Shitza: Hello! I know some wonders why I'm still up writing been sick so long. Well, I never would write something if I would be half dead, would I. No worries, I do rest when it gets worse but I can't stay in bed too long. Besides, for everyone who is so sweet worrying about me, mum has spoken to me about a hundred times if all this dizziness keeps up we are going to see the doctor yes. Besides, I'm a grown up girl, I know when things get serious. Believe me, I've experienced much worse.
Finally, maybe I can finish this. Whew, I am not the best of writer's writing battles, even if I do my best. I find it a lot easier writing scenes between battles I sometimes just want to write like "they fight" or something. I can write combats and duels, don't find them so hard but mass outbreaks are confusing trying to hold together. I probably messed a lot with the last chapter; hope you can forgive me for that.
Hopefully I'll be able to behave a bit more writing this, and put some of the weirdness behind. Kind of lost track on the last chapter and it was really short. Anyway, this chapter will kind of be another favourite in some parts. Can anyone tell I am Zeo crazy? I can guess so, I have seriously two ways to put these fics, and I kind of chose the second option for all readers' sake. I could have followed Zeo and Kim in this, but I decided not to since it would give away too much in the upcoming fics. I might do so later. This fic follows two roads, Bladebreakers/Zeo and Kim/Daichi/Raya.
Also, some of the magic may be hard to understand what in the world they are doing. Well, I am close to say I have no idea either. This fic mostly lives its own life and plays with me. Well, main explanation in magic and elements coming for them is that they have reached a level they can do more then what their elements are supposed to do. You get the point, don't you? Do also remember they have trained a lot in different arts of magic, meaning they don't just train destroying things. I will kindly demonstrate that further down.
Another thing is, for once in a long time, my writing has made me cry. (Wipes away tears.) Well, there are some reasons I like to include Zeo into this besides the fan girl thing. You will read that as well.
Okay, two… I am really touchy today.
Chapter 15 The Protector of Darkness
#Master, master… wake up, please! #
Zeo opened his eyes slowly. His head was aching and his throat was soar. He looked around, not knowing where he had gone. Cerberus stood, all three heads bent down over him. It felt rather uneasy having three heads with a lot of sharp fangs hovering over you, but Zeo knew Cerberus would never harm him. He slowly got up, his back ached and his arms were bruised.
He looked around. Having lived in the Village of darkness had helped him to see into the darkness. Nothing was there and he panicked. "Her soul, no! Where is it?" his hands roamed over his clothes trying to find something.
#Actually master, I wanted to save it# the Left head said. #But I, swallowed it. #
"You did what?" Zeo asked amazed. The Middle head whacked the left.
#He did not, he is always a pest. The soul is here# the middle head said standing up. Indeed under the beast lay the cloth containing her soul. Zeo took a deep breath of relief.
He suddenly couldn't stop but giggling. Cerberus had three heads, three different heads. The left was the child; the middle the middle aged one and the right the old man. The right was the wisest; the left was the most naïve. The middle always stood in between. He remembered having spent hours simply listening to their conversations and it was laughable. Sometimes, mostly when his friends where around, they spoke in unison or pretended to be one creature, but he knew how different they were and he liked it that way. The left head moaned sadly as the middle lectured it. The right one was quiet; it rarely spoke unless it was for giving advice.
"Could you two stop fighting, where are we?"
#Haven't you guessed, we are prisoners. The demons caught you before you managed to get back, we returned to your blade before that and decided to reappear once no one could see us. # The right head said.
"WHAT!" Zeo said. Something knocked on the barred door, telling him to be quiet. Zeo sunk back and leaned to the wall. Cerberus followed him and put all three heads on his legs. Zeo scratched them all in turns, tears trickling down his eyes. It was all over.
He suddenly felt so empty. The soul of Light lay in his hands giving him warmth. Sadly he closed his eyes, falling into a dream.
The blue dragon and the red phoenix had finally reached their destinations. They swooped down into the hellhole, crushing demons as they went. The evil creatures roared angrily seeing the holy beasts attack them. Painful beams of destruction flew pass them as they hurried down through an endless amount of caves. Finally they reached an empty cave with not too many demons inside. They changed back into themselves, with their bit beasts flying beside them.
"Let's go!" Tyson said heading down. Kai was right behind him, hurrying as well. The two teens ran down the caves, following the faint light leading down towards the forbidden areas. The shadows glared at them, but did nothing. Now and then they stopped to switch directions, they had no idea how far they ran but it was as if they knew were they were going. Having grown in Elemental Strength they too could tell a slight difference in Darkness between good and bad. Most of the darkness made them feel sick, except a slight feeling below their feet. They had a feeling Zeo was there; they hoped that he had managed his quest for there was no more time. They had to get him out of there.
In a flash of red/gold and deep blue two beams shot from their palms to guide them. The beams intertwined and connected into a magical thread. Both teens grabbed it. With a flash of light they had disappeared. Their bit beasts hurried after, but a moment later they too were gone. The shadows that saw them blinked not believing their eyes.
Meanwhile in another part a white tiger stopped in its tracks. It bent his head to the ground sniffing. The teen on his back leaned slightly forward before the tiger took of again. Max held on for all that was worth, not daring to let go. The tiger suddenly stopped when the two of them clearly could see the dark cloud hovering over a pair of bodies. Ray changed back to himself, Driger returned to his blade. Max got to his feet from Ray's back.
"Mizu!" he commanded. The dark clouds over them opened to let down a heavy rainfall. The puddles suddenly rose from the ground, dirty water formed into fierce looking riders with spears in their hands. The riding soldiers chased after the birds whom fled. Thunder chased the birds as Ray and Max hurried to see what had happened to their friends.
Hilary had been badly cut by sharp claws and beaks. Kenny had managed to heal himself slightly using his own skills. But even so, both teens had been knocked down into unconsciousness. Max created a blue healing aura in his palms. He gently touched Hilary's forehead. The worst cuts mended leaving a few scars. The girl moaned as she opened her eyes.
Even Ray's hands glowed; or rather his whole body glowed as he took Kenny's hand. As they had been training different people had approached them to teach them different arts of magic, healing being one of them. Of course, they weren't the best healers but they could take care of minor wounds, heal cuts and wake up unconsciousness. Ray had been trained by his sister while max had trained with the little girl who had seemed to be so fascinated of him. She was the Priestess daughter, which explained why she had come. Max had given her his sister's necklace to her, retelling the story. The young girl had hugged him over and over again, for some reason Max felt as if candy had indeed returned to him again. He smiled not having to feel all pain and responsibility again. He was himself again.
Kenny too opened his eyes and massaged his head. Ray helped him up back to his feet.
"What are you guys doing here?" he asked.
"Saving your necks…" Ray answered. "Where's Kim?" he asked. He looked around, but there was nothing.
"Oh, I hid her before they came. Like this!" Kenny said. The huge pile of net with something in it suddenly appeared before them. "How did you do that, you're not an Illusionist?" max asked amazed.
"I bent light… the reason we see things is because light so I asked it to change direction."
"You did… WHAT!" Max asked, this was clearly too much for him.
"Bent light!" Kenny said proud of himself. Ray rolled his eyes taking the still stiff form of Kim over his shoulder. Max raised an eyebrow.
"Oh that" Hilary said noticing his wondering expression. "I had to whack her with a stone, she was making too much noise. You know, I'm not as good in magic as you are, and I think Daichi will be able to wake her up."
Ray nodded hesitatingly. He wasn't so sure of how Daichi would react seeing his sister like this. But hat could they have done?
Max took out his bow, guarding their road in front. Hilary still rubbed her soar arms and Kenny had his head bent.
"Looks like our task is over!" he said still massaging his head. He sure had an awful headache.
"Yeah, already!" Hilary agreed.
Ray turned back and smiled. "Our tasks aren't done yet, they are just beginning." He said as they peacefully could walk back to the Village.
Zeo's Dream
'Where am I?'
Darkness consumed him, yet he was neither scared nor shocked. His mind reacted as if he had been waiting for this moment all his life. Everything was dark around him with neither ground nor sky, for they were two other elements and didn't belong here. Still he was standing, fleeting or whatever he did but he was not flying. Dark wisps stroke his skin, calming, encouraging and mysteriously as if they had their own lives and waited for something to happen.
Darkness filled his mind with memories. Happy memories he could remember. Sad memories he wanted to forget. New memories of a life belonging to someone else.
"Zeo" he said quietly. "How long will you haunt me? I know I am not you, all though I've sworn since the day I found out, I would take care of our dad. Our father, the one who gave us life."
Images, of a small boy not unlike himself, playing with other kids filled his mind. Bright turquoise eyes, same hair colour. The little boy was going up and down in a swing laughing. His father stood behind pushing as it went higher and higher. The little boy laughed.
Not to far away a woman, with turquoise hair and same colour on her eyes sat by a picnic. It looked as if they already had eaten and now enjoyed their time. The mother wore a white summer dress and sandals. She looked a little anxious as her son flew higher and higher.
"Darling, be careful! He's just a child!" she called.
But then, the memory darkened. He could see that as the sky turned red and the grass died beneath them. The mother disappeared from the picnic and now stood being restrained by some important FBI agents. Some of them held his father as well. One of the men talked with him and Zagart seemed to spit words back.
"If you're not going to obey us… take the consequences!" the man his father spoke to said. He raised his arm before cutting it down. There was a sound coming from a shot as the young woman died instantly. Zagart screamed and the little boy Zeo cried.
The older version of Zeo flinched. "Dad? M-Mum!"
Maybe this wasn't completely true, but it could be close to. He was a replica of the boy. The memories changed and he found himself sitting in a car beside the younger Zeo, now some few years older. He looked bored and stared out through the window.
"What the!" the driver suddenly said as a truck appeared n the road, going at full speed at them. The driver had no option. The truck hit them and it was like this Zeo had died.
The memory slowly changed to the hour later. His father stood with his dead son in his arms, crying. The driver was still alive, but would die as well. Zeo could feel his own tears fall down.
The two events had changed Zagart's life. Not much later afterwards he would construct the android to become his son's substitute. A few years later Zeo would manage to become alive again.
Zeo couldn't help himself as he cried. The tears came and melted into the picture of his mind as a black sad feeling. Suddenly he found a pair of arms around him, something that was so new, but it felt so right. He looked up to see a woman with turquoise eyes just like him.
"M-Mom?"
The woman cried as well, hugging him closer.
"Zeo… my little Zeo!" she said.
"But I'm not…" he began; still the woman shook her head.
"You are my son, you are my second born." She said drying his tears. Zeo stared at her in shock.
"When I died I carried our next child, and even then I could feel the strong man he would one day become. Unfortunately your father had some nasty business he never told me about, and when they found him he would not give up his dreams. They shot me, thinking he would tell them, but he stood and said nothing, protecting your older brother. You see Zeo, you were supposed to be born, but never got the chance to."
"So, I am your son?"
His mother smiled. "You are always my son. Your brother thinks so too."
"My brother?"
"Yes, your brother. You are a good person Zeo, the best gift a mother could have. I am sorry I couldn't keep you, my death came so sudden. Your father didn't know back then, he didn't find out until much later. I am proud of you, we both are! Please, your friends are waiting for you."
Zeo looked up into his mother's smiling face.
"Thanks mum!" he said wiping away the tears in his eyes. "I think I am ready now. I think I understand. All this had to happen, didn't it?"
His mother, Hikari, smiled back. The Light suddenly appeared taking her back to the world of the Dead. Hikari meant light, and she had been one of the lights in his father's life. He smiled, rather mysteriously as he fell. Darkness engulfed him, more then it had ever done. He could feel it inside of him, remaking him. Making him grow in soul and body. He opened his eyes for a brief second and you could see what the darkness did with him. It wasn't trying to consume him, it wasn't trying to hurt him. It awoke something that had been sleeping all this time.
"I am ready"
"Zeo! Zeo!" Tyson said trying to shake the sleeping teen awake. Cerberus stood by their side, feeling slightly afraid himself. Kai stood guard by the ruined door.
Suddenly Zeo's eyes shot open and Tyson backed in surprise. Zeo got up, unsteadily. The turquoise haired teen looked at his hands, were an orb of darkness appeared.
"Wow, so it is true then!" he said looking down at his hands. Tyson looked puzzled.
"What's true?" he asked.
"Nothing!" Zeo replied quickly walking over to Cerberus. The dog demon looked at him and for a moment his eyes were glazed over by tears. The tears fell down as Zeo got to his back, tucking Kim's soul into safety.
"Shall we go?" Zeo asked. Tyson nodded whistling for his Dragon to appear as well. Kai did the same.
"Let's hurry!" Tyson said. The other two nodded.
Later when the demons came to fetch Zeo for the Birth of Demons, their prisoner wasn't there. Howls reached the sky, which the three teens clearly could hear. More howls and angry roars came as they found out one of their precious souls had been stolen.
Daichi stood over his sister's sleeping form as the door opened to reveal three rather battered teens. Zeo unwrapped the pink and blue soul from the cloth he had around it.
"You made it!" Daichi said amazed. Zeo smiled making a move to give the soul to the brother, but Daichi suddenly held his hands behind his back.
"No, don't give it to me! Gods know what could happen then!"
"What do you mean?" Hilary said from the corner she and Kenny prepared bandages.
Daichi sighed. "You all know how my sister can be to strangers and especially now what her weakness is. When we first learnt magic, thinking about what happened to our mum, sis enchanted her soul so that no one would be able to touch it. Well, almost. By that time she wasn't strong so demons could take it, yet they would have to be careful doing it. I bet it must have been a rather powerful one to rip her soul from her body."
"But then, how did Zeo…?" Tyson asked. Daichi help up his finger pointing at the orb.
"I think sis must have changed a lot lately, or else her soul would never hold the slightest aura of any of the warmer colours. You see, the colours of love are pink, red and deep red. Pink stands for a none responded love, red stands for love and deep red for unbreakable love. Most people being in love carries red colour, some few have deep red. Seeing this my sister has finally fallen in love and then ask yourselves: Would she ever harm the person she loves?"
Everyone gasped staring at Zeo. Zeo himself felt shocked. He looked down at the orb in his hands. "Kim." He said quietly a tear falling down from his right eye.
"Twins can read each other like open books and me and sis are close to twins. I knew she had fallen in love with you before she knew it herself, but I didn't say anything. Indeed it must have been love in first sight, for it was her love that made you human Zeo. It was her inner feelings that wanted it. She is good ignoring what she wants, but I think that game is over now. Go on Zeo, you know what you have to do."
Zeo hesitated. Then he smiled. "I hope you don't have anything against that I steal your sister from you" he said. His hands glowed as he held the orb. The orb responded by glowing back.
A sudden light shot from the caught soul and the empty now black orb fell to the ground. Kim's body glowed white for a moment before the girl slowly opened her eyes. Her clothes had turned white, blood had disappeared from her nails, flowers rested in her hair and a silver chain hung around her neck. "Where am I?" she asked.
Everyone cheered and clapped. The bells rang outside. The Bladebreakers all smiled happily inside. Tyson, Max, Hilary and Kenny did some stupid victory dance. Ray sent sparks into the air like fire rockets. Kai did some as well, that exploded outside. Zeo happily bent down next to Kim, taking her hand. Daichi got up from his seat, leaving the room. He could talk to his sister later.
When no one noticed, Zeo bent down closer to her. Their lips met in a passionate first kiss.
Shitza: (Crying like a baby!) I am so sorry for barging in, but I just have to say I really love this chapter now. (Sniff) God, I've never cried this much writing.
Bladebreakers: (Hugs her)
Shitza: Let this chapter continue, it still has a long way to go.
The morning rose slowly over the ten villages of the Valley. A blue haired teen sat leaning to the wall of the temple in the Village of Earth. His hair danced in the wind, where a few leaves flew saying how much time flew pass. He sighed thinking about home, about his older brother and about his father. His grandfather and the dojo he lived in. he missed home, but he couldn't leave this place now.
Inside his friends were asleep. Or most of them. Kai had disappeared for an early practise. Ray was with his sister.
He took out the straw from his mouth and walked back inside. Most of his friends lay in a small room on some hay mattresses. His girlfriend slept gently beside his best friend Max. Kenny slept not too far away. He passed that room continuing to the Healing room further inside.
Kim was still asleep, healing from the horrible experience her body had to live through. Zeo was not too far away, asleep in a chair. The two of them had over one kiss officially became a couple and gifts entered this place like a storm. A huge pile lay by the bed. They were still holding hands, even if they were asleep. He wondered if this wouldn't turn out to be a deep red love as Daichi had talked about before. They surely looked cute together.
Tyson smiled as he gently shook Zeo awake. He needed to talk to him. Zeo opened his eyes sleepily. He gently put Kim's hand back to the bed before standing up, stretching.
"Thinking what you went through, I'm surprised Daichi didn't lock you up!" Tyson said. Zeo gave him a nasty smile in reply. The two friends walked outside, leaving the temple behind. They walked to the wall, which still stood. They had done a really great job on it that it needed minor repairs. Zeo smiled as the two of them sat down outside the wall. They smiled seeing the animals play outside.
"Zeo, I wanted to ask you about yesterday. Something happened to you, and I don't mean with Kim now. When we where down in the demons' home. You changed so suddenly you grew so powerful. What happened?"
Zeo munched on the bread they had brought with them. "Nothing special." He said taking another bite. "I just met my mother."
Tyson stared at him. "Your mother?"
Zeo nodded before telling the story. Tyson listened in awe. The Village behind them slowly awoke, and yet again new actions would have to take place.
Kim sat on a small wooden chair by the entrance of the temple. She was still weak from everything that had happened to her and she couldn't walk on her own, not yet. Raya had taken out her chair and two workers had carried her over. She really wished Zeo could have done it, but her newfound love wasn't anywhere in sight.
Love, it was so new for her. Yet she already knew what it was. She couldn't deny it to her heart, she knew how much she cared about him. Everything inside of her wanted to be with him. She blushed slightly, wrapping he scarf around her shoulder closer. It was a chilly morning, the warmth from the volcano was leaving this land. She wondered what would happen to this Village now that all fields had been destroyed. Their winter-supplies lay in how much this Village managed to grow during the summer. So much had been destroyed they had a rough winter ahead.
'Yet still, I might be gone from this place before that.' She thought. She shivered slightly as the wind tried to steal her scarf. She tried to hold on to it, but her body was very weak. She had to let go as it flew down the road. Someone caught it.
Tyson and Zeo returned from their chat and seeing the white scarf whirl in the wind towards him Zeo couldn't help but smile. He looked up to see Kim sitting peacefully enjoying some fresh air. The turquoise haired teen hurried over to her and wrapped it around her shoulders again. He kissed her hungrily, not thinking that one of his best friends was watching.
The other three people left in the house also came out, very bad timing. Tyson walked over to Hilary. Kind of inspired by Zeo's actions he laughingly kissed her too. It was such a beautiful morning it would be a waste of time not to enjoy it. Max looked kind of jealous, his girlfriend was many miles from here. Kenny blushed and turned around. He didn't have a girlfriend, yet, so the moment felt rather embarrassing.
Kim laughed as Zeo finally let go of her. She said something to him and he nodded. He took her, bridal style, into the temple again and laid her down on the bed again. Kim hugged him weakly as he sat down beside her.
"They simply look so cute together!" Hilary said with tears in her eyes. Tyson nodded kissing her shoulder. Hilary laughed as the two teens hurried back to the room again, for a Bladebreakers meeting.
Soon everyone had gathered as the six teens discussed the oncoming plans for the final battle. Indeed now they felt so pissed of with the demons they didn't care anymore. They wanted to finish this once ad for all. Kim was back to safety so now nothing could restrain them.
A few more days and nights came and went as the preparations took place. Some of the most motivated people were Zeo and to everyone's surprise Hilary who seemed to take it as some sort of response to take care of everyone. It even surprised them more when she had called forth Celeb Dragoon to her help and even mastered fusing quite easily. She often stayed with Kim, when Zeo couldn't. The turquoise haired blader thanked her for helping. Indeed she had become like everyone's mother.
Right now everyone kept on with the constructions of the ten elements. The most ancient traps and functions were brought up, specialised for the ten elements. Catapults, swords, bows, spears, knives… the smiths of the Villages, the ones who were still alive, worked full time to make new weapons and to improve the old ones.
Like a smith Max sat in the small room making new arrows. His bow lay by his left side. Tyson sat n the other side of the room, sharpening his sword. Ray and Kai were outside, having a close two on two fight. Hilary sat with Kim as Zeo was by the wall, planting more traps into the Earth.
Daichi passed the room as well. He didn't say anything, but he kept on looking at a note coming from an old book with very good illustrations.
He flicked the page and he couldn't help but to smile. There were two pictures. One being a Ying Yang, symbolising the connection between Light and Dark, his sister guarding the Light, Zeo now protecting the darkness. Around the page flew a silver dragon. He still couldn't figure out Celeb Dragoon no matter how much he tried. Sighing he closed the page. Whatever it was, this was a trio of power so powerful. Nop, he didn't have time for these things. He would have to tell them sooner or later and receive some beatings from Tyson. There were ways to defeat and trap demons. He just hadn't mentioned it yet.
TBC
To Reviewers: This chapter turned out quite fluffy, don't you think? Oh well, I had a lot of fun writing this it feels like I stayed up all night doing it. Before you get ideas, no I didn't stay up all night. Finished it this morning.
Storms-winter: I think this chapter went more Zeo then Hilary, well the only part I really wanted to add was Hilary's fusion. That girl is going to give me a nightmare in the fourth fic. Well indeed, all BB girls will. Hope you liked this chapter as well, sounds like the last one was a hit.
Z Star The Hidden Dragon: Now, you sound like my mother and older brother. We've already said that, still I have to go back to school; I'm missing too much work. My days takes place in notes, if I'm not there I miss two pages of notes every hour I'm gone. Too much to catch up, the oncoming weeks can be a horror. I'm glad it's simply the beginning. Since the Swedish system has two exams a week normally I would have hated missing those!
Teaser:
The last battle approaches. The last preparations are set. A little more fluffiness and some humour before it all gets serious.
End Notes: Ah, have to end here. I wrote the last things 45 min before my bus goes. So long, and review please!
Shitza