create a kingdom war.
"There, just don't go opening that wound again and it should heal in time," Flora said with a smile.
Carly smiled back, "It's a good thing I have you looking after me."
"Nonsense Carly," Flora said, "I'm sure you would've done fine on your own. I do wish you'd be more careful in your fights though. Don't be so eager."
"Flora, do you know what Pelekta yassen runya means?" Carly asked absent-mindedly.
"No," Flora shook her head, "It doesn't sound like any language I've ever heard before, pelkie what? Never mind, I can't say it, you say it as if you've spoke the language before."
"Oh, no way, I heard the Nonda`Kanoste say it and it stuck, I guess," Carly replied with a shrug, "Where's Enrique? I'll ask him!"
Flora pondered for a moment, "I do believe he went to pay the lovely young sorceress whom he rescued yesterday a visit."
"Why am I NOT surprised?" Carly groaned. She hopped down and briskly headed for the other room, "If he's doing anything, uh…let's just say inappropriate, I'm going to have his head! If he was so eager with his studies as he is with courting young women, I'd be ecstatic."
"Your Majesty," a guard hurried over, "There's someone at the castle gate, should we let him in?"
"Someone?" Carly said, giving the guard a questioningly look, "Not the Nonda`Konaste, I hope." Her burn hurt at the mention of the arrogant knight.
"No, someone else, he claimed to be from a wanderer and said he was seeking shelter," the guard replied.
"Very well, disarm him completely, and I mean COMPLETELY, check for hidden weapons and let him in," Carly said, "I'll meet him in the ballroom."
"Yes, your Majesty," the guard bowed and hurried away.
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Carly was sitting, looking through pieces of parchment when the door opened and two guards led a young man inside. She observed him carefully, he had red hair with two strands that fell in his face and the most startling blue eyes she'd ever seen. Tall, strong and silent, Carly knew at once that this was another warrior.
"Weapons?" Carly asked, standing up.
"A chain mace, a few knives and darts," the guard said, dumping them all on the floor.
"Oh," Carly said, looking into the young man's aqua eyes, "You are preparing to kill someone?"
He smiled innocently at her, "Not recently, but it doesn't hurt to be careful."
No accent, definitely not from neighbouring kingdoms. Perhaps, he WAS a wanderer. Carly casually leaned against the wall, "No, it doesn't, which is why I hope you don't mind being disarmed. Could you please take off those daggers hidden behind your cape? Standing before me, armed, is not a good idea." There was something peculiar about this man, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
The young man looked mildly surprised and slowly took off his daggers, letting them fall to the floor with a bang, "My apologies, I did not realize this Kingdom was so heavily guarded. The other kingdoms that I've been to-"
"This IS the last Kingdom standing," Carly said in a frosty voice, feeling rage burn up at the thought of the Nonda`Kanoste. She reached down and picked up a dagger, testing the blade against the floor, then quick as a whip, she threw it so that it landed squarely in the middle of the wall. She smiled in satisfaction when she saw the startled look on the man's face, it was always good to give off a little first impression. "Very sharp, nice blade."
The man nodded slowly, his eyes were guarded and uneasy now, "Thank you, one of my favorites if I might say."
"And what is your business here?" Carly asked, standing up again.
"I wish to speak to the ruler," the man said in a more certain voice, "If that is possible."
Carly hid a smile, it had always been strange to her how no one ever assumed that the ruler would be her. "Excellent, glad we're both on the same premise. My name is Carly Tariena Algos and I am the ruler of Ithildin. Would you please state your name and origin."
"You're the ruler?" the man looked really surprised now, he seemed at the loss of words.
Right after that, there was a loud crash and a gasp. Carly and the young man both looked up to see a flustered Flora. Carly looked from Flora's pale face to the glass she had smashed accidentally on the floor. "Flora, whatever is the matter with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Flora was staring at the young man who was looking back at her with a puzzled expression on his face, "Oh Lord…Tala! Tala, it's you! You came back!!"
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Hope you liked that! Yay, Tala is in the house!!! Remember to review!! I've got some other news, my site is co-owning a forum with two other Beyblade sites, so if you like joining forums and talking with others, that kind of stuff, check out Ty Kamara, the link is below. Hope to see you there!!! ^_^ Review please! Laterz!
PS: If you like Beyblade, check out my site @ www.destinatiobeyblade.tech.nu
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