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Author's Note: Firstly, because my response to reviewers are sometimes too long, I'm putting them at the end of the chapter from now on, lol! Aaaaaaaah, you still won't find out who the new warrior is, I tried to fit it in, but the chapter was getting to be too long so I cut it off and saved it for next time. Maybe I didn't describe him too well because most of you weren't able to guess it…I'm pretty sure that he has those color eyes, I specifically stared at his picture for half a minute to come to the conclusion that it was navy bluish. More battle scenes as a result of Johnny's appearance, can they handle what he dished up this time? ^_^ Thank you all who reviewed! *glompz*
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Chapter 6: First Defeat
"Pelekta yassen runya!" The silence and darkness of the night was awakened by the full-fledged force of a enormous flame attack. The black flames licked at the buildings, creating a small flame path leading from one house to the other. Candles and lanterns were being lit down along the road and the air of panic hung, suspended in midair. People were screaming and scrambling for cover, parents covering their young ones while stumbling to escape.
Amethyst eyes lit up wickedly and he stood on the top of the Ithildin gate, "Now this is what I love…total chaos. It's wonderful." Johnny swept back his black cape carelessly, letting it flap with the direction of the wind, grinning at the sight of the panicking people, "So weak…Ithildin is so weak…" He turned his head to see a few gate guards hurrying over to the commotion, no doubt to investigate the riot. Looking over his shoulder at his army of soldiers, he casually snapped his fingers. At this command, the soldiers immediately galloped through the gates on their midnight black horses, pulling out their weapons. Johnny smirked as his soldiers did quick work to the guards, listening to the sounds of screams and cries for help. He held up his hand, letting black fire flare up, "Pelekta yassen runya!" He hurled the black flames down at the monastery.
Horrified screams came from the people as part of the ancient and respected church crumbled. Johnny leaped from his spot on the gate tower to the height of the church, slamming his axe into the ropes of the church bell, laughing as the heavy ton bell crashed down on the ground beside the church, loosening more rumble and junk. Grabbing a loose rope, Johnny slid down on the ground, smirking widely and ignoring the screams of people all around him as his soldiers terrorized the village. He was just about to enter through the church's magnificently ivory carved doors when he heard the sound of a weapon being raised from behind. Whipping his axe skillfully behind him, he caught the guard straight in the stomach. Johnny snickered when the guard fell on the ground, dead, blood trickling from his mouth. He strode in the monastery, almost in a casual manner.
A priest was praying inside, oblivious to the commotion on the outside and the fact that the church was half collapsed, also ignored the entrance of the knight.
"You foolish old man," Johnny said in spite, "Leave now while you still have the chance. Save yourself. I don't have patience for this kind of foolishness."
"It is you who are the fool," the priest said wearily, "To disturb the peace of our land, where peace is all that we desire."
"Oh really?" Johnny snickered, "There ain't no such thing as peace in this universe, you old fool. So stop living up to your illusions, it's time to face reality." And without warning, Johnny blasted black fire from his hands, destroying the chairs and part of the wall. Rubble came tumbling down on the floor, cracking the beautiful stained glass windows and marble ground.
The priest didn't move as the monastery materials began crumbling down on him, "This monastery provides comfort and peace to the Ithildians, it is wrong to destroy it."
"Listen here, I don't care what this cursed place is good for, it's all going," Johnny said with a wicked grin, "And I will get what I want."
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Meanwhile, within the warmth of the Ithildin castle dining room, Carly was trying not the throw up while eating her dinner. The princess sullenly poked her food with her fork; the slash of pain from her wounded side brought the disgusted reminder of the Nonda`Kanoste. She shifted her emerald eyes to watched Enrique, cringing as the playful blond boy was doing everything to charm Aquana from telling wild stories and surprising her with flowers and such. Groaning softly at the scene beside her, Carly forced herself to look away, she never felt quite comfortable when she was in the presence of Enrique's courting…it was too…early. Then there was Tala and Flora, Flora was talking a lot, way too much for Carly's liking. Carly suspected that Flora was trying to get Tala to speak, but he barely looked at her and said no fewer than four words, "Please pass the salt." Other than that he merely nodded at whatever she said, but Carly could feel his eyes boring into her. It was highly unpleasant and Carly didn't like it one bit, unknown to anyone, she had hidden an instant dart in her pocket, should she ever need it.
"Oh really?" Aquana said, her eyes shining, "I've never seen stars from as far north as that before, are they as magnificent as the stars here?"
Enrique nodded, his hazel eye sparking roguishly, "Even more, their beauty is dazzling, like that of yours."
Aquana blushed and Carly suppressed a groan, this was torture, it was cruel torture. She didn't know how much of this sugary, flirty conversation her stomach could stand to listen to. With a short, but firm clang, she laid down her plate and stood up.
"Carly? Are you done?" Flora asked, looking surprised, "But you just sat down ten minutes ago."
Carly forced a smile, "I'm not hungry. I think I'm going to go get some rest."
"Your wound didn't reopen, did it?" Flora asked shrewdly, her silver eyes piercing into the princess's.
Carly wanted to strangle her for, not only mentioning the wound which led to a painful pride reminder of the Nonda`Kanoste, but also for mentioning it in front of Tala. She still thought that he was corrupted, and she wasn't prepared for him to find out any weakness whatsoever about her yet. "No. It's fine. Excuse me." Carly headed towards the door, she could feel Aquana and Tala's eyes on her, each with a different purpose. Aquana's were genuinely concerned while Tala's drew out a small flash of triumph. Even with her back turned and hand on knob, Carly could still hear Flora and Enrique's hushed whispers.
"Lay off Enrique, she's probably just tired," Flora hissed, "Don't go there."
"You heard her, didn't you? Did she not ask you what that weird attack meant?" Enrique whispered back, "And she spoke it with perfect tongue too, you don't suppose…"
"No I don't Enrique!" Flora said sharply.
"Don't suppose what?" Carly demanded, ignoring both surprised glances from Aquana and Tala, "Is something going on here that I don't know?"
Enrique smiled winningly, "Never mind Carly, it's not important."
"Don't give me that Enrique. Especially not that innocent-looking smile, I'm not going to swoon at your feet like you can do with other girls." Carly snapped, "If there's something up, I want to know as soon as –" She paused when she heard a loud commotion outside, "What the hell –" The others fell silent and listened intently as they heard shouts from the guards and someone running nearer, there was the crash of armor and the sound of rapid footsteps approaching fast. Consciously, Carly put her hand on the dart hidden in her pocket just as the doors burst open.
A young man stumbled inside, his maroon hair a complete mess and his deep ocean blue eyes urgent. When he saw Carly, he gasped, "Please – your Majesty, I –" He was interrupted by the guards who tackled him from behind, wrestling to grab his arms and hold him firm. From behind Carly, Enrique stood up with his weapon ready, Aquana and Flora just looked puzzled, but Tala knocked his chair down with a clang and made to go forward.
"Release him at once," Carly ordered, shaking her head, //Oh great, another warrior, I swear that this kingdom is plagued by Hell. Wonder what this one wants…if it's the Imperium Gem, I'm going to blow up…//
"But your Majesty," the guard protested, "He's not authorized to enter, he snuck in and –"
"I didn't KILL anyone!" the warrior snapped, still gasping for breath, "I need to talk with –"
"I said release him!" Carly said in softly dangerous voice. She nodded at the man when the guards reluctantly released his arms with much regret, "Your purpose here is…? It is against the law to enter without being invited."
"Forgive me, your Majesty," the young man said, his eyes flickering for a brief moment at Tala, "But you're under attack! On my way here, I saw a band of black soldiers heading for the monastery!"
Carly heard Enrique's sharp gasp from behind her and felt as if she was plunged into horror, "Not the monastery. Curse! Two strikes in one day!" Without waiting, Carly zipped out as fast as she could for the stables, shouting instructions as she went, "Send 20 cavalries to the monasteries at once, seal off the Ithildin gates, close all doors!!…"
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"I was wondering when you were going to show up Tariena. I was waiting…" Johnny said mockingly, his eyes glittering wickedly, "What's the matter? Past your bedtime?"
Carly swallowed her fury as best she could and surveyed the surroundings with a sinking heart, most of the village had burned and was continuing to burn thanks to the curse of the black flames. She recognized the broken and cracked bell as the one which once hung at the top of the church and with a regretful heart, she admitted to herself that the monastery was no longer standing. The wonderful church with its stained glass windows and marble walls, the inside had been filled with glorious paintings and wondrous sculptures and the bell had sang happily above. Clenching her fists in hot anger, hatred blazed in her eyes as she stared upon the Nonda`Kanoste.
"Oh come on, don't be upset," Johnny said in sneering tone, "I would've thought that you would take it better than this. It was only a church."
"Only a church…?" Carly said, her voice shaking in anger, "ONLY???" The causality and smirk on the knight's face made anger choke up in Carly's throat, making it hard for her to speak.
Johnny smirked, "You might as well get used to it Tariena, I'm taking this place down bit by bit. Piece by piece, pretty soon, all your encouragement won't be able to hold it up."
"Says you, bastard!" Carly snarled, "How dare you attack the monastery…when you go to Hell…"
"I look forward to it," Johnny sneered, with another evil grin, "After, I get what I desire."
"Princess…" a weak voice said from the ground.
Carly bent down hurriedly and took the old priest's hand, "Oh no…tell me he didn't hurt you."
"He is strong…he has borrowed powers from those with great power…" the priest said weakly, "It is near impossible to defeat him. And you…you are so young princess, this great burden was not meant to be cast upon you."
Carly shook her head, "No, don't, wait, please! You're only wounded a bit, Flora can heal you, you'll be okay…"
"Don't be foolish princess," the priest continued faintly, "I am old and naught but useless. Perhaps this is the end of Ithildin, but keep fighting till the end…if Ithildin should fall, it will fall in glory." With that, the priest fall unconscious.
"He's not dead yet, Flora!!" Carly shouted, "Get over here, quick!!"
Flora hurried over, "Oh dear, he's got a deep wound, I hope I am able to heal him." She hurriedly started to unpack all her potions and salves as fast as she possibly could, while Carly stood up, anger blazing in her eyes.
Johnny just sneered and looked behind him, his soldiers were fighting off the blond knight that he remembered. Scowling as Enrique's sword sent them all flying, Johnny aimed a hurl of black flames at him, sending Enrique smack against the wall.
"Why you!" Enrique growled, anger bursting in his voice.
"Don't interfere," Johnny said with a snicker, "Not like you'll do much good, but just to be safe…" Johnny blasted out flames from his palm, surrounding Enrique in neck-high blazing flames. Enrique desperately tried to escape the hot hearth that surrounded him, but his sword was useless against the elements.
"What's the matter?" Johnny jeered, "Too hot to handle?"
"Enrique!" Carly cried, lunging forward.
"Oh no Tariena," Johnny drawled, "Don't move. If you do, I shall have to kill that priest, if he weren't dead already. Let's see what your top knight can do against the rage of black fire." His lilac eyes blazed cruelly.
Carly stopped short, the color draining from her face as she watched Enrique frantically trying to escape a burning death.
"Stop it!" a voice called shrilly from the rooftop, her aqua eyes blazing, "You've hurt enough people! You shouldn't even be allowed to walk upon the land."
Johnny glanced up, irritated for being interrupted and scowled again at the girl, exactly what he was looking for, more girls. Suddenly recognition lit his eyes, he grinned wickedly at Aquana, laughing mockingly, loud enough for it to ring across the village, "You survived. Why, I'm surprised."
"My survival will be your death fall," Aquana snarled.
"I didn't destroy Lanthir," Johnny told her with a little smirk, "You and I both know who did, don't we?"
"You'll pay for that!!" Aquana shrieked, "Not another word! Nen Hithoel!! (Water Mist!)" A misty substance poured from her hands and from it, the vapor quickly simmered the fire around Enrique to nothing.
"You think your pathetic attempts to stop me will succeed??" Johnny laughed, "You're even more delusional that I thought. You may have put out my fire, but it hardly matters. "Pelekta yassen runya!"
Enrique yelled out and Aquana screamed as the roof of the house she was standing on burst up into flames, collapsing into a pile of flaming rubble. "Aquana!!!!!!!!" Enrique yelled, anger flashing in his hazel eyes, "I'll kill you for that!"
"Try it," Johnny challenged.
"Get out of my kingdom," Carly said in a threatening voice, "I said get out!" She stood up, clutching her longbow in her hand, "You pathetic excuse for a human, you do not deserve the life that has been so graciously awarded to you."
"It's only natural that you're mad, Tariena," Johnny said with a short laugh, "After all, I've gotten away with everything…and the last of the monastery." Mockingly, teasingly, he dangled the Golden Goblet from his gauntlet covered hand, catching a few moon rays as he swung the goblet around.
"Give that back!" Carly yelled, flicking a dart from under her sleeve at the knight, "You low, filthy, traitor!"
Johnny narrowly missed the dart, feeling it as it swept past his cheek. He chuckled, his eyes sparkling maliciously, "Oh, angry now, are we Tariena? I understand, don't worry, it's in safe hands."
"Don't you dare taunt me!!" Carly yelled, rage burning up in her voice and eyes.
"No," Johnny said with a slight smirk, "I'm too busy for that sort of thing. I'll see you next time! I'll look forward to it." With a sweep of his cape, he leaped up on the Ithildin walls with the Goblet, gloating down at the mess he created. The village was completely burned and some villagers were feebly putting out the little black fire that was remaining. The spot where the monastery once stood was reduced to nothing but unless rubble and the large church bell was cracked beyond repair. Flora was still treating the injured priest, glaring up at him in rage. Enrique, who looked like he would strangle anyone that came close to him, was bending over Aquana who was trembling in pain and throwing him a look of utmost loathing. And there was Carly, of course, the flaming, smothering hatred burning princess's eyes made the others seem like glances of pity. Snickering at the pathetic village, Johnny got ready to leap off again when a heavy spear whizzed dangerously past his face, ripping his cape. Enraged, Johnny glared down at Carly, ready with black flames bursting from his hands to strike her for her never-ending annoyances.
But Carly was staring at someone for the right, not noticing the Nonda`Kanoste at all. "Wait, don't – you don't know what you doing –"
Johnny spun to his right, expecting to see Enrique or Aquana, ready to defy him, instead, he came face to face with another young man he had never seen before. The moon lit his face in an eerie glow and Johnny could make out the stranger's navy eyes and maroon hair thanks to the light emitting from the lanterns on the ground.
"How dare you attack the monastery," the man said, his voice shaking in anger, "Have you no respect for the heavenly souls that roam in a place much higher than those of yours?"
"Listen you," Johnny said irritably, "I don't know who the hell you are and frankly I couldn't care less. You had better watch your mouth or I'll end up running your own spear through it."
"Just try it," the man said, clutching his spear ready in both hands.
"JUST LEAVE!!!!" Carly yelled, bursting out into a fury of arrows at the Nonda`Kanoste.
Johnny growled and leaped into the air, glaring down at the man with dislike, "I suggest you mind your own business. If we ever meet again, I shall slice your head off with my axe."
"I'll be looking forward to it," the man said grimly, looking annoyed that he didn't get a chance to have a go at the evil knight.
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"Hmm…interesting…" Tala mused thoughtfully to himself from watching in the shadows, "Very interesting…it seems that I'm not the only who's after the Imperium Gem, that does make things a tad more lively. Nonda`Kanoste, he's called…I wonder if he lives up that name? But, he has destroyed the Ithildin monastery, that's start, but it seems like he'll need to do more to dispirit the princess. Now that I've seen her fighting skills, I must be even more careful…ha…no need to worry about those two…" His ice blue eyes travelled from disgust at Enrique and Aquana and landed on Flora who was still busy healing the wounded priest. "A healer, so that's what she does. Silly girl thinks she knows me, but she will be useful in time." He glared at the figure on the top of the Ithildin gate tower, still brandishing his spear tensely, "You have come at a very inconvenient time, my friend. Your presence here will only complicate matters for me, you should've followed my orders and stayed home. I warn you, if you mess things up for me, you will be, indeed, very sorry."
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Thank you reviewers!! ^_^ Who's waiting for the holidays? ^_^?
Saffron: Glad you like, that's why I'm writing, hoping you will like! ^_~ *cough* I won't say anymore about Tala. ^_^ Also, your guess on the new warrior, well, all I can say is that if you love Michael, you'll be pleased. XD Yup a fight was done, and Ithildin lost. ;_; Ah well, reality is reality. XD
The Great Kuro Neko: Oh, okay! I knew there was something wrong with it. _ I LOVE Kane! *hugz him* All mine!!!!!!! I always record my TV so I can't miss! ^_^
Cry of the red phoenix: *blinks* Wow…two words, lol, sure was short! Sure!
Reicu: Lol, yeah, I go a little crazy sometimes. X_X I'm sane too, lol, well…partially anyways.
Spitfire-Zadien: Yayz, looooong review! Glad you got my email, but yeah, I don't really care, but it's not like I can change in the middle of my other fic. O.O *gulpz* Tala's not totally bad, so Zadien doesn't have to kill me yet. O_o I like Tala too, but not nearly as much as Flora does, lol, love his eyes tho! My language? You mean the elvish? From various sites around the WWW. Actually, Johnny and Carly should be equally matched, depending on which one of them breaks out of control from anger first. I hate snakes, they creep me out! Yeah, Johnny is MAD! I think Flora is a little too desperate, huh? ^_^U Sorry about the last hint about the new warrior, maybe I messed up with his eye color, but I'm pretty sure that's the color. ^^ Oh cool, you've read my other fic? It's not as great as this one, I think. _ When are you going to update, huh? ^_______^ *whistles*
Silver Swiftness: Wow, your twitching was scaring me and I thought that you were mad or something, lol! *nodz* Enrique is hiding something, wonder what, eh? I can't write Max, he's too hard to write. X_X I should add in Ozuma and Mariam…hmmm? I want to, but I don't want to confuse the readers with too many people.
RBMIfan: Yay, the mystery behind your name is SOLVED!!! Must I always be dramatic on things? -_-U no…but I felt like it! Questions will lead to eventual answers…I think…ha ha ha…forget I said that. X_X I like Malik! He's cool, but I don't understand why everyone seems to love Bakura? ?_?
Magical Soul: No, you ain't stupid, it wasn't much of a hint, but you're right, he does know more than he's saying and he IS doing it to protect Carly. Johnny attacked this chapter! *drumroll* Johnny's five encounters are nothing, there's going to be loads more that, okay, well not loads, but it'll only be the middle when he finishes up five items. Should I have said that? Doesn't matter, lol! Hope you'll keep reading till the end, I've got it all planned out in my head. XD! I can't wait winter break = no school and hopefully not much h/w!
ChRiSTiZ: Omg, you reviewed! ^_^! Yeah, you've probably read it tonz now. X_X Of course I thanked you! People deserved credit when credits are due, that's the way I've anyways seen it! Yay, you liked the title! XD Oops, must've skipped the 'laid' line. ^_^U Wow, you really DO read closely! O_o Aaaaah, I tried contacting for 5 days, but you never replied. O_o Email me if you read this okay? ;_;
Yin: Interesting!!!!! ^^ He IS interesting in an interestingly evil way, huh? Okay, that doesn't make much sense, lol! Does Flora seem…too desperate? I think so, lol, but she hasn't seen him in a long time. *cries* I must not describe him very well, cuz no one can figure out who he is. _
whisper*2*imaginary: Does Tala sound more evil that Johnny? O_o Actually, they're both evil evil, lol! Yeah, emoticons, lol! Lord Tala, I can't imagine Carly saying that, because it's a title, I tried typing it out and then I looked at it for a split moment and pressed the backspace button all the way! XD Johnny was evil against the Orc, because I thought that he was beginning to look like he was weakening, so I needed something to toughen him up a bit. He's not ready to be weakened yet. ^^ I always say update soon too, what else can you say? O_o
bimbo-blonde: You like the fact that he doesn't know her? XD Ah well, you should find out…um…in a long time? XD Better keep up those reviews so I can update faster. XD