A/N: It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's an update!
Kazooie: O.O Are you fricken serious?
Banjo: You've been neglecting this fic! (baps me)
OW! (baps him back with parasol)
Banjo: (dizzy)
Besides, I'm catching up with a longer chapter! W00T!
Kazooie: W00T!
Here it is!
The battle had come.
With my friends and the spirits' power at my side,
It was time for the spiritual confrontation
That I soon wouldn't forget.
The Amethyst Shamans: Chapter 15: The Clash of Hero and Demon
It was time to embark to the center of the island for the final showdown against the demon. The Amethystians watched in silence as their Protector and his comrades climbed into the Hag 1. Grumbling to herself, Gruntilda cranked up the drill and dug into the earth, beginning their subterranean journey to the demon's lair, through the glistening amethyst mines.
The ride there was quiet, except for the occasional chit-chats between bored comrades. Banjo sat in his seat nervously, anxious about the battle ahead. Kyra sat next to him, gazing over his Amethyst Sword in much interest as she turned it over in her paws.
It's a strong weapon,- she said through spirit-call to preserve the quiet. -And it's just your size as well. A short sword: a little over half the length of a normal sword.-
-Yeah, I could never lift a normal sword.- Banjo's eyes didn't waiver from the ground.
It can withstand more magical energy than a dagger, and the more noble the warrior wielding it, the more power it absorbs. Plus it's a sharp and well-balanced blade.- She handed it back to him. -The only weapon worthy of an Amethystian Shaman Warrior.-
Banjo slowly took the sword and sheathed it, the hesitant look on his face quite apparent. Kyra noticed this and took his sweating paw in hers.
Do not worry, Talmar. You are strong, I know you are. We all know you are. And we all have the up-most confidence in you, and you aren't alone. You were not and never will be alone.-
Banjo brought his gaze up to meet her eyes, comforted by her words as he smiled softly. -Thank you… Kyra.-
Their eyes reminded locked once more for a few more seconds before Banjo felt a movement behind him and a wing droop over his shoulders and gently touch the side of his face.
"Banjo, you okay?" Kazooie asked. "You're so pale…"
"Oh… just a little nervous, that's all," he replied weakly.
"Hey, you gotta be stronger than that, Banjo!" Kazooie exclaimed as quietly as possible. "I mean, this is the freak who killed your father! I expected you to be a lot angrier than this!"
"No, I can't let my anger consume me," Banjo sighed, glancing down at the sword around his hip. "The sword will turn against me like Kyra's dagger did."
"But the sword is different from the dagger," Kyra reasoned. "The sword will absorb your righteous anger and convert it into power."
Hearing this, Banjo lowered his gaze thoughtfully. That's when the digger lurched to an abrupt halt, much to everyone's confusion.
"Huh…? Why'd we stop?" Bottles asked.
Banjo shut his eyes ruefully and let out a soft breath, knowing the time had come. He stood firmly and turned to the door leading to the "cockpit" of the digger. Wordlessly, he pushed it open and approached a disgruntled Gruntilda, the others all following.
"Why'd we stop?" he asked without emotion.
"I don't know," muttered an agitated Grunty. "Maybe it's cause WE'RE THERE!"
Banjo climbed up and opened the top hatch, looking around their new surroundings. They were way below the amethyst mines, inside an underground cavern, huge and dark. Only the flickering flames from two large and suspicious bonfires provided any light. These bonfires flanked an even deeper cave, and unearthly, soft snarls and hisses came from within the endless black den.
"Aw, jeez, it reeks in here!" Kazooie choked. "What on earth just died?"
Fearlessly, Banjo climbed out of the hatch and leaped onto the soil, glancing into the pitch black den of the demon. Kazooie peered over his shoulder into the den fearfully, bracing herself.
As the others began to climb out of the hatch, Banjo turned and motioned with his paw to stop. "All of you stay back! It's me he wants!"
They did as they were told, staying near the Hag 1 as they watched anxiously. Banjo turned back towards the foul den, anger beginning to bubble up within him.
"That's right, demon, I know what you want! And you know why I'm here!" A hiss came from within, and Banjo nearly choked on the suffocating stench pouring out of the den. But he continued nonetheless. "Kazooie's right- you STINK of death! Savoring the Nine Protectors you slaughtered… Yet you're not satisfied, are you? You want me too, don't you? DON'T YOU?"
"Er… B-B-Banjo…" Kazooie stuttered fearfully as Banjo became angrier and angrier by the second.
Banjo picked up a stone and furiously chucked it inside, obviously hitting the demon as its hisses became louder and more threatening. "COME ON OUT! YOU TOOK MY FATHER, NOW TRY AND TAKE ME!"
Kazooie began shaking madly as the hisses became angry snarls that steadily got closer…
Banjo shook an angry fist. "DON'T THINK, JUST COME OUT, BLOODSUCKER! I'M WAITING!" He froze in horror. "I...!"
And that's when it decided to come out, leaping out of the shadows with an unearthly roar that rattled against their eardrums. Screaming in terror, the two dodged the nightmarish creature, and Banjo drew his sword, glaring hatefully as it came fully into the light.
A monstrous dragon it was, skin as bright as fire, with a serpentine body, big around as a sequoia tree, thrashing and coiling with malevolent power. Cruel talons sharp and strong enough to slice through steel dug into the soil as the chaotic beast let out another fiery roar, baring its glinting, sword-sharp fangs. Its horned frills flared as it leered down at its prey with piercing golden eyes. Banjo returned the glare, beginning to tremble violently in both contained fury and utter terror, as the golden orbs were like a doorway into its twisted, blood-crazed mind ablaze with the joy of slaughter.
The others watching hid behind the Hag 1 in horror. Kyra witnessed in terror as Tooty tightly and fearfully held her at the waist.
Once again, Banjo rolled out of the way as the Demon snapped viciously at them. "Kazooie! Flight Mode! NOW!" he ordered urgently.
Kazooie, though still shaken, outstretched her wings and with a few flaps, got her and her bear partner up into the air. There was plenty of flying space in this enormous cavern; after all, it had to fit the hideous, humungous Demon.
And thus the battle began. The duo was like an annoying fly to the Demon, but a strong, stinging one, for whenever Banjo swung the Amethyst Sword, a magical blast of purple light slammed into the Demon's skin. However, its scales were tougher than diamonds, as the blasts had no effect on it, and it countered with a swing of its claws or a snap of its jaws. Banjo countered with a defensive swing of the sword, having enough power to knock the Demon back again. But as the battle progressed, the Demon did not remain oblivious to its foe's fighting style, as the spectators below realized.
"The Demon's too fast!" Bottles gasped. "Banjo's wide open for attack!"
And that's when the Demon swung a claw, then the other, completely catching Banjo off guard. Its brute strength sent him into the wall painfully, and he fell down to the ground with a thud. As Kazooie turned him over, she gasped as she found three large gash marks across his chest and a weakening look on his face as the crimson blood flowed freely from the deadly wounds.
"BANJO!" everyone cried, rushing to his side. Except for Gruntilda, of course, who sat on the edge of the hatch, looking back and forth between the huddled group and the recovering Demon.
"He's heavily injured," Bottles explained frantically. "The wounds won't close up before he bleeds to death!"
Everyone gasped in horror. An incredibly frightened Tooty was turned away by Kazooie so the young bear couldn't see her brother dying, but the breegul found she couldn't look away from her dying friend, beginning to pray.
Somehow, someway, for some stupid reason, Gruntilda felt angered by her archrival's condition. She scowled up at the Demon viciously as it began to advance on the huddled group.
"Ohhhhhhh, nooo…" the witch growled dangerously. "Getting rid of the bear is MY job, and YOU AIN'T TAKING IT, YOU FREAK OF NATURE!" With that, she climbed into the Hag 1 and confronted the Demon with the equally brutish strength of her monstrous mechanical mud muncher.
During any other time, the others would've been in shock to see Gruntilda fighting on their side for once. But now, they barely noticed as they kept their attention on their dying friend.
"There is a way to save him," Kyra said sternly, looking to each one. "Remember what Father said? If we can offer our support and power to his sword, he can use the last of his power left to heal himself!"
They all looked at her, then down at the sword in Banjo's limp paw, then back up at her.
"I'm sure it'll work, as long as he uses his power to carry out the healing!"
As hope began to rise again, Kazooie quickly nodded. "Let's give it a try."
Of course, Banjo could not hear any of these voices as his senses began to slowly fade. His head slumped to one side, eyes half open, dilating as darkness began to creep at the edges of his vision. He could no longer hear anything, and everything seemed to move at half its normal pace.
Darkness consumed him, or had he simply closed his eyes? It didn't matter to him anymore… He prepared to let go, when suddenly…
Why are you giving in, Talmar…?
I can't do this… I'm not strong enough…
But Talmar, you are strong. Your friends believe in you. The Amethystians believe in you. I believe in you… my son…
F-F-Father…?
Look around you, Talmar. He obeyed the voice and forced his eyes open, a vision of his dearest friends appearing above him. Though their mouths were clearly moving, he couldn't hear a sound. All was quiet. These beings are willingly giving up their power, giving you their support… because they trust you. You cannot leave them behind.
Banjo looked up into their grim but determined faces as they all gathered around in their attempts to save him.
You promised them and the rest of the tribe that you would put an end to this new threat. Their hopes lie solely on you. I know it is easy to let go, but you can't let your people down. You can't!
…But the Demon… He's too strong…
He draws strength from your fears and anger. Only when you clear your mind of blind fury and hopelessness, will you discover for yourself a way to destroy him.
…Father…
Talmar, you must promise me… that you will live. Take your sword's hilt and accept the opportunity to live, then defeat the Demon in my place. Do not be afraid to use the powers given to you… I beseech you, my son… Don't give in…
"I promise, Father, I won't let you down…" Banjo muttered voicelessly as his paw took a solid grip on the weapon and he offered the last of his energy left.
"Look, it's working!" Kyra cried as the blade began to glow. They all watched and offered all their support as the sword's glow enveloped his injured torso. As the light died down, their faces brightened when they found the wounds had disappeared and Banjo giving then a weak smile.
"It worked! He's alive! Alive!" His beloved group of friends cheered happily as Tooty embraced him tightly, and Kazooie did the same, but even tighter. For a minute there, she thought she was about to lose her best friend.
Banjo willingly embraced his two loving girls, glad for their joy. Seeing the happiness clearly on their faces, he felt stupid for wanting to let go and leave them to grieve. He had not only his promise to live for, but also Tooty and Kazooie as well.
This moment of joy was interrupted when a heavy crash rocked the cavern. They all turned to see the Hag 1 hit the wall and tip over from an attack of the Demon.
"ARGH! YOU JERK! YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!" Gruntilda bellowed in rage.
Ignoring Grunty's predicament, Banjo looked up at the Demon, pushing aside thought of fear and anger. And then it struck him; the outside skin was impenetrable, but not the inside…
"Kazooie!" he exclaimed urgently. "Get back in Flight Mode! I have an idea!"
Hastily, Kazooie got back in the backpack and lifted him off the ground again. As the Demon recovered, it let out another fiery roar as they hovered in front of its snout, nearly blown away by the force of its toxic breath. Then Banjo raised his sword and swung a killer arc, striking the beast's golden eyes swiftly. It screeched it pain, drawing back to recover. It was now wide open.
"Kazooie! Beak Bomb Attack, into the mouth!" Banjo ordered. "Hurry!"
"WHAT?" Kazooie cried. "Are you insane?"
"Trust me!"
Kazooie braced herself, then with a shrill cry, sent herself and partner like a missile into the wide open mouth of the Demon and into the salivary throat. In response to this, it snapped its jaw shut and swallowed its prey whole in satisfaction.
The spectators below looked up in horror, rooted to the ground in cold fear. They were not be able to believe that they had just witnessed Banjo and Kazooie get eaten whole by the hideous, nightmarish monster.
Their horror turned to fear as the Demon turned its attention toward them, leering down at its new prey. It coiled up, ready to strike, but just as the group huddled together and just before it lunged, a bright light erupted under its fiery skin, around the stomach area. Everything stopped, even the Demon, whose instinct knew something was horribly wrong.
The frightened group below looked closely at the covered light, which was so bright that they could see the silhouette of the floating Banjo and Kazooie. They witnessed as Kazooie ducked into the backpack and Banjo raised the sword high above his head, readying for a final blow…
"TAKE COVER!" Bottles shouted frantically, and they all ducked behind the toppled Hag 1. They heard the Demon screech one last time, and a flash of light that would put the sun to shame followed, along with a massive explosion of magical power. Several splatters of gooey, purple fluids from within the Demon planted themselves everywhere. The Hag 1 provided as a good shield against the flood of innards, but they still got splashed with the few globs of goo that had been propelled over the digger from the blast. An incredibly foul and suffocating stink filled the cavern as the purple goop completely covered the soil walls.
Slowly, they crept out from behind the Hag 1 and looked at the aftermath of the last spell. No traces of the Demon (besides the goop) were left in sight. The place was suddenly quiet, and the evil aura felt by the magic-people had vanished. Banjo, fur and clothes drenched in purple fluids, hovered in the center, breathing hard and fixed in a bent-over position and grasping the sword's hilt in both paws at the end of his final blow. Slowly, Kazooie came out of the backpack, and he straightened up, looking exhausted. Finally, he groaned and dropped out of the air like a stone, landing on the ground once more with a thud. They all rushed to his side, looking him over for any abnormalities.
"I-is he okay?" Tooty asked, slightly scared.
"Banjo fine," Mumbo assured. "Just worn out; last spell very powerful!"
Kyra knew this as well, kneeling by the fallen Banjo and holding the back of his head up to look at the seemingly unconscious shaman-warrior ruefully.
Banjo was actually teetering on the edge of consciousness, his body sore and his mind tired. But he felt content, knowing that his task had been completed. The Demon was gone.
Well done, my son, his father's voice echoed in his mind. I knew I could believe in you. I'm so proud of you…
Thank you… Father… he responded, a smile crossing his lips dreamily.
-Talmar… Talmar, are you okay?- He could hear Kyra call out to him. Slowly opening his eyes, he locked eyes with the lovely Kyra once more. Though he was drenched in purple slime, though he smelled like a dead animal, though his whole body racked with pain, he smiled weakly.
-Couldn't be better.-
A/N: W00T! Yeah, this is why the rating went up.
Kazooie: But it's just a little blood…
I'm very cautious.
Kazooie: So I see.
Banjo: One more chapter, right?
Yes! YAY! Review, people!
