"I know I shouldn't say anything, but I'm beginning to think this place is a dud."
"Ron," Zita warned
"Oh come on Zee," stretching his hands out and facing her, "there is nothing here," shaking his arms, "we are alone, there are no three beasts, we are alone here. Face facts Zita we were tricked, wherever we are we're in no danger and ….. one's right behind me isn't it," reading her face as it went pale and her eyes grew large.
"That's a big flaming yes," her voice coming out as a squeak.
"Big bird," Pyre growled turning around on Ron's shoulder and looking up at the Fire Phoenix flying towards them.
"Well," the Forest Knight growled turning, "at least this eliminates the waiting."
"Way to see the up side Ron," Zita growled sarcastically, "so is it time to break out the big guns?"
"Oh yeah, defiantly BFG time," for the first time truly getting just how much trouble they were in as he looked at the bird. It was approximately the size of Pyre in his dragon form, all be it a good deal of that length was due to it's tail, the feathers trailing behind it like burning wedding train, which given the flames behind it flowing off it's wings and tail was pretty close to the truth. It's wing span was that of a small plane, and looking a little like they belonged to a falcon, slim and built for diving rather than flapping. It's body seemed to be a mix of reds and yellows, but with the flames rising off the various feathers it was hard to gauge it's real appearance. Rising from a small neck was a the head of a raptor with the addition of the crest of feather that rose from this creatures neck, it came complete with the curved beak that looked like it could break the bones of whatever fond it's way near it's face.
Zita's arm wrap glowed a soft blue as he focused her mind, "Water Around Me," water firing from her cuff and encasing her then falling away. Rather than leaving her in her normal armor, she was now clad in plate armor from head to toe in the same dark blue and gold as her usual armor. The armor was complete with helmet with two curved gold horns on it and gold dragon head on her chest and between the horns of her helmet, luckily her trident was still in her hand.
"Well that's different," Ron giving her a quick once over, 'have to figure this out later,' "Forest Before Me." Like Zita Ron's normal green, brown and gold clothing was gone and he now stood in brown and gold plate armor complete with a dragon head on the armor's breast plate and helmet, his ax in his hand.
"Time to join the party buddy," Ron yipped pulling his dragon's breath dagger. As before Pyre transformed into his dragon form and roared at the on coming bird and stepped in front the others separating the Knights from their opposition. A part of the dragon was a little surprised that the others were now clad in recreations of the Knights of Kell's armor.
"Any clue what's going on," Zita hissed as Pyre was assaulted by a jet of blue yellow flame from the birds beak.
"Not a clue," Ron called back as he fired his ax at the bird using Pyre's body as a shield, "but this is no time to figure it."
"You know before I met you my life was simple," Zita snapped firing off her trident in the same manner as Ron, "I really miss those days," she said somewhere between excited and tired.
"Less talk more fight," Pyre's voice coming off as a rumble as stated emitting fire balls from his mouth at the bird, however he doubted they would have much effect given the flames already surrounding the bird.
"Oh crap," Zita called as she saw the flash of light that lit up the sky, "we've got company!" After the flash came the roar that vibrated their bodies, it's call the sound of thunder in a wild storm. The Thunder Dragon had arrived and it's sole desire was to find battle not caring about it's fellow beast. It's body was that of a serpent with huge feathered wings coming out from either side of its body. On it's head was hair falling down the back of his head and off his chin giving him a bit of a beard. His color was a mix of gold and white that would occasionally be obscured as arcs of electrical power rose and sparked off his body making him almost blinding.
Ron wasn't much happier on his side as he watched the ground before him turn to a sheet of ice as the Ice Griffon approached. It was a typical lion body, eagle head and front arms style griffon, all be it one that was a mix of light blue and frosted clear allowing occasionally allowing parts of his internal anatomy to be viewed from the right angle. Added to the body were icicles hanging here and there from every part of his body some how adhering to the constantly moving creature. Like the other two he was the approximately the size of Pyre in dragon mode, possibly a little large.
Zita ducked back behind Pyre, "ok I think it's safe to say we're in big trouble here."
"Really what was your first clue," Ron growled doing the same.
"Guy!" Pyre barked temporarily halting the fire stream.
"Right got it," Ron sighed patting the Fire Dragon of Dare on the back, "we knew this was coming so lets do it, see you on the other side Zee," the pair knocking arm gauntlets.
"You better, I don't want to explain to Kim how you were eaten by a big blue wuzzel."
Ron opened his mouth to say something then just shook his head and rolled out into the fight, a little surprised that the armor let him do it. The second he was on his feet and ran firing off a few shots from his ax every few steps to keep the creatures attention focused on him.
"My cue," Pyre growled and flapped his wings and launched into the sky heading straight for the Thunder Dragon despite the fire blasts from the Phoenix who seemed to have other ideas. A quick wing flare allowed him to avoid the blasts and let him collide with the big gold winged serpent masquerading as a dragon.
"Thanks a lot pal," Zita snapped as Pyre left her defenseless before the creature, luckily the bird seemed to have other desires as he followed the red dragon. "I know I'm asking for trouble here but oh well," aiming her trident and firing there arcs of blue lightning at the bird hitting him in the tail and making it screech in pain and annoyance. "On second thought this probably wasn't my best idea ever," as he turned in midair and dove towards her leaving a burning trail behind him.
"Now I know why people invented chain mail," Ron growled pumping his legs like a man possessed as icicles imbedded into the ground behind him. The armor was defiantly slowing him down and limiting his mobility, it wasn't particularly heavy but the plates had a tendency to rub against each other and lock up. Part way through the sprint he fell and hit the ground and slide across the freshly frozen landscape of the mountain, as it was he wasn't sure how he'd managed not to slide all the way to the foot of the cliff.
For a brief moment Ron considered ditching the armor but looked up the see Pyre and the Thunder Dragon in combat and opted not to, the last thing he needed was to go face to face with two of these monsters without the benefit of protection.
"Time for plan B," and summoned his second ax and dropped to the ground sliding on his knees like they were a sled. After a few feet he slashed his longed ax out and let it bite into the ice spinning him around to face the ice beast. Pulling the ax free he brought the two weapons together and fired off several tandem shots that hit the beast in the neck and breast, doing little but ticking him off, "ok need a plan c and probably more."
The Ice Griffon just shook it's head at the hit and let out a call somewhere between a lions roar and an eagles call and softly flapped to the ground. Flapping his wings released icicles at the human in front of him, watching as the frozen water connected with the brown and gold clad warriors armor and ax's sending him skidding back.
Ron growled as the ice bludgeoned his body sending him back, "this is insane."
"You know when I do this I generally get a pay check afterwards," Will growled huddled in against a wall next to Kim.
Laughing a little, "sorry we're strictly a nonprofit organization."
"No, nonprofit would include no rides or favors, you just work on an archaic barter system."
"I'm not going to dignify that with a response," the Fire Knight growled as a red-pink energy beam caused a chunk of the wall she'd been leaning against to explode. "Why does a video game company even need laser cannons in their lab, what are they doing, checking quality control! Honestly who need to be sure CD's and cartridges can with stand being hit by an energy discharge?"
"Come on you know that's not what their doing," readying his nerves to dart out, "I'm sure they have a completely logical explanation."
"Being?"
"I said they probably have one not that I know it," he hissed shooting past her and into a roll and taking cover behind the neighboring cubical wall.
Kim shook her head as she watched him go, grateful he was here to take a bit of the fear off, but still preferring to have Ron in his place to lighten the mood and read her body language. Ever since she had darted out of Mr. Walkers office one of the devices had been firing at them from the main room, and thus far hadn't hit them, but each shot was getting closer. She ran her fingers along the outline of her necklace and charm under her shirt wishing she could summon her sword and transform into her armor and incinerate everything in her path. "Get a grip," she growled softly, she'd made a promise to only use her powers as a last resort and thus far it hadn't come to that point in the road.
She shook her head sharply bring her mind out of it's light and focused on the situation, "hang on guys I'll be with you soon," darting out and landing nest to Will grabbing a quick glance to gather a few more details on the situation.
"Ok I see it, if we hug this wall I don't think it can hit us with out burning through the other wall."
"Somehow that's not inspiring a lot of confidence," Will's eyes growing large at the thought of the corridor collapsing on top of them. "I still say it would be easier to just blow it away," heavily emphasizing the word 'blow'.
"Will," she warned.
"Hey I was taught to use anything at my disposal, and I feel like I have my arms tied here."
"I understand but we have to use them sparingly, remember we have to use them responsibly."
"Yeah, well it would be great if I knew what they defined responsible as, cause it seems like saving our butts is the most responsible thing we can do."
"No argument here, but I'd prefer not to try and find the breaking point."
"Ok then how do you propose we stop it?"
"Not sure," she shrugged, "but I'll think of something, I always do," taking a deep breath and darting out to the next cubical. She felt something hot fire past her shoulder and sucked in air in a ragged breath as she shot throw the door frame and checked the possible wound, glad to see her shirt was just smoking slightly having just grazed her.
"Defiantly getting closer," Will called, "you ok?"
"Just missed me, stay there I got this," the last shot had put her in range of the room and weapon. 'Ok girl so what are you going to do,' as she mulled over a few options in her head trying to recreate the room in her mind. Stretching her fingers, 'the longer you wait the worse off Ron and the others will be,' she reminded herself and swallowed forcing the thought from her mind, 'no time to get soft,' putting on her game face, 'he'll pull through he always does.'
Taking one final breath to steady herself she jumped out into the unknown and hit the ground running straight for the opposite wall, for a brief moment she saw the flash of red-pink light approach and was glad as it went wide, whatever was controlling misjudging her. She ricocheted off the opposite wall, her foot digging into whatever it was coated with and forced herself into the air and out into the room and was greeted by a sight she still dreaded after all the years on the job. It was obvious Wraithmaster had turned the weapon on the lab techs before pointing it at her, the lot laid on the ground in a variety of poses and burn patterns, but all unquestioningly dead.
She hissed as she shifted her arc to miss the man below her and used her hand to spring board herself further into the nightmare, the weapon turning unable to keep up with her and fire accurately. She circled the weapon a few times trying to figure out a way to bring it down, her best idea was the one she really didn't want to use. Mid leap her long cultivated instincts kicked in and warned her was most likely trouble, the second she hit the ground she bounced back in time to miss a blast from a blue-green energy.
Grapping a quick glace to her side she saw the source of the beam, "of course there would have to be more than one." A new idea formed in her mind and she ran to it and dodged a shot form the second cannon and leap on top of it, hoping the two weapons would fire and destroy each other.
Grabbing a look back Kim say the weapon's tip glow red-pink then fade, "oh come now little sprite did you really think that was going to win," Wraithmasters voice coming from the speakers the in the ceiling.
"Well I was kind of hoping," she snapped back.
"Well if you want to play games," he laughed as the cannon she was standing on jerked violently and forced her to fall onto the weapon. For a few seconds she road it like a bronco, the weapon spinning around violently, but she eventually lost her grip and was sent to the ground. Turning the fall into a roll Kim managed to get to her feet quickly enough avoid a beam from the first cannon.
'No more miss nice girl,' she thought as she ran her fingers along the burning ground the flames flickering and jumping into her hand. She stayed low keeping the flames out of sight and leap at the first, slower cannon and aimed her burning palm at a hanging cable hoping she was right about it being a fuel or hydraulic line. She focused her mind on the flames in her hand focusing and intensifying them as much as her transformed weapon would allow. Striking down she could feel the fire burn straight throw the covering of the cable and make contact with some kind of liquid. Not wanting to be around for what might be next she shot back and to the side in time to feel the heat and hear the scream of machinery as the side of the machine burst into flame.
"Not sure if it was fuel but it defiantly burns," looking back at the machine in time to watch the opposite side explode. Grabbing a quick look over she was greeted by the sight of the other cannon powering up and aiming at her. The machine never managed the beam as a piece of metal spun through the air and sliced into the casing causing it to shoot sparks from the new hole and lose it's glow.
"I said I had it," she called not bothering to look back.
"Yeah well I was never one to let others have all the fun," the Air Knight quipped coming up beside her, "nice technique by the way I don't think I've ever seen that one before," a knowing edge to his words.
"Like your one to talk frisbee boy," knowing he had enhanced the metal's momentum with a his own power.
"Well he said we could do small things if we needed to," looking down the hall to where they needed to be, "and I'd say keeping ourselves alive is a little thing."
Kim wanted to argue but couldn't find the words and let it drop her mind back on getting the others out, even if she hadn't figured out those specific details. At the moment the best either could come up with was to get in contact with either Wade or GJ and have them try and contain Wraithmaster. But both had agreed they should probably wait till they escaped the prison of the building before doing so on the off chance they allowed the virus to spread beyond the building, though given Ron and Zita's disappearing act that was probably a moot point, but better to be safe then release a digital monster on the world.
"Oh my, you've beaten me," Wraithmaster said condescendingly, his voice flowing from the overhead speakers. "I don't know how you two did that and I don't really care, one minor victory won't save you, truth be told you can't get any further." The corridor they had traveled down in order to enter the lab ignited purple light as laser beams criss-crossed the path.
"You have got to be kidding me," Will groaned walking up to it, "you already know we're here I don't think a laser detection grid is going to do you much good."
Will was ready to walk into the nearest beam when a piece of metal sailed past his head and into the beam being instantly cut in half, each part being in turn cut into smaller pieces as it connected with other beams till by the time the pieces hit the ground there were to many to bother counting.
"Tell me again how you use to be so great," Kim hissed softly walking up beside him.
"Ok so their a little better than detection beams," turning his head and yelling back, "who are you defending this place from ninja spies?"
Kim elbowed him in the stomach and gave him a dirty look and mouthed, "you say that like one of each isn't in the building."
"Touché."
Zita ran as fast as she could then hit the ground as the phoenix shot over her head it's fire trail practically roasting her in her metal armor.
"And to think I use to argue this game wasn't violent," she growled softly firing a blast from her trident at the bird, as before the arcs seemed to do little but anger the flaming beast
'Think girl,' she ordered herself as the bird flew by, 'you're the Knight of Water you should be able to stop a flaming turkey without a second thought so get it together.' She did a quick mental run down of all the rumors she knew about this level, desperately trying to recall something that might conceivably be useful but getting the nagging feeling she was forgetter something useful. Shrugging it off she did a quick visual sweep she saw Pyre trading shots with the Thunder Dragon and Ron doing his best not to be impaled by giant icicles. 'Bingo,' a smile creeping on her face, 'ice cancels out fire.' Then the smile faded, "they're not that stupid," she hiss under her breath knowing the designers had probably already thought of that plan and engendered the beasts so they wouldn't go after each other. Growling and shaking her head as she dove away from the birds next pass and caught another glimpse of Ron's fight and how he had a layer of ice under his feet. Everything clicked in her mind as snapped her head around and looked at mountain, all around her was semi scorched earth and split trees, save the area where the Ice Griffon was standing, or simply the environment of the dragon, she needed the environment of the griffon. A place that with a little help from the flaming pheasant could provide her with ankle deep water.
"Come and get me you pyro parrot," she yelled as she ran as fast as she could in the armor determined to get somewhere she might have a fighting chance.
Pyre and the Thunder Dragon snarled at each other as they continued their aerial dance neither gaining the upper hand. In the air they were both evenly matched and Pyre feared a close up battle, flashes of python and anaconda documentaries appearing in his mind. Roaring in frustration he release a fire ball which was quickly evaded by the serpent like opponent.
The Thunder Dragon let out a sound somewhere between a hiss and thunder as it spread it's wings and began to glow a bright white forming a nearly blinding 't' in the sky and released multiple arcs of lighting from his body that shot out in all directions, some scaring the earth beneath them, a few hit the Ice Griffon, but most connected with Pyre's body forcing a scream from the Fire Dragon of Dare as he lost consciousness and dropped to the ground.
The impact with the earth brought him back to reality as he looked back up as the winged serpent descended on him. In those brief moments the dragon side of Pyre that wanted to strike with tooth and claw was silenced and replaced by the thinking mole rat mind that had saved him more than once when he'd been considerably smaller. A grin spread across his muzzle as he saw his opportunity and waited on the ground not moving till the Thunder Dragon was too close to do evade it's mouth open and glowing white ready to release the final killing lighting blast. The second the arc came Pyre flapped his wings and just missed the blast and released a stream of fire from his mouth and focused it on the Thunder Dragons right wing causing the beast to shriek and flap as it his the ground it's wing temporarily useless.
Pyre smiled as he watched his opponent squirm on it's belly as old words ran through his mind, 'the tail will get you the fangs, it must be the neck, right above the hood, that's the only weak point,'.
"Wish I was a Mongoose," he growled diving in hoping to imitate a one of his personal hero's.
"Face facts man you can't win this," Ron hissed to himself as he was pelted in the back by hail at a speed and volume that it might as well have been shot from a machine gun.
A slight growl in his voice he spun and managed to look the Ice Griffon in the eye, "STOP," the word escaping as a roar, yet still perfectly understandable, hoping that the trick he had picked up from Garret would work against the beast.
For a brief moment the Ice Griffon halted and looked at him, it's head slightly cocked before letting out a roar and flapping it's wings and fired a blast of arctic wind at Ron picking him and sending him hurtling through the air and down the mountain.
"Somehow I knew that wouldn't work," Ron growled before he hit the ground with a hard thud, the armor taking a bit of the impact of hitting the ground, but not the impact of armor plating on flesh. A quick look up confirmed his fear as the Ice Griffon followed him from the sky. "Great," the word carrying the weight of his exhaustion as he scrambled to his feet and fired off a few shots from his ax's the shots doing little to slow the cat-bird but was grateful that it turned allowing him a few seconds to catch his bearings. A quick look told him what he needed to know, as he turned and looked up at the beast, "good idea, bad execution," as turned and ran at full speed down the final few yards of the mountain right into the tree line of the forest.
"You want me fella, come and get me," as a sense of familiarity came back over him.
"WWHHHEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOO," Zita half laughed half screamed as she slid across the ice on her breast plate riding it like a sled a few steps before the Phoenix flew over head, it's flame trail causing a stream to form where it flew.
"WHOA," the Water Knight rasped getting to her feet and shaking herself as he was assaulted by the temperature around her. "How the hell can it be this cold when something that hot is above me," fog rising from under her mouth guard and into her eyes and fading as soon at it formed. The fire birds call helped force the temperature from her mind as it dove as her again leveling a jet of flame at her from it's beak. A quick jump helped her avoid the blast but revealed a small flaw in her plan as metal covering her feet failed to find a grip on the smooth ice and sent her falling to the ground and slipping down the mountain.
"Oh come on," she hissed striking her trident at the ground, the triple blades biting into the ice and allowing her to pull herself to her feet. 'OK movement is bad, so lets see if I can't end this here and now,' as she reached out with her power hoping it would work on water that wasn't real. At first nothing, then the water around her rippled and began to flow towards her.
The scream of the Phoenix halted her actions as it circled and dove at her it's claws out stretched intent of crushing her in it's flaming talons.
"Not this time you burning buzzard," as she pulled her trident from the ice and took aim and fired, the blue lightning hitting it's target and danced across the beasts face, temporarily blinding it, causing it to flare it's wings and fly back into the sky. A quick hand shift and her trident was locked back into the ice keeping her stable. Luckily the bird's dive had created a new stream of water near her body that she able to summon to her.
"All right birdy lets see what you got," she hissed as she scattered the water around her forcing it to melt more ice slowing lower her to the surface of the mountain and giving her more water to work with. She performed slow circles with her hand guiding the waters movement, the water occasionally flowing up with her hand when she raised it, "good," the word coming out slowly as she tested her power and calming her mind preparing for her strike at the bird.
Above her the Fire Phoenix roared and shook it's head and looked down at her and let out a scream that could only mean death and dove at Zita ready to eviscerate her.
"Not today feather duster," her words calm as she thrust her hand out launching a column of water at the bird hitting it dead in the face. At first nothing happened, then the bird faulted flaring it's wings slightly and trying to rise into the air allowing a clear shot at it's chest. "Bingo," a smile playing at the corners of Zita face as she pulled her trident from the ice and fired it into the water causing the water to take on a blue glow as it carried the charge straight to the birds body and forcing a shriek to escape it's beak.
Altering the position of the column up she hit the bird in the face and forced the bird to tumble to the frozen ground. Upon contact the Phoenix let out a scream of unimaginable pain. All around the bird steam shot up from the ground and rivers of water flowed as the birds naturally hot body melted it.
"Time to snuff you out you carnivorous candle," Zita snarled focusing on the water flowing from the phoenix's body and adding it to the column and increased it's size and intensity practically embedding the bird in the ground. She kept up the stream for several moments but slowly realized her attack as it was wasn't going to stop the bird and released her control over the water letting it fall to the ground with a splash.
"Ok something different then," she hissed to herself as she began to twirl her trident letting it shift from hand to hand, in front of her and behind, the momentum to the spin never slowing a blue glow radiating from the trident forming a trailing ribbon of blue energy behind the trident, the physical limitations of the armor seemingly gone. As she charged the Fire Phoenix rose to it's feet, it's body soaked and obviously tired. But as it moved a flame would occasionally leap from it's body drying it, readying it for another assault. Short on time Zita let her mind drift the speed of the tridents movements become becoming almost unconscious as she focused on the water and summoned it to her letting it wrap around her trident. After a few moments she nearly became invisible as her body was covered by an ever shifting cocoon of glowing water, only the occasional water surge showing her body.
When the Fire Phoenix opened it's beak she struck turning the spin into a thrust launching the supercharged water at the birds open mouth, forcing it down it's throat and onto it's back, it's body flailing in pain a muffled scream in it's gullet. As much as she wanted to Zita couldn't support the attack for very long and relented allowing the remaining water to splash on the ground, her body soon following as she dropped to her knees her energy exhausted.
Weakly she looked at the bird, knowing if it got up she wouldn't be able to avoid it's attack. For a few moments nothing happened, then the phoenix began to glow. Zita didn't even have the energy to curse as the bird burst into flames, then faded away leaving only a feather that drifted over to her and landed on her lap.
"I really hope that means I won," she said weakly as fell backwards enjoying the coolness on her back.
Pyre slowly circled the snake that called itself a dragon, he'd managed to keep the creatures wing damaged with several well placed fire lasts, but it was proving to be as dangerous on the ground as it was in the air. Snarling more to himself than his opponent he leap, letting his wings add height to the strike as he turned in the air and released a flame stream at the beasts back continuing to burn the wings to keep it on the ground then dove ready to sink his fangs into the creatures neck.
The strike never came as the Thunder Dragon spun with the speed only a snake could use and launched a lightning ball at Pyre hitting him dead in the chest sending the fire dragon to the ground. With out making a sound the Thunder Dragon slithered across the ground and shot forward and grabbed Pyre in it's coils and attempted to squeeze the life from the red dragon.
Pyre wanted to scream or roar but didn't dare, if he did the Thunder Dragon would just contract and he'd never get another breath in. His mind raced trying to come with a way out of the situation but found nothing, he could shrink down, but without the others he couldn't regain his size thus leaving him an easy target. He lashed out with his free hand in desperation trying to grab something on his opponent that might give him an edge, but had to accept as his vision started going dim it was a losing battle, his wings were crushed and his body would soon start shutting down.
He gave one final flail of his hand but unlike before were he had only hit scale, he hit feathers. 'Wings,' his mind screamed, a final desperate move forming in his mind as he grabbed the damaged appendage and pulled and twisted as hard as he could. At first nothing, low then a hiss of pain escaped the Thunder Dragon and his coils near the wings laxed. It was a tiny opening but it was enough as Pyre forced his other hand up and grabbed the coil around his neck and dug his claws in a pulled it far enough away to suck in air and fired off a jet of flame at the mock dragons head and sending it jerking back. Several more breath and fire streams followed forcing the Thunder Dragons grip to loosen but not be free of it.
The Thunder Dragon snarled and started glowing ready to release a massive lighting strike all over Pyres body.
"Not again," Pyre growled knowing what was to come and released a stream of fire at the beasts head all the while feeling like he was being cooked alive. For a time neither seemed to be gaining the upper hand but slowly the Thunder Dragon ceased glowing and released it's grip and tried to slither away. He only got a few feet before Pyre jumped on his back his claws digging into the Thunder Dragons wings.
"See how you like it," he roared as he bit down on the back of the mock dragons neck that loosely resembled cooked meat. The Thunder Dragon struggled under the greater weight of the red dragon, but it quickly came to an end as Pyre sharply jerked his head and snapped the Thunder Dragons neck, it's body falling limp as it's life faded. After a second the beast started glowing then faded away leaving a single feather that fell into Pyres hand.
Lifting his head Pyre let out a roar of triumph as he gripped the feather in his paw.
'Oh I don't need this today, I'm suppose to be watching cheerleaders wrestle on the ground, so why am I being chased by something that looks like it was stapled together?' Ron let out a soft hiss as he stayed huddled in the branches as the Ice Griffon slowly walked beneath him, the area around him freezing. He regretted losing his armor, but it wasn't really a choice, he couldn't climb in it and it was far from stealthy. Unconsciously he rubbed his gauntlet hoping his plan continued working. By ducking into the forest he'd kept himself safe from the beasts aerial attacks since there was no way the griffon could fly in such tight spaces and had forced it to stalk him on foot. So far luck was on his side, the creature didn't seem to have any sense of smell so there was no way it could track him in the trees out side of sight and sound and he was hoping the darkness would limit the range of the beasts eyes.
'Oh boy,' he groaned internally as he took a deep breath and jumped into the darkness avoiding the tree limbs as he fell, the Ice Griffin growing larger as he descended. After what seemed like an eternity of falling he hit his target, but rather than landing between the neck and wings as he'd planned he ended up on the animals flank. The first thing he noticed before the animal went crazy and tried to buck him off was the softness of it's fur, he had expected it to be sharp or hard like ice, but it felt more like silk. Of course he didn't have time to enjoy the texture as he was flung around and sent flying the smooth pelt making it near impossible to get a grip on the beast.
Rather than landing on his butt, he twisted and turned the fall into a mid air flip landing on his hands and falling back onto his feet. Not waiting for the griffin to make the next move his cuff glowed green and tendrils emerged forming his ax, bringing his hands together and calling, "Twin Timber Ax's," his second formed and he began firing just as the beast managed to turn around in the dense forest. Most of the shots landed on the griffon's hand, neck and breast, with a few sailing by missing it completely. Not that it mattered they severed their purpose and distracted it allowing Ron to dart into the forest and climb up a tree and ricochet from branch to brabch before jumping back into the unknown and this time land on the griffon squarely between the wings and neck.
"A part of me is really sorry about this big guy," the words carrying sincere regret as he 'hugged' the beasts neck and dug his as blades into the Ice Griffons neck and angled them downwards and fired shot after shot slicing through feathers and fur, through muscle and bone to the semi exposed organs. He felt sick as he looked down and could watch the damage his weapons did to the creature, a tears rolling down his face as he felt a wave of remorse and disgust well up in his body. The griffons head jerked back and screamed a primal scream as its legs gave out and it fell to the ground.
Without saying a word Ron recalled his weapons and kept his hand on the griffon, slowly stroking the animals neck, trying to comfort it as it's death spasms started, "I'm sorry," he whispered the words somehow sounded hollow in his ears but it was the best Ron could do. After a moment the griffon glowed and like his compatriots left nothing but a feather which fell to Ron's hand.
"Tell me again why you can't just jump through those beams? I've seen the footage you've done it in the past."
Sighing, Kim turned to Will, "probably because all those other times they were detection beams, these on the other hand are laser death beams and I don't wan to get cut into pieces on the off chance I make a mistake."
"Point taken, but I feel relatively useless here," as he continued to pace, "we've gone over every inch of this place and that's the only way in or out with the exception of going through the floor, ceiling or walls, and for the moment that's out of the question."
"How do you think I feel? My best friends fighting for his life and I can't do anything to help him," as she continued to stare at the laser grid trying to come up someway through it.
"What's wrong little sprite?" Wraithmaster's voice once more filling the room, "have you finally realized your hopefully outclassed?"
"Bite me program," the Fire Knight growled not bothering to shift her eyes from the grid.
"You might want to hurry up, the knave won't last much longer, truth is he's on his last legs as we speak," he chuckled, "look at that he's about to be incinerated. Well it's for the best the girl and that thing that came with them are already dead," as he broke into hysterical laughter.
"And how do I know your even telling me the truth," she hissed.
"Simple my dear…"
Kim turned didn't have a chance to do anything as Wraithmaster's voice was silenced as the ceiling showed them in sparks. A quick look up let her see the source a piece of scrap metal flying threw the air slicing into the speaker housing. Kim looked at Will knowing full well he was the source of the action then back to the laser grid and grabbed him pulled him over to the grid.
"OK so I screwed up," Will hissed, "I'm just tried of him taunting us…."
"Think you can do that again?" she said cutting him off and looking down the hall. "I think if we embed enough metal in the far wall we might be able to short out the grid."
"And your basing that on what," he asked as he looked down the hall.
"A bunch of movies and blind faith, you think you can do it or not?"
Studying the hall and beams for a few seconds, "possibly," not bothering to look at her, "but what happened to not abusing our power?"
"Ask yourself, is saving someone's life abusing power?"
"In the grand scheme debatably in depends on the situation and…" his words stopping as she looked at the expression on her face and knew if he continued they probably find his burnt husk on an overpass somewhere. "That is to say, in no way is that abuse."
"Good," she growled turning away from him, "now get throwing I want to get down that hallway."
"Oh yeah, we bad, we bad," as Zita weakly danced as Ron walked up the hill as he joined the celebrating duo.
"Don't get carried away, we still have one more fight on our hands, and that's probably going to be the hardest thing we've come across."
"Thank you captain killjoy," as Zita rolled her eyes, "we should be happy, not ones ever made it this far."
"One, we still have to beat Wraithmaster before we can leave, assuming he keeps his word and two we just killed creatures."
"No we beat data that was trying to kill us."
"Yeah," Pyre added
"Did they fell like data to you?" he shot back, "Cause they felt real to me, and I'm not exactly proud of killing them."
Zita opened her mouth to say something but was silenced as the roar of thunder sounded above them and the clouds began to swirl taking on the form of a tornado. As soon as it formed and died down it reveling Wraithmasters form, his glowing red broad sword in his hands.
"I always knew you were weak knave and this just proves it, pining over the destruction of data which sole function was to destroy you, pathetic. I'm doing your world a favor by getting rid of you, your just going to slow down the evolution of your planet. However given your planet will soon belong to me that's not really a bad thing" Putting his free hand to his armored 'chin', "the only thing I regret is that you don't get to see the bloody mess that is the sprites body, her death was quite ugly," chuckling to himself.
Ron let out something close to a roar charged just Wraithmaster just as the virus had anticipated he would in response to the lie and easily dodged the strike and planted the butt of his sword into Ron's head and sent his near exhausted body to the ground.
"Completely pathetic," he chided shaking his head, "and I honestly thought you'd offer me a challenge knave," as he delivered a kick to Ron's ribs, "next."
Zita readied her trident, but was stopped as Pyre stepped in front of her and released a carefully fire blast at the virus and hoped he avoid hitting the unarmored Ron. The blast did little as Wraithmaster slashed with his blade and deflected the fire causing it to land somewhere in the distance. Growling Pyre charged up to him and leveled a upward claw strike that hit home on the virus' chest but didn't move him an inch.
"And here I thought you unplanned presence would off set my plan, silly me," as he grabbed Pyres finger with his free hand and pushed him off sending the dragon skidding back several feet.
"Not good," was the only thing the Fire Dragon of Dare could think to say as he realized just how much trouble he was in.
"As you can see I've made a few enhancements to myself, to put it bluntly you can't beat me. Although that does beg the question how did you beat the three beasts, where did you get the armor and monster maiden? I had everything planed out to the smallest detail, so how is it you could possibly alter the equations that much?"
"Lets just say that's our secret," Zita hissed as she fired her trident, as with the other's attacks the effects were less than stellar as he deflected the strike with his sword.
"Is that the best you can do little girl, I was at least hoping for something original, mores the pity," as he lashed out with his sword, the blade increasing in length, the glowing energy connected with the side of her helmet as she attempted to duck down. The blow wasn't fatal but it was enough to know her unconscious.
The strike was all Pyre was waiting for as he fired off a jet of flame at Wraithmaster while he was busy with Zita. The strike hit home and enveloped the virus, but it became clear as the fire died down there was no real damage done to their opponent.
"Sneaky and underhanded I applaud you to bad that won't save you," Wraithmaster growled as he dove at Pyre intent on slicing into his hide with his sword.
"BACK OFF," Ron barked firing multiple waves of brown energy at Wraithmaster halting his progress.
"I guess I didn't hit you hard enough," Wraithmaster growled as he looked at Ron.
"No I'm just to damn stubborn to go down," as he spun the ax in his hand and brought it above his head, "Forest Before Me," and transformed into his armor. "Lets see how you do against me now," as he fired several tandem blasts at Wraithmaster each connecting but doing little more than slowing him down and he charged up to Ron and leapt into the air and brought his Sword down on Ron, the glowing blade barley stopped by Ron's ax's.
"Give up knave your outmatched in every area, the best you can hope for is a quick death."
"No the best I can hope for is you getting eaten by Pyre," as Ron shifted his weight and brought the interlocked weapons to his side and turned and did the best he could to kick Wraithmaster in the chest. The actual kick did little but if pushed the black armored figure back.
"That is something that will never happen knave, I'm immortal, nothing your pathetic organic brain can conceive can stop my glory from spreading across this planet and bending it to my will."
Zita groaned on the ground as she shook her head and looked around seeing Ron going toe to toe with the Wraithmaster then looked down at the feather and mentally slapped herself as things in her brain linked, "that's what the rumor was about," she hissed under her breath as she recalled a few old rumors about a bonus for beating beasts and a rumored cheat that she couldn't understand then, but might work now.
Slowly getting her feet and holding the feather, "ancient power deep in side, release the force that would hide, wings of fire that burn the sky, release one who can not die!"
At first nothing, then the feather erupted into flame and rose from her hand and spun in midair, small arcs of flame rolling off it before exploding towards her covering her body in flame and forcing a scream of pain and fear from her, a scream that changed into one of joy and power as the flames started dieing away.
Where once was a girl in blue armor now stood something between human and phoenix. It had Zita's body but she was covered in red and orange feathers, her arms and lower legs were bare and had a vague scaled look to their red skin like the Fire Phoenix's legs, each finger and toe ending on a sharp talon. From her back came a pain of red wings along with a small tuff of tail feathers. Her once human head was now that of the Fire Phoenix. Over her chest was the armor of the Water Knight, along with bits covering her forearms and legs. At her hip was a sword, the hilt bearing more than a slight resemblance to the barbed trident.
Stretching her claws, "oh momma likes," despite the beak her voice was still her own. The change had not gone unnoticed as the others looked at her. Smiling, "why don't you take a rest boys I got this," flaring her wings and flapping the knowledge of how to fly at her finger tips. After a few seconds she dove back to earth, her sword drawn ready to deal with Wraithmaster. She slammed into him, their swords colliding, the impact forcing sparks to erupt between the blade, followed by an explosion forcing both back. A quick wing flare allowed Zita to spin in mid air and come to a halt and look down at her opponent who was still sailing back. Rather them giving him and inch she dove after him ready to end it, and was a little shocked when he shot into the sky a pair of black armored wings on his back.
"Interesting," he yelled out, "I didn't think anyone knew the benefits of defeating the three beasts, shame it won't do you any good against me," as he flew towards her, his sword drawn.
"Ever heard the term 'shut up'?" Zita hissed flying towards him, flaring her wings and spinning around and flying under him her sword burying into his body leaving a burning trail behind it. When she had past she did a quick midair readjustment to see her handiwork and smiled as best she could with a beak as he grabbed his chest covering the wound.
"Impressive maiden to bad it's not good enough," throwing his head back laughing as his body healed.
"Of course it couldn't be easy," shaking her head as her sword ignited in red and orange flames. Throwing her head back she let out the Phoenix cry and dove at him, a little aggravated as he shifted his wings and dodged her strike and attempted to strike her as she passed under him. Instinc she did know she had kicked in as Zita shifted tail feathers and dove down out of his swords current range.
"You learn quick girl, pity it won't save you."
On the ground Ron and Pyre watched the battle, neither able to join her.
"Sure you can't fly man?" Ron asked
"Very sure," the dragon groaned wishing his wings would hurry up and heal from his battle with the Thunder Dragon. After a second he cocked his head and looked at the feather he had received when he beat his opponent and of the few words he could hear Zita say before she changed. "Maybe," he said as a few things came together in his mind, "with a few changes."
Holding his feather in his paw, "ancient power deep in side, release the force that would hide, wings of thunder that shake the sky, release one who can not die!" As with Zita in the beginning nothing happened then the feather rose into the sky and glowed before lightning covered his body then died away.
Unlike Zita who looked semi human, there no mistaking him for anything but a dragon, albeit one now in gold with feathered wings rather than his former red.
"Damn," was all Ron could say looking up at his partner.
"Understand," Pyre asked cocking his head.
"I think so," as Ron nodded his head and pulled the feather
"Good," as the dragon flapped his wings ready to join the battle.
"Ancient power deep in side, release the force that would hide, wings of ice that freeze the sky, release one who can not die!" Ron silently hoped he had said the right words and was rewarded as the feather glowed an eerie blue glow and ice covered his body.
When the ice feel away he was like Zita, albeit with the griffons form, the armor of the Forest Knight covering his chest, arms and legs. At his hip was a similar sword to the one Zita carried but the hilt looked like his ax instead of her trident.
"Very cool," a small smile playing at his corners of his mouth at the pun. Looking up, "if you can, help me," he was unsure why he said it, but somehow it made him feel better about being in the Ice Griffon's body. A quick flap brought him into battle along side the others, knowledge of how to fly just part of him.
"I'm curious have you ever dealt with anything like this before Ron?" Zita called to her partner as he flew towards her.
"I turned into a Beaver once, and Barkin and Pyre were fused together for a few minutes that close enough?"
"Not really," as she lashed out with her sword sending a jet of flame at Wraithmaster, a flame he dodged with a flap of his wings. A move that lined him up for Pyres lightning blast to made contact with him and send him to tumbling end over end.
"Nice one big guy," Ron yelled out as he dove and pulled his sword, a second after the black clad warrior stopped his fall his skull was met by Ron's blade his entire helmet freezing then shattering it. A quick flap brought Ron back to the others and looking down at the headless opponent.
"That has got to stop him," Zita hissed
"You wish little girl," Wraithmaster hissed as his head reformed, "I'm data, I'm indestructible nothing you mortals can conceive can beat me."
"Well I'm open to suggestions," Zita shrugged as she watched their adversary rise.
Ron looked at his sword, or more exactly the ax like hilt of his sword, "why not," as he lashed out with his sword and focused on his ax, on the forest and released a brown energy blast from his sword that connected with the Wraithmaster's chest and sent him end over end and screaming in pain.
"Enjoy that mammal because it was the last time you'll hit me," the Wraithmaster snarled as removed his hand from the fractured breast plate, but unlike the other strikes it didn't heal. "No," he hissed looking up at them, not understanding what was happening, just knowing somehow their weapons were somehow preventing him from enacting repairs to his form. Snarling he lashed out with his blade ready to kill the three. Coming up between the three he did a quick spin and connected with all three opponents at once with his sword sending them falling from the sky.
"I think we've ticked him off," Ron slightly laughed as he flared his wings and halted his fall and spun and fired off another wave of energy that connected with the Wraithmaster making him howl in pain. "Lady and dragon I think we have a weapon, screw the beast power, drowned and flambé him!"
That was all the others needed to hear as Zita dodged a sword strike by sailing over him and caused an arc of blue lightning to fire from her blade and connect with Wraithmaster between his wings, causing a pained roar to escape him.
"I think the tree frog has a point," Zita laughed experiencing a head rush and dove down under Wraithmaster as he tried to slash it her, hitting nothing as she flew under him. A move he tried to replicate as he turned in midair and was rewarded with a fire ball in the butt courtesy of Pyre that sent him to the ground.
"I don't know about you but I'm ready to end this," Ron barked, "all at once lets end this," as he aimed his sword, Zita doing like wise and Pyre opening up his mouth. "On three"
Simultaneously from the trio, "THREE," as they all released blasts from their weapons and struck him dead on, causing the virus to scream and howl as he was torn apart, his armor shattering in the presence of the mystically enhanced attacks. As the armor cracked white light emerged from the lines as if trying to escape the wounded body. Then for a brief moment the body flared and the world seemed to stop before everything regained it's speed and the Wraithmaster was gone, smoke rising from the spot he had been.
"Tell me we won?" Zita half begged, half questioned looking around fully expecting some kind of double cross and to attacked by Wraithmaster or some other creature on his behalf.
"Just keep you eyes open Zita," Ron warned as he flew in small circles looking over the expanse ready for an attack.
"Ok this might seem like a stupid question but if he's dead how do we get home?" Zita asked her eyes scanning the area where Wraithmaster had been.
"At no point have I ever claimed to be the team tech expert, so don't look at me, but I think we got ripped off. I'm thinking ultimate revenge here, he dies and we're left here to rot."
"I'm pretty sure I've seen that movie."
"Serious," Pyre growled looking around not looking forward to spending the rest of his life fighting squirrels.
"Sorry bubby," as Ron flew over to the dragon, "but I have no idea what to do here."
"Know," the Fire/Thunder Dragon sighed sympathizing with the human/griffon.
"Hey think of it this way, at least we're not trapped in Pong."
"You want to eat her or should I?"
"I do it," Pyre growled taking off after Zita intent on chasing her till she couldn't fly anymore thing bringing her tried form back to Ron where they'd laugh about it till she woke up.
The trio only flew a few feet in their respective directions before the world seemed to slow and a sharp pain ran through their bodies.
All Will could de was shake his head, "I can't believe that worked."
"Hey don't knock it at least we're out," a laugh in her voice as she let herself enjoy the moment.
"But that whole plan was a shot in the dark at best, there is no way that should have worked."
"Was the access panel behind that wall? Does simple logic not say if you blow up the lock the door will open?"
"I said it before and I'll say it again that is sloppy, I would have never done something that reckless before having to work with you."
"I also bet you wouldn't have streaked before you met me, face facts Will your going to have to learn to adapt or your not going to survive long with us. As I learned a long time ago from Ron, sometimes the one in a million shots pay off so give them a shot they can't hurt."
Looking up and shaking his head, "what I wouldn't give to have my old job back."
Suddenly her voice lost it's joking edge and took a serious tone, "you can pity yourself after we get the others back, till then keep it to yourself."
For a moment Will considered snapping at Kim but let it drop, truth was he was more worried about them than he though he should have been and it worried him a little bit. "Don't worry the second we hit get through the door," looking down the hallway, "we'll get out and it should be easy sailing from there."
"I hope your right, but with our luck Wraithmaster probably has every security system in the building on at this point."
"Way to think positive Possible," as he took a slight lead and took position in front of the door that lead to Mr. Mevious office and from there a quick shot out of the building. A quick look back told him she was ready in case something behind the door was going to try and kill them. 'One, two,' he counted to himself, 'three,' and forced the door open and pulled back half expecting gun fire to be heard."
"We're clear," Kim sighed carefully walking in, "and I hope that's the last security system there is." Kim barley got to the door before instinct told her something was wrong and dove to the ground ready for whatever came. Only to end up being a little embarrassed when she saw it was only the computers mounted camera, it was glowing. "Don't see that everyday," as she got to her feet but kept her distance on the off chance it might explode. Then the camera pulsed nearly blinding the pair then pulsed again and again before stopping.
"Well.." Will started.
A pair of arms shot up over the desk, "LETS DO IT AGAIN!"
Kim jumped on the desk and slid to the edge over looking the trio on the ground, "Ron," her voice somewhere between ecstatic and skeptical.
"KP, what's up?" the blond human asked on the ground lying on top of Zita, Pyre on his chest. He did a quick look at his hands and then brought them to his face, "BOOYAH I'm not blue anymore!"
"OOOOKKKK," as the redhead looked at him sideway then shrugged and hugged him pulling him up off the others.
"Thanks," Zita moaned on the floor, "he was getting heavy," as she pushed herself to her feet. "Um where are we?"
"Everlot Inc," Will said offering her a hand, "nice to know you made it out."
"Out, we kicked Wraithmasters tail," pumping her arms in the air before dropping them and hanging her head, "and once more no ones going to believe this story."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Ron snapped.
"I really don't care, I'm just glad your back," Kim sighed letting him go
"That's only one of us, what happened?" Will asked
"That is complicated," Zita started, "and best told over warm pizza and cold soda, your buying spy boy," as she drug him out.
"Well she doesn't seem any worse for wear," Kim laughed
"No I think she was having the time of her life, I'm just glad to be out of there."
"Sounds like you had a rough time."
"One way of putting it KP, but you look like you've seen better days yourself."
"Yeah, Wraithmaster controlling a security system and a couple of laser cannons, not the worst things I've ever faced but I can think of other things I could have been doing."
"Right cheerleaders that's still today right?"
"It was, got pushed back a week and speaking of which don't have anything planed for next Saturday, I'm going to need your help."
"Why do I not like the sound of this," he whimpered shaking his head.
"You tell me your story, I'll tell you mine."
"Right," as they headed out the door, "well I woke up in Everlot and…
Authors note: Yes I'm back and so is my inspiration to bad I'm going on vacation soon so I have no idea how long I'll be able to write but with any luck I'll have this story done before I leave (maybe 2 more chapters). And if you haven't noticed I learned how to space the stories, yeah. I know most people won't get it but Pyres hero is Ricky Ticky Tavy (no I don't own him, I wish I did, I wish I owned the moive Chuck Jones did but I don't own it either, and I have no idea if I spelled the name right) but I thought the parralleas were to cool not to tribute. With luck I'll get the rest down and up in a few days
Well please R&R