1Chapter Ten: The Deceiver's Return Pt 2
Cyborg was the first one in Raven's room, sonic cannon drawn. He saw a hysteric Raven trashing her room, and a confused Einderan trying to calm her down.
The metal man had to dodge to the side as Raven flung her entire bed to the side, right out her door. Beast Boy, Robin, and Starfire only just managed to get out of the way.
Blue cloak fluttering behind her, she walked up to Cyborg and pleaded, "Please, tell me this is some sort of sick joke. Where is it? Where is he?"
"Raven, I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't been in your room since the whole magic mirror thing. What's wrong?"
She broke down into tears, and fell back onto the floor. Cyborg and Einderan caught her, and her brother said sternly, "Raven, calm down and tell us what's going on."
As if by magic (It probably was), her face calmed slightly, and she told them in a still shaky voice, "T-the books. A-and... Him... They're gone."
"Who are you talking about?"
"...Malchior."
And with that she started crying again, and not even Einderan's most powerful magic could hope to stop her.
LATER, AFTER SEVERAL CUPS OF COFFEE/HERBAL TEA/WHATEVER...
Raven had calmed down after a while, and sat in the living room. She was thinking, trying to figure out what might have happened to the books.
"Sister... What happened?"
She knew what he was referring to. And even though she didn't want to..., "I had found a book, the chronicles of a magician knight named Malchior, who fought and sealed a terrible dragon. But, it seemed that Malchior in the process of defeating the dragon, had to seal himself into the book. I talked to him, the spirit in the book... He was the first person to... In so long... I fell in love with him. There was no mistake, I loved him. He made me feel, not out of place. He was the only one..."
Einderan stood, nodding his head slightly.
"I wanted to help him... He began to teach me spells, incantations... It was powerful magic, too powerful for me, dark magic... But I didn't care. I trusted him, loved him, and... I would have done any spell or chant to help him. That's what he was doing, helping me prepare to release him from the book. And I did..."
Tears began to run down her face, so he put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, "Then what?"
"I was an idiot. I should have seen it all along..."
"What?"
"Malchior wasn't the name of the magician, it was the name of the dragon. The magician was named Rorek, and he had sealed Malchior in the book... And I let him out. He made me fall in love with him, just to escape..." She paused a moment, took a deep breath, then continued, "I did manage to send him back into the book, but it was a close thing."
"And now the book that holds this 'Malchior', and several others have gone missing. Any idea what could've happened to them?"
"No... I had that chest sealed. Those books though, they were the ones I used in the ceremony to release Malchior... Along with some other ingredients... But I'm quite sure that I'm the only one on this world that could have the power to summon Malchior. I'm the only one that even knows how."
"Who could've stole it then? None of your friends, they seem to understand that would not be appropriate. Not any of my people... In fact, the only time someone could've stolen them was either last night or during..."
Raven's hand instinctively shot up to where Mael had cut off some of her hair...
FLASH BACK
Raven screamed in fury and launched everything she had at him. It either bounced off or was stopped before impact. Mael was chuckling, "So close now. It won't be long..."
She stopped her attack, seeing that it wasn't working, "What won't be long, demon?"
"So many things dear Princess Rasemune. So many things."
At that moment the demon shot forward, summoning up his black sword. Raven tried to raise her barrier, but knew it wouldn't form in time, and her reactions were going to slow to dodge.
She saw the blade come closer, and closer, then she closed her eyes.
She felt the wind of the blade go by, not even centimeters from her head. She was motionless for a moment, then opened her eyes, dazed.
Mael caught the hairs he had cut as they fell, grasping them firmly in hand.
"Kirheinse!" Einderan yelled as he teleport to the scene, ready to fight.
Mael raised the hairs, and grinned at Raven, "My battle trophies. Sorry our meeting was cut short princess, I hope we don't see each other any time soon."
END FLASHBACK...
"Oh no... That's why he attacked... Kirheinse is going to summon Malchior! That's why he just got a few strands of my hair..."
"And if he had killed you, the magic would be forfeit. Darn you Kirheinse, blasphemous dog..."
"We have to stop him." Raven said, standing up, "Mael holds the book. And if he summons Malchior, I don't think any of us can stop him." She looked her brother dead in the eyes, "Not even you."
Einderan smiled bitterly, "We'll see about that."
"Brother, you don't understand. Malchior is over a thousand years old, and he's had nothing to do but learn. He's a dragon, the likes of which hasn't been seen in six hundred years. This isn't some half rate demon lackey or some conjurer of cheap tricks. I managed to catch him by surprise and send him back into the book. But Mael has the book, and I highly doubt that Malchior would fall for that again. I don't see how any of us can defeat him..."
"Raven." Einderan said softly, trying to get her to stop talking.
"I don't know if even together... We might stand a chance, but... It's slim..."
"Raven, don't worry. Have some trust, in me, your friends, my friends. Remember, it doesn't matter how dark, evil, or powerful something is, we've faced worse."
She laughed a little, "Ya, calling our family 'dysfunctional' would be understating an understatement."
"Alright, I believe this will be it. If Malchior is as strong as you say, then I doubt that Mael has any better weapons to use against us. Maybe this time I can finally send him back where he belongs..."
"You'll have to get through Malchior first."
LATER
Frista looked out over Jump City, noting where there were soldiers searching. Einderan had a feeling that Mael would perform the summoning somewhere close, so they had begun to sweep the city. Some other scouts were sent around to the areas around the city, just in case. But for some reason a feeling deep in Frista's gut told her, they weren't going to find Mael.
And to top it off, Einderan had suddenly dissapeared. And he did this every time he knew a battle was coming. She wasn't as worried as she was the first time (They had all been in a panic for a while), but she still felt fear nagging at her. What if he didn't come back this time?
But he always came. And he was ready to fight. That's what had happened every time so far before a fight, he went off to be alone and do whatever it was he did to get ready. Normally it was for an hour, maybe two.
They were coming up on five hours now. Either something was wrong with him, or he was really, really worried about this fight.
Raven had told her about what they would face. Malchior, a dragon sorcerer. Dragons... She had heard of them of course, but had never actually seen one. No one had ever seen one, they had been driven from Azarath long ago. But she really didn't want to see a dragon, and certainly didn't want to fight one. But if Einderan was that worried...
No, she couldn't think like that. It would help no one.
Of course, when a flash of light erupted from somewhere in the city, she couldn't think of anything that she could to help anyone.
ELSEWHERE
Raven was knocked back by the force of the spell. She had found Mael, but too late. She looked up into the sky in horror, as a huge black creature took form. It's wings burst outward, and it gave a roar that would've made a deaf man cringe.
Slade and Mael looked up at the creature, both actually impressed.
"Such power..."
"I had heard of this dragon, but I didn't believe it would be as powerful as this..." Slade commented.
"Ah, freedom. It is such a sweet thing." The dragon said, laughing darkly.
"Malchior, I have given you your freedom, now what about your part of the bargain?" Mael asked, recovering from his shock, and getting back to business.
"Well, now that I'm free, why should I listen to you?"
"Would you like to go back in the book, dragon?"
"Ha! I won't fall for that a third time!"
"I don't have to trick you. You have never seen anyone as powerful as I am." Mael countered cooly.
"Oh? And yet you need me to destroy these pitiful 'rebels' of yours?"
Slade looked over, and saw Raven, staring open mouthed in horror at the dragon. Smirking underneath his mask, Slade told them, "I do believe we have a rather special guest Lieutenant."
Malchior and Mael both looked to where he directed. Mael smiled devilishly, "Ah, Princess Rasemune. I trust you know our new friend here?"
"Ah, dear sweet Raven. You've been a very bad girl you know. Locking me back into that infernal book, tsk tsk tsk. But I believe I will have great fun punishing you."
Mael stopped him with a wave of the hand, "No, this little brat is mine."
"And since when do you give me orders, demon?"
The demon-sorcerer looked up at Malchior, "Don't worry, I'll let you finish her. But I have a score to settle with her you see."
"Ha! Alright, but if my sweet Raven is dead when you're finished I will rip you apart." Malchior said, his tone unnerving in it's casualness.
"If only you could dragon, if only you could."
Suddenly, Raven sprang back to life, and she lashed out at Mael. Catching him off guard, she lifted him into the air, and flung him right into Slade. While they were sprawled on the ground, she flew over, and grabbed Malchior's book. She glided away quickly, but was caught by Malchior's tail, and was sent hurtling to the ground.
The dragon lifted the book from the ground with his powers, and tucked it safely underneath one of his scales, "Sweet Raven, surely you aren't still angry about last time are you? I was locked up in that book for over a thousand years, so I was perhaps a bit overly anxious about getting out, but still..." He said, mockingly. Raven stood up, and glared at him.
"Not this time! You aren't going to trick me this time you monster!"
"Monster? Now you've gone and hurt my feelings."
He was suddenly standing before her, but as a man. Like she had pictured him, in white armor with a large 'M' on the chest plate. Lanky, long hair trailing behind him.
But those eyes were the same, the same eyes as the dragon.
His voice had changed as well, to the one he had used to trick her, "Sweet fair maiden, do not fear. I mean no ill will towards you."
"The feeling isn't mutual Malchior!" She screamed, and hurled a piece of debris at him, but it shattered before impact.
"Hahahaha, you can't hurt me my dear Raven."
"But we can!" Kians, the sorcerer from Mystell yelled to him.
Malchior suddenly found his arms wrapped in black whips of magic, and he was being torn in a vicious game of tug-of-war.
"Hmmm... Whip masters of Mystell yes? I must say, I haven't seen your magic in quite a long time, but I notice that it hasn't grown any stronger."
Red electricity ran up the whips, and hit the two sorcerers, braking the spell and sending them both flying.
"A shame really. Such potential... wasted on the weak. Don't you think my sweet Raven?"
The half demon sorceress however, didn't answer. He glanced over, only to be caught in the path of a large bus, which sent him crashing into the ground.
"I'm not your 'sweet Raven' any more you lying dog!"
The dust cleared, and Malchior stood, still as a human, unscathed, "Now, now Raven, we must watch that temper of yours."
Suddenly Frista and about twenty spellcasters appeared all around the street, surrounding Malchior. He glanced around casually, chuckling, "Quantity over quality is it? I'm disappointed Raven."
Mael walked up beside the dragon in human form, "Remember, you take care of these pests, while I entertain the princess."
"But of course. Good bye for now sweet Raven, we will be talking again soon." Malchior waved, and then jumped into the air, turning into his massive dragon form instantly. The various sorcerers/spellcasters looked up at it in awe and horror.
"Hahahahaha, foolish mortal beings, DIE!"
Dragon fire swept the area, forcing a quick retreat from everyone. But as Raven landed, a strong hand grabbed her wrist, "Where do you think you're going Princess Rasemune?"
However, for some reason the demon couldn't fathom, she smiled. It was a confident, almost cocky smile. And considering the situation that he had her in, it was totally out of place.
So much so that it unnerved Mael.
"You really are slow aren't you? Azarath Metreone Zinthos!"
He was surrounded in a black aura, but for some reason he could not brake free. He watched in surprise as the ground suddenly became very far away, and he rocketed up into the sky.
Mael slammed into something hard, and heard a grunt of surprise.
"Demon! What are you doing?" Malchior asked, knocking the smaller figure off.
"Looks like the princess has learned some new tricks." Mael told him, preparing to fly back down.
"Honestly, if you can not defeat her..."
"Hehehehe... There is no one on this world that can defeat me. She merely caught me by surprise."
Three spells were sent upwards, but they merely bounced off the dragon's thick scales, "These pests aren't even an annoyance. But I must say, they are providing quite good sport. I've never seen humans scamper away this quickly."
Mael smiled sadistically, "Oh, by all means entertain yourself. After all, we already have victory do we not? There is no way that they can stop me, Slade, and you!"
"This is true. But still, I was hoping for perhaps something that resembled a challenge."
"Then wait until the leader of these rebels arrives. He will provide challenge enough." Mael told the dragon, then descended back to the city.
The dragon chuckled, "I do hope so."
Then he noticed that he was now surrounded by no less than fifty mages, hovering uncertainly around him.
"Hmmm... What do you do now dear children? You see, no matter your numbers, you have never before faced an opponent like me."
They waited, gathering their energies for a simultaneous assault. Then on an unspoken signal, they unleashed all the power they had into the dragon.
He felt no pain, merely a pleasant tingling from the withering barrage.
"You'll have to do better than that!" He yelled, releasing a black wave from his body, knocking them away and out of the air. But most caught themselves, and those that didn't got back up almost emmediatly.
"Well, you're persistent, I'll give you that.". Then Malchior chuckled, and with an unexpectedly strong rush of energy smashed everything within five hundred yards of him strait down. Buildings crumbled, people ran yelling and screaming, and above it all Malchior laughed maliciously.
He saw a young, gray cloaked sorceress stumble to her feet, dazed. The dragon smiled, and gave a roar to fill the bravest of hearts with terror. Flames issued forth from his mouth, in a deadly column that would singe bone into a crisp.
Frista looked up in horror, knowing that no spell or incantation she could use would stop dragon fire. She closed her eyes, calmly accepting her fate.
Raven watched in horror from a short distance away as her friend was consumed in the torrent of flame. The flames traveled outward like a wave, melting and burning without mercy.
A hazy smoke arose from the magical flames, filling the air with a fog that no one's sight could penetrate.
Malchior was laughing, sadistic and evil. Nothing could hope to stand in his way. And when he was done with these incompetent fools he would turn his attention to the demon and the undead spirit. No one would stop him this time.
Out of no where a strong breeze began to blow, dispelling the fog into wisps of smoke on the wind. Malchior's laughter ceased.
There, sitting wide eyed in shock, was Frista. Completely unharmed. Around her shimmered an almost transparent blue shield. And there was no logical source for it.
"What trickery is this?"
Then he noticed a figure hovering in the air. Black cloak billowing in the wind, face hidden under the shadow of the hood.
He looked like every other sorcerer there. But there was something different... What?
The cloaked figure started drifting closer, and said softly, "Frista, tell Kians he's in charge for now. Get everyone out of here, I'll try to lead him away."
Frista was still shocked, and only just heard the voice, but nodded and flew to complete the orders.
Malchior regarded the approaching figure with arrogance, and a bit of confusion, "One? You expect to face me alone, after I defeat fifty of you at once? Are you daft? Do you know who I am?"
"No, and I honestly don't care." The soft voice replied venomously.
"You will. I am the dread dragon Malchior, the greatest and most powerful of the ancient dragons. My wings cast a shadow of ever lasting night, and when the dawn finally rises there is only scorched earth and burnt corpses! I have faced armies of the greatest heroes of this realm and laughed at their pitiful attempts to slay me. There is no magic I have not learned, no spell I have not mastered. I am the future master of this and every world, if you bow down to me I may let you and your pitiful excuse for fighters live."
"You really enjoy the sound of your own voice. Personally it's going to be a pleasure to silence you, permanently if necessary."
The dragon burst out laughing at the insolence of this boy, "Hahahahaha! Foolish mage, Rorek of Noll couldn't kill me, and he was the greatest human sorcerer ever to walk! He could only bind me to that book, which I now hold. How do you propose to silence me?"
"So Mael did not tell you anything about who I am?"
"Ah, you're the one leading this rebellion. Against who, I do not know and frankly do not care. So, no really I guess I don't know anything about you."
"Good. Then allow me to introduce myself. My name is Einderan Roth." He said, bowing. When he straitened up, he continued, "Though before I was known as Einderan Kalsamune. Son of Trigon the Terrible."
"You lie."
"Hehe, do I? Former general of my father's legions, taught and tutored by Trigon himself in the arts of magic and the occult."
Malchior actually felt his blood, dragon blood, run cold hearing this. He readied himself, because he instinctively could tell that this was no bluff. However, after a moment, the dragon regained composure and said calmly, "Please child, I don't care who you're father is."
"Sent to the magic city Azarath to insure it's fall, but lost my memory. Raised by Arella of Azarath, and taught further into the magical arts, and the powers of the mind. You call me child dragon, but I am almost three hundred years old."
"And I am well over a thousand!"
"The first, last, and only person to ever rebel against Trigon, the Ender of Worlds. And the only one to ever face him one on one in battle and live to tell the tale. Now, do you wish to surrender or must we delay the inevitable."
Now the dragon sorcerer was angry, "You fool! You are nothing! The rebellious son to a washed up demon overlord. You think I care who your father is or that you fought him and lived. Ha, you disgust me. Bragging about your past, I hope you've enjoyed this because I do believe it's time for you to die!"
"Is that panic I hear in your voice? Is it possible that the 'dread dragon' Malchior is afraid?"
"Insolent dog! I'll make sure your death is a slow and painful one!"
"I don't see what my sister could possibly have seen in you..."
Malchior was taken aback, "Raven is your sister? She is a daughter of Trigon?"
"Oh, is the big bad dragon even more scared now? The wrath of a woman scorned and the wrath of a daughter of Trigon."
"Oh, I'm petrified."
Suddenly four red eyes appeared from under the hood, and Einderan said in a cold manner, "You broke my sister's heart. You have caused her pain. This is not something I will forgive. Now face my wrath dragon, let's see how long you fare."
Malchior quickly created a ball of energy, and shot it at Einderan, who didn't even move. The spell hit full on, but with no effect. The dragon wizard's eyes opened wider, "But how?"
"It's time for us to begin. If you believe in God, start praying. If not, you may want to start reconsidering you're beliefs." Einderan said calmly, his body being surrounded in a black aura.
Malchior gritted his teeth and replied, "You will die for your insolence you disrespectful demon spawn."
"Then kill me. If you can."
END CHAPTER TEN
Ha, ya I know it was boring there until the end, but next chapter...
Einderan vs Malchior!
Oh, and it seems more than one person guessed what was happening. So, you all get a signed copy of the spell book that Raven keeps stealing from Einderan!
Einderan: But there's only one book stupid.
Me: (Glares, then smiles sadistically) Then you'd better get to copying then shouldn't you!
Einderan: What? You want me to copy the entire thing?
Me: Get to it.
Einderan: Can I use the photocopier?
Me: (Grabs baseball bat) Now!
Einderan: (Runs into corner and starts whimpering)
Me: (Sigh) Sadly, I guess none of you get a copy of the book, since I'm too lazy to copy it myself. Sorry.
Midnightmare: Hey!
Jordanals: Ya! What about us?
Me: Well... Hey get out of my Fanfiction!
(The two reviewers run off as I shoot flaming lasers from my eyes)
Ah, another pointless end of chapter skit. Oh, and here's another comeback. I shall start calling these:
RAVEN'S COMEBACKS OF THE DAY
Today's is...
"To bad, so sad. Go cry me a river, and DROWN IN IT!"
Yes, I am evil...
Anyway, next chapter is going to be the most awesome, coolest, most action packed mage battle since... ever.
God bless
Professor Curly-