Dangerous and Magical

Chapter 14: Pure Sacrifice

Tired and breathing heavily, Krystal and Aurora continue to attack each other with all their strength, neither one willing to fall admitting defeat. They pushed past their fatigue, minds clearly focused on their goals. The fire that burned deep in their hearts, hidden from the eyes of their pasts, was finally revealed. The glow within their eyes became brighter with every passing second.

So caught within the heat of their battle, the young creatures did not hear the wide doors, through which Krystal had previously entered, slam against the opposing walls with a loud bang. However, the sudden echo of Krystal's name brought the White Magician to her senses awakening her from her burning desires. The extinguished fire was now gone from her eyes, returning them to their calm crystalline blue.

The intensity of the duel now vanquished from her mind, Krystal fell to her knees exhausted; her white/gold staff clattered lifelessly to the cold opal stone floor. After regaining some consciousness, Krystal blinked away the hate that had remained from her eyes, and soon felt another presence pull her tired body into a warm and strong embrace. For a moment, Krystal felt happy. She felt safe; she didn't want to wake from this dream. Slowly, she lifted her blurred crystalline gaze staring into the worried gaze of light amethyst.

Mace kneeled above Krystal, catching her quickly as she fell into his protective grasp. Removing his deep violet colored robe, he gently draped it around Krystal's shoulders. He wanted to take her away from this place; to a place to be together, forever, unto the end of time.

Suddenly, a shrill dark laughter broke Mace from his wishful dream state. He looked up see the Cosmo Queen gleaming down smugly at the two magicians. "Ha ha…! I have finally done it! I have finally defeated my own flesh and blood!"

Mace was in shock and surprise at what he heard. The great Cosmo Queen, ruler of this forbidden wasteland of the Fiends, didn't want to take over the Shadow Realm, only to get some kind of revenge of a sibling rivalry. The news shocked the others, who stood, too stunned to speak, blocking the door's entrance. Neo fell to his knees, his blue eyes ready to cry. His own sister used him against his will, just to kill his own flesh and blood. Just then a something sparked within his deep blue gaze.

The Dark Magician could not believe what he was hearing and started to stand preparing to fight in Krystal's place. However, before he could advance, his movement was halted by a frail grasp pulling at his robes. He turned with a silent, worried gasp and found pale blue eyes staring up at him. It was then he realized that the crystalline spark was gone from her eyes.

Regaining some consciousness, Krystal was able to realize where she was and, as the White Magician and to help her sister, she knew what she had to do. She grasp the Dark Magician's robes a chance to catch his attention; it worked.

"Mace," Krystal breathed out jadedly, "this is my battle with my twin sister. Please don't get involved. Run, get everyone as far away as you can before it's too late."

The Dark Magician, giving her a quick protective glare of violet eyes, he knelt back down and gathered Krystal's body, which was becoming colder by the minute, "Krystal, I promise I will never leave your side. No one will be able to separate us again."

Krystal smiled at his words and with a trembling hand reached up to touch his cheek. "I know Mace, and I give my word I will always protect you. I love you Dark Magician."

Suddenly, out of no where, Krystal shoved Mace to the side with the last of her strength. Mace somersaulted, landing on his knee, Krystal's words echoing in his mind. However, his eyes only saw horror as the Cosmo Queen stood above Krystal with a sword, which glowed like the moon in a starless night sky, gripped tightly in her pale bony hand as she drove the saber through Krystal's heart, but a simultaneous and massive ray of golden light shot forward, piecing the Cosmo Queen from behind, making her cry out in agony.

Dark eyes looked upon the magical couple, her lying helplessly in his arms. Aurora was so looking forward to defeating her sister, but no one was congratulating her, they all worried about Krystal. Krystal, you can do it. Krystal, good luck, we're all behind you. Aurora couldn't take anymore. She never once got a 'good work Aurora'. She was never treated as her own person, but as a twin of Krystal. She was older! She was the one who was to be better, than how did Krystal surpass her? Dark flames of rage and envy set her night black eyes aglow like fireworks, and with quickly reflexes and spell silently summoned to her hand, she dashed toward Krystal, with the hope to rid herself of her miserable past.

Tearful blue eyes gazed back to the battle between his sisters. Neo was still in shock that his own sister would force him against his own kind. He loved his kin but most of all his sisters. Aurora. Krystal. Both of them were always there for him when he was sad or lonely. However, the burning in his eyes told him what Aurora has done is unforgivable, and before he could think of his actions, he murmured a spell, and launched a bright golden beam of light from his hand straight at the Cosmo Queen piercing her through the heart. "Forgive me Aurora, Krystal." He cried; falling to the floor exhausted. Catalina saw this and ran to him hugging him close as she watched helplessly as the damage was being done.

I looked up, trying to keep my eyes open for as long as I could. Each breath I took was agony like it was tearing my body in two. Aurora stood above me; her grasp on the sword was failing as she too gasped for breath. The golden beam of light that shot through her was starting to fade; I had to smile, though weakly. Neo has become a great sorcerer, Aurora would be proud if she could see him, I know I am. I'm sorry for pushing you away Mace, but I meant what I said; I will always protect with all my being. I love you.

With her final breath, Krytstal closed her eyes and her body became lifeless. At the same time, the Cosmo Queen also collapsed motionlessly to the ground in a heap at most a foot away from Krystal's body. Just then, Krystal's body began to glow a brilliant white light. It radiated outward blinding everyone within the room. Mace tried to keep his gaze on Krystal's motionless form however, the light was just too bright, feeling like he was staring into the setting sun. The last thing he saw was Krystal's body evaporating into a sparkling mist

The next thing anyone knew was that everyone in the group was gathered at the forest's edge, at the foot of the White Mountains, the boundary of the Light creatures' territory. They Shadow warriors surveyed their surroundings trying to decipher what happened. Just then, out of no where, an elder woman all in immaculate white robes appeared before them all, leaning slightly against her wooden staff. Neo's weary gaze looked up from his place, head leaning on Catalina's shoulder. Pale blue eyes went wide as he lifted himself from Catalina's grasp only to drop to his knee, bowing low with respect. Sara and Courtney did the same. "Neo, what are you do-" Catalina whispered but was cut off, "It's the White-robed Sage, Mistress of the Valley of Light." Sara whispered. However, the elder woman just smiled held up her free hand, beckoning the others up. They stood.

"Mistress Sage, tell us what happened to Krystal and the Cosmo Queen." Mace almost cried out urgently.

The woman just lowered her head and silence followed for at least five minutes before she finally spoke, however, facing Neo.

"As you already know, the bond between you and your sisters was fated from the very beginning. Normally your blast, Neo, wouldn't have even scratched the Cosmo Queen. Aurora and Krystal are twins true enough but they are as different as the sun and moon. It is Neo who is the link between them. Whichever, one shows more power and courage in battle and in living; she is who he follows after. Their battle is never-ending. However, as long as Krystal's heart remains strong within each of you, her friends and loved ones, her light will forever shine protecting us all and this land, which she loved with her whole being. See for yourself."

With a wave of her staff, the forest canopy parted left and right. A pure silvery white mist blew across the entire Shadow Realm, making the land look like the first morning this realm experienced.

"Mistress we have to know what happened to Aurora, if what we see now is Krystal's energy." Courtney announced turning to elder woman.

The woman's smile as she looked up frowned quickly as she heard Wingweaver's concern. She stepped away from the spot she stood at, and their on the ground, motionless was a young woman, naked, and draped underneath a white cloak. Dark golden blonde hair fanned all around her body, and her skin was a pale as fresh snow.

"Krystal…" Mace whispered, hopefully.

"No…" answered Sara behind him, "…It's Aurora. Krystal's light must have purified her body and she returned to normal."

"Yes, nevertheless, without a soul there is no life." Mistress Sage whispered solemnly.

Neo looked upon his sister's lifeless body, as tears formed his eyes. "I'm sorry Aurora." He mouthed, so no one could hear him.

"Mistress Sage," began the Celtic Guardian, "Why doesn't Aurora's body fade like all light creatures do when they die?"

The woman smiled sorrowfully, "…Because the soul was destroyed before the body was purified." She looked dead on with Neo for only a brief second, before turning away again. "However, there is another way we can still have a proper farewell, to both fallen warriors."

That night, star filled sky lit with fire that could be seen from even the farthest corner of the land. As Mace looked past the flames at Aurora's body, he thought he would only feel anger for her but his heart consumed his mind. One day he would see Krystal again, he knew she would never break her promise, and neither would he. He would just wait patiently for her to return, if not here then in another lifetime, because true love is never bound by mortal laws.

THE END

Finally I am done! After about year and a half, has it been that long?

For those who do read this to the end, I'm sorry if it gets confusing, but I think my writing style was going through so drastic changes and that's probably why I had writer's block a lot through the workings of this story.

For those who also have read Humans and Beasts, and My Celestial, I am continuing H&B even as we speak and I have starter chapters 1 and 2 for MC, but I will try to finish H&B before I start on MC. Forgive me, but that's the way my brain is working right now.

Thank you for sticking with me, all few but faithful; but finally I'm finished. Now I have… to go to class. Damn

Yours truly,

Danica Loy