The Darkened Sanctum

X: "Singing The Last Gospel…"

"But-" Ryu grabbed his sword and backed up with Nina still in his arms, "But you said-"

"I know what I said," Vyzhit's voice boomed across the small cavern, making loose snow and ice drift from the ceilings, "And I still hold to it- my body may perish in the deep but my soul will release at the surface; I have just the transport to do so! Children of the darkened sanctum, do as I have asked of you or I will force you into sparing your own lives at the cost of mine!"

Ryu stared up in disbelief, then noted Cheryl was still near the great dragon- dropping the sword, yet still holding Nina close, he tried to run in to grab the girl. As he was to wrap an arm around her wrist, the torn wing came across him and Nina hard, both skidding across the ice. Ryu came to a halt first and instantly scooted back to Nina, helping her upright- scooping her up, he got shakily onto his feet and shouted, "You can't keep that girl! She needs to go-"

"She will return to the faeries with a new breath in her chest, a new lung to hold that precious air. 'Til I am brought to the surface this child is mine… unless you destroy me first!"

"Fine, anyhow," Lin whipped out her gun, loaded it, then took aim, "I HATE DRAGONS!"

The shot hit a scale, which promptly fell off the neck of the dragon, the dull silver piece being ignored by the rather unmoving dragon. Determined, Lin took another stab at it and fired; with a spurt, she hit the creature in the neck where scales had been rubbed away, with very little effect.

"More effort… show me your powers; I know you possess hate for me, Odjn, bring it forth and let your breath tear me asunder!"

"Unnngh!" Ryu stumbled back, the fiery rage welling up inside of his body. He accidentally dropped Nina as he backed away, holding his head. He could see the black coloration swallow him, and with the last breath of his humanity, he screamed, "This isn't what I want to do!"

Exploding into flames, melting the ice underneath him into a small pool, the dragonized man moved away from the group, but was still facing the great dragoness. She smiled, fangs bared, slowly lowering head to be level with him, "Show yourself the power you can unleash, demon…!"

The heat within his body grew into the hundreds of degrees, Ryu drawing in a large amount of air. Reforming into pure energy within his soul, he lurched forward and shot out a massive glowing beam; knocked back by his own power, he came to a halt by digging his claws into the ice. Looking up, smoke billowing from his mouth, he could see Vyzhit standing with a large hole straight through her body.

The ice behind her, and directly around her had been instantly melted into boiling water, steam rising from the surface. Body torn asunder, one could clearly see through to the wall, Vyzhit's heart momentarily stirring, but going still. Her great head and neck came down from the air and hit the floor, causing the room to shake, everyone bouncing up once due to the vibrations. Blood spread out around the creature, mixing with the ice, snow, and cooling water.

Ryu burst into flames, collapsing onto his knees, fighting for cool breaths of air. His throat was so badly burned that he began clawing at the ice in an effort to lift a piece. Nina, sensing his pain, scooted, feet very cold, to a small pile of snow and brought him a handful, which he quickly engulfed. Sitting beside him as a silent sentinel, she watched him, worried, but assured he would get well once more.

"Good golly Miss Molly…" Lin had fallen onto her rear end when the dragon's head fell, and hadn't gotten upright, "That probably shouldn't have been that easy… Oh, Cheryl!"

The girl had been shoved aside by the dragon and was lying in a pool of melted ice, a few minor burns across her arm. However, her hand had a gaping hole through it, as if somebody had driven a knife through it. She remained still, hair spread out across the water- then her eyes shot open.

Sitting up and hacking up a small amount of blood, the girl rolled onto her knees until she had coughed the old fluid out. Panting, she caught glimpse of her face in the water, a sight that somehow seemed new to her. Those green eyes stared vividly… her hair framed her face. Slowly sitting, she brought her hands close to her face, staring at the pale palms; turning them around, she instantly stared at the hole that ran partially through her left hand. Wrapping her arms around herself, she almost let out a sob… but then realized she was no longer surrounded by eternal night.

Across the wet, dim light, she could see her reflection swirled with the red from the great dragon; loose scales that had been jostled out of place revealed a pure, metallic silver coloration. The snow was stained red, turning the blood into small crystals on the surface. Though it was a gruesome sight, it had beauty to it; her gaze lingered.

"Ryu! Ryu, she's alive!" Lin looked scared as HELL, scooting away from the scene, "RYU!"

"Cheryl…?"

"…" She looked over her shoulder, then grew a nervous look, "Please… I don't want to go back there again…"

"No… we're… we've been sent by your friends. We're here to bring you home, Cheryl…" Ryu slowly sat up, then rose and started walking to the apprehensive girl, "We won't let anyone hurt you again…"

"That's what they said when I signed up," Hot tears rolled from her eyes, "I don't want to do it again; I don't want to go home in the Topsector. I don't want to be a number anymore- I want to be Cheryl…"

Ryu came to a halt, staring at the girl with a look of sympathy and sadness. But, in silence, though her limbs were cold, Nina came around him and headed straight for her, dropping down before her and staring into those green eyes. Both gazed at each other for a long time in the unbroken, blissful silence, as if reading something in each other's eyes. Looking back at Ryu, Nina stared for a minute, then looked back at Cheryl and nodded softly.

"…You really won't?"

"No. None of us will force you to go anywhere you don't want to go. We just wanted to help you; besides, we know of a certain group of individuals who miss you dearly…"

Cheryl's eyes lit up, "You… you don't mean…"

"OH MY GOOSHINESS!" Adylla nearly SCREAMED, having summoned the group to the colony after Ryu gave a sharp tweet of the whistle, "YOO FOUND CHERYL! Where have yoo been yoo little brat?"

"Uhm… well…"

"No time for excuses! No! Not at all! Yoo must say hello to Sodona and Midelo, not to mention Soni and Zyrelln and Dijima and Usena and-"

"Woah," Ryu blinked, "Weren't there… only three of you last…?"

Somehow, Ryu and Lin's gaze met, and both shuddered in unison. Ryu looked back to Adylla and shook his head, "Don't explain. Please."

"Suit yoorself! We've got a lot done since yoo have left; our cafeteria is in service and so is the small inn we plopped in, and the antz are always busy digging new tunnels; we expect a 70 increase of land by the end of next week!" Adylla giggled out of excitement, shrill, "We've employed nineteen antz as yoo may or may not know! Also, we have a small store for all of yoor needs!"

"Cool!" Cheryl had a smile across her face ten-miles wide, "Adylla, you've got to bring me to meet everybody!"

"Yoo're right! Enjoy yourselves, yon warriors! Teehee! There's a directory in every room if yoo get lost or something moronic like that! Come, little Cheryl, let us wreak havoc on the population!" Adylla took off, the girl running along behind as if nothing had ever happened to her.

"…" Ryu watched this. There was only one way she could have revived; Vyzhit herself warned that she would use Cheryl for 'transport'. So was this lively young lady Cheryl or the dragon?

"While we're here…" Lin suddenly pulled her hood off, her orange hair flowing out and coming to rest across her back, reaching halfway down her upper body. Her brown, furry ears had reverted from the forced-upright position to a relaxed, somewhat drooped stance, "Might as well take a break and get a bit of food and shut-eye. Wonder if they put in that dance club…"

Watching HER take off in disbelief, Ryu looked down at Nina, "Are you planning on leaving too?"

Nina instantly clung to his arm, shaking her head.

"That's what I thought. I bet Lin's going to look for the cafeteria- want to see if we can find it first?" Getting a nod, he picked up Nina, and then walked to a column with the in-progress directory on it. "Huh. We head through… the west tunnel, down tunnel A-3 and then we're there. She didn't even look at the map; bet she'll get lost! Well, let's go!"

After a long walk through the well-lit, sturdily carved pathways, the two wound their way down with a bit of a walk into another cavern, which had been converted into a little cafeteria. Setting Nina down, Ryu walked behind her as she hurried to the counter and touched it; she glanced back, and he smiled.

"You beat her! Me, too!"

Nina nodded, looking slightly proud. She turned and stared over the desk at a purple-haired faerie and her two ant helpers, and waved.

"What have we here?" The faerie giggled, "I'm Soni, welcome to the cafeteria! We offer yoo the best in faerie cuisine! Teehee! Yoo're a cute little one, aren't yoo? Teehee, we may have to give her the discount!"

"Uh," Ryu laughed uneasily, "That'd be lovely since I don't have any zenny; I donated it to the colony some time ago."

"Oh! Yoo must be Mister Ryu, Dragon Boy. Yes! We have orders to allow yoo free meals for eternity or until yoo stop showing up. Teehee! What can I do yoo for, Mister Ryu?"

"Uh…" He scanned the chalkboard behind the desk, and then noticed an odd pattern. Marshmellow cream pies; French silk; iced cookies; rock candy. "…Please don't tell me the ONLY thing you serve is CANDY…"

"Well… uh… teehee… about that…. That is to say…"

"Hey!" Lin came up behind Ryu, nosily looking over his shoulder, "Food? Food for me?"

"If they HAVE food."

"Let me ask the chef!" Soni turned and whispered to the antz in a huddle. After low whispers were shared, she turned back around, "We can whip something up for yoo! Chicken noodle soup! Take a seat and we'll serve it to yoo whence it's done!"

"Thanks!" Ryu moved to a table, accompanied by his usual party. "God, I can't begin to describe how hungry I am…"

"My empty bowels tremble and ache; my tongue without flavor wanes in the dry cavern of mine mouth. The sweet refreshment of apples and such things; many a year has gone by, it seems, since my gut has embraced them. Like a parched desert thirsty for rain, my figure aches for juicy crispness of fresh fruit and berries, covered in fine dew and fresh plucked from the bosom of their trees." Lin dramatically threw herself into a seat, "Fear not, empty body, for thee I shall fill to the brim with the bounty of the eastern moon; dance and praise the blessings I shall tide upon thee. Go forth now, take a taste, my sleeping mouth, and re-awake to flavor!"

"…Gee, thank you, miss Drama." Ryu sarcastically applauded, "You deserve an award."

"Don't I?" She let out a sigh, relaxing across the bench seat, "My talents are many hidden gems…"

Ryu rolled his eyes and waited patiently until Soni came flying over, directing a team of ants with VERY big bowls full of steaming soup to the table. Three before each member, with spoons supported, the antz couldn't help but giggle at the party's faces.

"This is high quality ca-er, chicken soup, made fresh for yoo! Enjoy it!"

"Great!" Ryu picked up his spoon and was about to take a sip when he noticed Lin, who was drinking the entire thing down, "Woah, careful Lin, you'll drown in that stuff!"

Lin dropped the bowl suddenly, a bit of the warm fluid came oozing from her mouth. She was frozen still in the position, the sickly sweet 'soup' drizzling off the table.

"…Lin? Are you okay?" Ryu blinked, staring at her.

"Ooooh dear…" Soni giggled, "Another diabetic is born!"

"What?"

"Er, yoo might want to get over there in three… two… one…"

On cue, Lin seemed to throw herself to the floor and started twitching violently- almost knocking his own bowl over, Ryu rolled over the table and dropped down beside her, instantly pinning her down. "LIN!"

Meanwhile, Nina had ventured to try this strange substance, and found the overly sweet taste DELECTABLE. With a sparkle to her eye, she drank a large amount of it, and then scooted the bowl away, looking around with spastic movements. Rising sharply, she began to wander off, walking around behind the table near the shaking Lin.

"Nina!" Ryu grabbed her by the ankle, but kept Lin pinned to the ground under his other arm; fighting to keep the hopping Nina close, he leaned his weight without possibly hurting the poor woman. Staring up at Soni, he yelled, "WELL, DO SOMETHING!"

"Uhh… we'll refund yoor order? Teehee?"

"We didn't fucking pay!"

"Ooooh… right… teehee… QUICK! Dazur, Fibern," She talked to two of the antz, "Hurry up to a grocery store and buy some of that disgusting canned soup for our guests!"

"Hi guys!" Cheryl came in through a path, and then paused, staring at the odd scene. "What's he doing to that lady?"

"Oooh," Soni giggled, "Yoo came at the best part! She's having a spasm and he's juggling the little one in one hand and using his free arm to pin her down! It's actually quite amusing!"

"…Isn't it dangerous to have a seizure?"

"Maybe. Teehee!"

"…Okay. I'm hungry- do you have any Popsicles?"

"Yes! Coming right up!" Soni flit away then came back with a large cherry Popsicle, unwrapped, and handed it to the girl.

"Thanks!" Popping it in her mouth, Cheryl watched Ryu's struggle in sweet silence, grinning around that tasty treat the entire time.

"Thank god…" Ryu's face hit the soft pillow of one of the beds in the inn; he had taken a top bunk, Nina underneath him, very glad to be getting some rest. His jacket was hanging off a hook, attached to the metal bridge of the bunk. There were more beds all across the walls, imbedded in the carved surface, so they were very warm and sleepily cozy. Ryu pulled his ponytail's band off and removed the goggles that were used mostly to keep his bangs in place, and messily stuffed them in his coat pocket, then lazily kicked off his shoes onto the floor. "I can't believe all that's happened…"

Below him, Nina had already been tucked in, but she had to leave her wings uncovered, so the blanket was resting under them. She seemed just as glad to have a rest as Ryu, deep asleep already. A bed across, on the top, Cheryl was asleep as well, having just slipped under and instantly gone out like a light. But on the bottom, a brown tail swung back and forth.

The shaky, but recovering Lin had vowed off soup for the rest of her life; she had put her belt and her hood on the floor beside her, her gun on top so she could find it right away. To calm her nerves, she had- almost literally- rekindled an old habit. A small puff of smoke rose out from around the top bed, drifting and disappearing as it reached the ceiling.

"…That smell… Lin?" Ryu looked up, "…Are you… smoking?"

"I vowed the damn habit off, but now… now it's the only way I can stop shaking! I HATE faeries! I HATE dragons! I HATE soup!"

"…Is it… is it possible for you to do that… outside the room? I am afraid Nina will start-"

"Ugh. Fine. See you guys in the morning. Don't blow anything up until then." She rolled out of bed, carefully, then strolled across the floor, picking her gun up as she passed, heading out the door, drifting smoke as she left.

"…Thank you." Closing his eyes, sleep caught him up quickly and dragged him swiftly into well-deserved peace…