Chapter 2: Halo's prison and Hope
I know that I skipped an epi, but it wasn't relevant to the fic and it would've been a boring read for those of us who've seen the anime. It's basically the same. However the verses of the poem are important and still relevant:
1.Drinking strangth from immortal fire
2.The darkest prison sheds the light
3.Churns beneath a swirl of salt
4.Burning within a throne of rock
5.Floating amongst the eyes of the ages
Unmoored in a stream of the sky
The first verse led them to Ryo and the second has sent them to search for Sage
"Whoa this place makes you feel like you're walking on the moon." Ryo says. "Are you sure Sage is around here somewhere?"
"Positive. Let's start searching." Mia replies. They reach the mouth of a cave. White Blaze growls.
"What's wrong?" Mia asks. There's a small lake before the cave and behind them.
"He thinks someone's following us." Ryo replies. Suddenly Sekhmet appears out of a spray of water.
"Thank you for guiding me here." He says.
Sekhmet, I thought you were dead!" Ryo exclaims surprised.
"As you can see I'm qiute alive. Now prepare to die!" Sekhmet attacks.
"Uyle. Mia Stay back!" Ryo says as he dodges.
"No medicine in the world can save you from this snakebite." Sekhmet attacks again and again Ryo dodges and a girl lands on his.
"Hope, what are you doing here?" Sekhmet asks. She stands. She's a little shorter than Ryo and she's the girl from earlier. She shakes the dust from her shortish dirty-blonde hair and fixes her light grey-blue eyes on Sekhmet. She looks vaguely like Sage.
"None of your business." She replies defiantly.
"Your tongue will be your end girl." Sekhmet says attacking her. He misses. Ryo rebounds off a rock.
"Hey Sekhmet! You'll get a kick outta this!" He says kicking Sekhmet in the face. Hope laughs.
"Little wench!" Sekhment slashes a sword in her direction disabling her voice. Meanwhile Ryo notices that Sekhments swords have left their mark. Hope jumps to the mouth of the cave.
"My sword delivers a fatal bite even when it doesn't touch it's victim." Sekhmet says. Suddenly many dynasty soldiers appear.
"Mia. Uyle. Run!" Ryo says. They run inside the cave. Hope battle some of the soldiers that have appeared. Sekhmet tries throwing his swords as spears and in trying to dodge them Ryo gets poison in his eyes and is blinded. He realices that he cannot fight this way and that this may be the end when White Blaze emerges from the cave. Ryo and Hope both grab on and White Blaze runs them back into the cave.
They stop at a small pool. Ryo rubs water on his eyes as Hope drinks it. White Blaze lays next to a rock watching them.
"Oh no. I still can't see. White Blaze did he spray you too?" He checks White Blaze. Then he remembers Hope. "I know you came here too. Who are you? How did he know you?"
"I'm here to help you. My name is Hope. I live in the dynasty." She replies hesitantly. "I know you're wondering why I would help you." She pauses. "The one you seek here, Sage of Halo is my older brother."
'Hmmm. Could be a dynasty trick, but she sounds nice. If we make it out alive I can ask Sage about her.' Ryo thinks. Ryo calls his armor.
"White Blaze stay here. Hope you better stay here too."
"No, we'll find Sage together. I'm not some weak little girl." Hope says defiance in her voice.
"Alright, but it's not my fault if you get hurt." He shrugs. Carefully they make their way through the cave. Suddenly they fall through some ice and find Sage.
"Sage, answer me!" Ryo calls out.
"You've found Halo." Sekhmet appears. "Now you can die along with these two." He has Mia and Uyle with him.
"We won't die. Not here! Not today!" Hope replies fiercly.
"You shall die first wench!" He tries to attack her, but Ryo blocks him. Sekhmet attacks him and Hope takes a hit. "Stupid girl you shouldn't have gotten in the way." He battles Hope briefly. She sinks down to the floor motionless. He holds Ryo up by his throat. "Now you'll all die." He drops Ryo and prepares to attack.
"C'mon Sage wake up now!" Ryo punches the ice and passes out. Sage emerges in full armor as Hope disappears. He glances at Ryo.
"Now, Sekhmet prepare to meet your fate." Sage says and attacks winning the battle. He then helps Ryo out of the cave and takes out his sword.
"Wait Sage, What're you doing?" Mia asks.
"If I can catch the suns rays and reflect them correctly from the blade of my sword into his eyes I may be able to restore his sight." Sage replies putting his sword to Ryo's forehead as the sun peaks out from behind the clouds.
"It worked!" Ryo says opening his eyes. They take off their armor and walk slowly back to the car. "Sage do you have a sister?" Ryo asks breaking the silence.
"Yea. Why?" Sage replies sounding surprised.
"What's her name?" Uyle asks.
"Her name is Hope and she's younger than me. I haven't seen her in years." He replies wistfully.
"I met her." Ryo says. "Shje's got a sharp tongue and a rebellious fire in her."
"She always was like that." Sage smiles faintly. "I miss her."
