Chapter 12: Decisions
AN: The LAST CHAPTER! YAYNESS!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN BAYBLADE! ONLY MY OC'S!
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Two vary large guards dragged the rebels down to the dungeons, but no one could say that they didn't put up a fight; Kai struggled, kicked, scratched and even bit in an attempt to escape. Bryan, Zai, and Mariam all fought back just as hard but to no avail. But poor Max, who had never been captured before, was frozen and aloud the much larger guards drag him to a cell.
The head guard smirked and motioned to the others. Nodding the guards dragged Max and Mariam down one hall, Zai and Kai another and Bryan on his own.
Zai gritted her teeth as they threw her and Kai into a cell then cuffed there wrists to a pipe that ran along the roof. There toes scraped along the ground, putting all there weight onto there wrists.
The guards laughed and left them alone. Zai looked up and quietly asked "You ok?"
Kai nodded but said nothing. Zai sighed, but her face hardened when three large guards and a purple haired man entered the room. He looked at Zai then Kai, grinning evilly. In a smug voice he said "Beat the boy leave the girl untouched…for now."
Zai paled a little but Kai didn't even look up. The three guards all said "Yes Boris sir."
The three guards cackled and walked over to a defenceless Kai. Zai bit her bottom lip hard determined not to utter a word as they beat her boyfriend. The first guard hit Kai in the stomach with a closed fist, winding him.
He winced and the second guard smashed his fist into Kai's face, breaking his nose. His head snapped back and there was a sickening crack as his head hit the stone behind him.
The guards laughed and Zai had to grit her teeth to stay silent, knowing that any thing she said could end up hurting Kai more.
The third guard looked smugly at the younger male and laughed. He grabbed his face, blood from Kai's nose smeared on the guard's hand, and the guard slammed his head hard against the stone. Kai grunted in pain but still didn't cry out in pain or utter a word.
Kai's head swayed a little and with a grin a guard kicked him hard in the ribs, breaking one. Kai gasped in pain making the guards smirk and they continued to beat on his body.
One guard smirked and walked out of the room, leaving the others to beat on Kai. His blood was splattered on the walls and Zai had a bad feeling that what ever that guard was going to get was only going to cause Kai more pain.
Zai gasped a little at what she saw; the guard came back in caring a whip. Kai looked up threw his black eye and blood soaked hair. He just glared at the man but didn't say a word, but it felt as though his insides had turned to snakes. 'This is really going to hurt…' he thought to him self as the man raised the whip.
Zai bit her lip and jammed her eyes closed as the man brought the whip down onto Kai's body. She flinched when she heard the whip crack, and yet again Kai didn't even whimper.
He raised the whip again and Zai opened her blue eye and saw a long lash along Kai's chest that was bleeding badly. They brought the whip down again, harder this time, making Kai gasp in pain. Zai bit her lip and could feel tears weld in her eyes as they brought the whip down on Kai again…and again and again.
By the eight or ninth time they whipped him, Kai let out a pained filled scream that made they guards grin in satisfaction. But it didn't lessen there thirst for his blood, and they brought the whip down again, once again making Kai cry out in pain.
Kai breathing became ragged and his throat was horse from the screaming. The guards laughed and dropped the whip on the floor and un-cuffed Kai.
Beaten and broken Kai fell to the ground in a bloody heap. Zai bit her lip determined not to say a word. But no sooner had Kai hit the floor, did the guard start beating him again. They kicked him hard, spraying blood on the wall be hind him and on to there boots.
Zai's eyes began to water as she watched them hurt Kai…his blood painted the walls…his blood…
Zai couldn't take it any more; she just wanted them to stop hurting Kai. "Stop it!" she shrieked.
The guards all turned to look at her with a sickening grin. One than said "What's the matter? Don't like us hurting your little friend?"
The guards chuckled cruelly, and Kai slowly pushed himself up, holding his chest in pain. He looked up at Zai threw his bruised eyelids and shook his head from side to side. Zai bit her lip and tried to ignore the taunting guards.
After a wile the guards got board with trying to get another reaction out of Zai (which included beating on Kai some more) they left the room with the promise of coming back.
Once they closed and locked the door, Kai picked him self up and crawled over to Zai. He collapsed at her feet, laying his head by her feet. His breathing was deep and ragged, they had defiantly broken something…a rib at the vary most. Zai prayed that there was no internal bleeding, because it there was…there would be little hope for him…
Kai pushed him self up to his knees and looked up at Zai with pain filled eyes. A pool of blood was surrounding him and wile his eyes locked with hers, he seemed to read her mind. "Don't worry Zai there's only a broken rib, no bleeding inside."
Zai fought back a sob and she nodded a little. Kai smiled a little, his lips chapped and bleeding. He leaned against her; resting his head on her stomach he closed his eyes. Zai let the tears fall, wanting so badly to hold Kai tightly and help make the pain go away…comfort him in any way she could. But she couldn't, her hands were handcuffed to the ceiling… and at that vary moment she swore that those men would pay dearly…
A scream pierced through the eerie silence that made Zai's head snap towards the door. She winced and her face paled…that screamed belonged to little Max…
Oh yes they were going to pay…dearly…vary dearly…
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Bryan sat in a corner of his cell, quietly waiting for the guards to come have there fun with him. He had heard Max screaming in pain not long ago, and heard Zai scream. But it wasn't in pain, it was in anger. Obviously they had done something to Kai…something bad to make Zai lose her cool.
This meant, by process by elimination, he was next to get his beats. Sure enough four large guards came into the room and they grinned at Bryan. The guard stood and glared at his former comrades. 'Well this is bad…' he thought to himself.
The first two guards charged forward and Bryan easily dodged there attacks. He spun around and delivered a well placed kick to one of there chest's, smirking when he heard the satisfying sound of a rib cracking. But his victory was short lived and he was kicked hard in the stomach.
He doubled over in pain and another guard grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head into the wall. Bryan fell on to the floor, his head hurt like hell and the urge to vomit became vary well known.
Bryan felt someone pick him up from the scruff of his neck and lifted him up off the ground. A second guard began punching the almost defenceless ex-guard as hard as he could in the stomach.
But Bryan was not one to give up easily, and as the guard pulled his fist back to hit him, Bryan's leg snapped up, kicking him hard in the face. The guard's head snapped back, blood spattered the roof from his now broken nose.
He fell to the ground, holding his face in pain. Bryan grinned just before he was slammed hard into the wall once again, this time he was knocked unconscious.
The injured guard was helped to his feet and the four of them glared down at Bryan. "I never liked him…he was such a jerk. I can't wait to see them kill him in two days." One said.
"True, but for the next two days he and his little friends belong to us." Another cackled.
Laughing cruelly the guards left, leaving Bryan unconscious on the ground…
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Ray lay in his large, warm bed worrying what was happening to Bryan and his new friends right now. He sighed in irritation and rolled over, coming face to face with a sleeping Mariah. Ray frowned and turned away again so he faced the wall.
Ray sat up and scratched the back of his neck, lost in thought. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice a green haired boy tip toe into his room.
"Ray…" a voice whispered, making the said prince jump a little.
"Kevin! What are you doing here?" Ray whispered sounding surprised.
"I've come to tell you that this is all Mariah's fault! I know I should have told you sooner but Ray you can't trust Mariah! She was the one who told your father that you were with Bryan, and the one who told your father that Bryan had come back. It's all her fault!" Kevin said, forgetting to keep his child like voice down.
"Shh! Kevin be quiet, you'll wake Mariah! And…and don't worry about not telling me that Mariah was a bitch…I think I might have known." Ray sighed.
"Yeah…any way Ray you have to get them out of the dungeons! There going to be executed in two days and that's if they survive the torture of the guards!" Kevin exclaimed.
"Shh! Kevin I know, come on lets go let them out." Ray said softly.
Kevin nodded and followed Ray from the room. The prince glanced back once to make sure that Mariah was still sound asleep. He heard her murmur and snuggled back into the thick blankets.
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Zai looked down at Kai, who lay on the floor breathing softly. She had managed to convince him to lay down and sleep. But that had been a few hours ago and it had taken him time to fall asleep.
He claimed that he wanted to make sure that she was ok, but Zai had a feeling that it was the pain that was keeping him awake, and it was vary possible that he had passed out instead of falling asleep.
Zai sighed which was quickly followed by a yawn. Her own body told her to sleep but she refused to leave Kai unguarded. True, she could not physically do any thing to help him with her hands cuffed above her head, but she could warn him at the vary least.
She sighed again and muttered "There has got to be a way out of here."
She examined the dark blue and yellow bruises that were already starting to form on his body. But her head snapped up when she heard the door unlock, and her eyes hardened as the door was pushed open.
It was not who she thought it was going to be. She expected the person coming through the door to be one of the guards, but instead a young man came into the room. He was tanned, had long black hair and had large gold eyes.
"Your highness." Zai said coldly as Ray walked into the room, followed by a small green haired boy.
Ray nodded and said "I don't believe I caught your name."
Keeping her eyes narrowed and her voice cold she said "Zai, now what do you want?"
Ray carefully walked towards her and when he got close enough to her, she jerked away violently, bringing her left leg up to put something between her and him. Ray bit his lip and said "I'm not going to hurt you, I only want to help."
Zai eyed him suspiciously but seeing no other choice, she slowly lowered her leg and allowed Ray to get close to her. Ray cautiously approached the almost defenceless and vary irate rebel and unlocked her wrists.
She fell to the ground, landing on her feet easily. She rubbed her sore wrists wile glaring at Ray. A low growl built its way deep in her throat and she slowly crouched down, gently picking up Kai so that he sat up.
"It's ok Kai, its time to wake up." She said softly wile giving his a light shake.
Kai's bruised eyes slowly opened and he muttered something unintelligent before closing his eyes again. Zai sighed and she couldn't help but glare up at Ray a little. The said prince looked away and shuffled a little looking at the ground. "I…I'm sorry I didn't mean for this to happen. I really didn't. And…and I want to help you…so come on we don't have much time, the guards will be back soon."
Zai looked up surprised and said "What? Why are you helping us?"
Ray looked back and said "You help Bryan…so I have to help you. I at the very least owe you your freedom. So…will you need help with him?"
Zai blinked and she couldn't help but smile just a little. She shook her head no and said "No, I'll be fine I think Bryan may need your help more."
Ray nodded and Zai said "You go free my friends Max and Mariam then go help Bryan."
Ray nodded again and quickly left the room with the green haired boy at his heals. Swallowing, Zai pulled Kai's arms around her shoulders and put and arm around his waist and hoisted him to his feet. She staggered slightly under his weight but quickly regained her balance.
Clearing her throat she said "Kai, I need you to open your eyes and walk for me."
Kai moaned and slowly opened his crimson eyes. He blinked at her, his eyes watering in pain. "I know you're hurting now but you have got to walk with me ok?"
Kai nodded and closed his eyes again but managed to stay on his feet. Slowly the pair made there way out of the cell and into the hall way. Max was leaning against the wall with Mariam crouching beside him whispering comforting words to him.
"How's he doing?" Zai asked, her throat swore.
Mariam sighed and said "A little beaten but he'll live, how 'bout Kai?"
"Broken bones mostly, no internal bleeding as far as I can tell." Zai said looking Max up and down.
Mariam sighed and pulled Max into a hug and said "Do you think we can trust Ray?"
Zai's eyes wandered to the door and said "I think we can. He seems caring, and cares a lot for Bryan. But be on your guard we never can be too careful."
Mariam nodded and helped Max to his feet wile looking to Bryan's cell, where Ray currently was.
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Ray tip toed into the cell and frowned when he saw Bryan's beaten form laying on the floor; he felt tears well in his eyes. He rushed over to Bryan, and pulled his guard into his lap.
"Oh Bryan…I'm so sorry…so sorry." Ray muttered, repeating the same apology over and over again.
A gentle hand placed it self on his cheek making the prince freeze. He looked down and gasped to see Bryan looking up at him. "I thought you were with Mariah." Bryan said, but it was strained and it sounded like he was having a hard time staying awake.
"Oh Bryan!" Ray sobbed pulling the lilac haired man to his chest. Bryan sighed and wrapped his arms around Ray, happy that his tiger had come back.
"You didn't answer my question." Bryan said more coldly than he meant to.
Ray took a sharp breath and said "I…I wanted you to be safe…I don't love Mariah the way I love you. That's why I told you to leave. If any one knew you were alive you would have been killed. But now they do know you alive and you are going to be killed. So now I'm fixing my mistakes. Lets get out of here; I'll come with you…if you still want me to come."
Bryan smirked and nodded saying "Of course you fool! You think I'd come this far just to say no."
Ray laughed a little and he helped Bryan to his feet. The pair made there way to the hall and smiled. Kevin was helping Zai with some of Kai's wounds. "I'm glade that Kevin is being a help for once rather than a pain in the ass."
Zai smirked and said "Well most little brother like figures are."
Kevin glared at her as she helped Kai to his feet. "Don't look at me like that!" Zai said jokingly, than said "Let's go home."
Nodding Ray led them down the hall, towards the stairs. Kai, Max and Bryan had to be helped the whole way. "We're almost there." Ray whispered back to the others as they climbed the first flight of stairs, and froze.
There staring back at them was a very angry Mariah. "Why am I not surprised! No matter what I fucking do you always seem to mess it all up!" she spat angrily at Bryan.
"I mean all you had to do was disappear for ever and you couldn't even do that! You had to come back so I had to get you arrested!" she shrieked.
"You! You were the one who caused all this!" Ray snapped back.
"Who else?" Mariah snapped.
"Ok would some one hit her already!" Zai snapped from behind Ray, still helping Kai stay on his feet.
"I can't, she's a girl! I can't hit a girl." Bryan sighed.
Sighed Zai let go of Kai, allowing him to lean against the stone wall wile Zai marched forward. Mariah barley had time to open her mouth to tell the young rebel leader off before the angry girl balled her hand into a fist and punched Mariah in the face. She grinned when there was a satisfying crack as her dainty little nose was broken in two.
She gasped and fell down the stairs landing in a painful heap at the bottom. She started cursing at the rebel who hit her, wile Zai grinned triumphantly. The boys all just stood there in shock; there mouths hung open a little wile they stared at her.
"What? The bitch had it coming!" Zai snapped.
She walked back to Kai and helped him back to his feet wile he was shaking his head at her. "What!" Zai snapped.
Kai sighed, sounding vary tired and said "Nothing Zai…lets just get out of here."
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After leading the rebels from the castle, Ray led them to the stables were the horses that had been confiscated from them, had been brought. After a quick saddle up the small group headed out of the castle gates (getting through easily because of Ray and Ray alone) and into the cold night air…
Bryan was passed out, leaning against Ray, much in the same way Kai was leaning on Zai and Max on Mariam. Clearing his throat Ray asked "Are you sure you want me to come with you…I mean I could cause you so much trouble."
The horses walked calmly down the dirt road, snoring and neighing softly. Max and Kai's horses (which Kevin was happily ridding) were tied to Zai's and Mariam's and they were all looking forward to getting home. Zai smiled and said "Ray we just went through hell to get to you. You really think we'd send you back now! Besides I think we might give Bryan a heart attack if we did."
Ray laughed and they passed around a lake. All they had to do was get around the lake and they'd be in the clear. They would be in the forest and have the cover of trees. "We're almost to safety, just a little further." Mariam said, still holding tightly to Max.
Ray smiled and nodded, but froze when he heard a twig snap. For the second time that night they found them selves surrounded by guards. "Damn it." Zai muttered darkly as she glared at the guards.
"Mariah was right, they did kidnap the Prince." One guard said.
"What! I was not kidnapped I command you all to go home!" Ray snapped.
"Mariah said that he'd say something like that." Another guard said.
"They did something to his mind…"Another said.
Zai pulled her horse, Hurricane, back so that his hooves were at the edge of the water. Kai opened his bruised eyes and muttered "Damn…"
"Well now what do we do?" Ray asked in a hushed voice as he and Mariam followed Zai to the edge of the lake.
Just as it looked its bleakest and just as the guard moved in to kill the rebels and 'save' Ray, Max said "This is the mutant turtle's lake."
"Max this is no time to be playing! There is no such thing as a mutant purple turtle." Zai hissed, glaring at the guards.
Weakly Max smiled and said "Sure there is, look. Draciel please help us."
Suddenly the water behind them began to bubble and something large began to emerge from the lake. Kai's jaw dropped and muttered "No way…no fucking way…"
What came from the lake was indeed a huge, purple turtle. It looked at Max's condition and it hissed at the shocked guards. Kai, who was still in a state of shock, said "Max…is this the giant turtle you're always going on about!"
"Of course, he's my friend. He'll help us." Max said, looking very tired.
"Max…this isn't a mutant turtle you fool…you've befriended a water spirit…a powerful one at that." Kai said still in shocked.
Max grinned and said "Told ya they were real…"
"Well I'll be…" Kai said shaking his head.
Draciel was still glaring at the guards and stood on his hind legs. He roared at the scared guards and a jet of water shot out of the lake attacking the guards. Draciel winked at Max, who smiled back.
Zai shook her head saying "Unbelievable…" and with that the rebels and the prince slapped there horses rains and they quickly disappeared into the night…
Draciel made a purring sort of sound and sunk back into the lake, all that was left was a gurgle of bubbles and he too was gone. Leaving a group of scared, shocked and soaking wet guards behind, that now had a hell of a story to tell when they got home…
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They rode all night, all the way back to the small rebel village. They rode until the sun came up, painting the sky a beautiful pink and yellow. Ray held Bryan close to his chest and sighed happily. They would finally be happy.
The rebels all smiled and Zai said "Well prince welcome to your new home."
She hugged Kai close to her body; a faint smile graced his face. Max too was sound asleep in Mariam's arms, the nights events had tired them out. Much like it had Bryan, but time healed all wounds. And there's would too.
"Please call me Ray." he said with a smile.
Zai smiled back and said "Ok then. Welcome home Ray."
Ray smiled and looked towards the small but happy looking village. In the not so distance a red headed boy was jumping up and down waving frantically to them. He was yelling some thing, but because of the distance no one could really understand him. But it sounded a long the lines of 'Welcome home, what took you so long.'
Ray's smile widened and Bryan leaned up and kissed Ray on the chin. "You'll like it here, it's peaceful."
Ray smiled and said "Ya…home." He then kissed Bryan on the head and followed Zai into the village.
The sun began to rise higher over the village, and Ray couldn't help but think 'A new day, a new being…with my guard. Let's let life begin…finally…'
Ray kissed Bryan once again and followed Zai as she greeted the red head boy named Tala and he led them into the village…his new home…
THE END
AN: I'm done! At long last! And it's once again sappy but I don't care! Any way I would like to thank every one who has re-viewed and re-re-viewed! I thank you all for reading my story and hope that you read more of my stories in the future! For those of you who have read Blood Moon, the sequel is mostly planned out and should be under way soon! (I just want to finish writing Toy Soldiers) So thank you all for reading Guardian Ship!
Sincerely
AcidGreenFlames (AGF )