I have returned! My long experience in Basic Training has finally ended and I EARNED the honor of being a part of the world's greatest AIR POWER! (SPACE POWER! AEF!) That's right! Now I can be called Airman Gamerctm! Now I'm attending Technical Training and have the time to write more often. (THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T UPDATE! NO COMPUTER ACCESS TIL NOW!) Not only that... inspire has struck! I've already created future scenes and chapters of this fic. I wanna thanks all those who were patient and hope they still read my work. It's time to get things started! FROM MY LEFT...TO MY RIGHT... REEEEEEEPORT!
/When we last left our heroes, they were now entering the Haunted Forest know as Selceta. A place with the spirits of the decreased stay until their final judgement is decided. While exploring, they met a mysterious thief named Blade, who had just stolen their only Talisman. The hunt is on for him, but what happens when Max, Monica, and Cain encounter a group of skeleton warriors. And what of Blade and his new opponent, Cruz/
Chapter 9:
Battling the Past
Preparing for the Future!
Blade covered his bleeding shoulder as tight as he could to cease the flow of blood. His pet wolf, Akida, growled threatening at Blade's former friend and new enemy, Cruz. Blade looked at Cruz with anger and puzzlement in his eyes.
"You make me sick..." Cruz spat on the ground. "How could you have done that to us... how could you have done that to Jade?"
"Jade?" Blade said. Jade was the name of his old thieving partner. "What happened to her?"
"Bastard!" Cruz cursed. "You saw what happened! You killed her!"
"I did no such thing!"
"Not directly..." Cruz held in his hands a small, heart shaped locket. He opened it and examined the pictures inside... Blade on one side, a beautiful, black haired woman on the other. He remembered the day too well.
It happened 4 years ago... Blade, Cruz, and Jade's biggest theft. They had broken into a solid stone temple and stolen a most precious artifact.
"A panther figurine made of solid diamond..." The woman from the picture said while touching it. "So beautiful... so... flawless..."
Blade put the figurine in his bag. "Don't get too attached to it Jade..." Blade said with a smile. "Remember what we wanna do with it..."
Jade closed her clear blue eyes and smiled. "I know... we want to break it and sell the pieces..."
Blade nodded and walked over to Cruz, who was examining the road up ahead. "That's not all..." He whispered.
Cruz smiled. "Jade's engagement ring... you sly dog. She'll love it."
Before the chat could go any longer, the ground started shaking. "Huh?" Jade looked behind her. "GOLEMS!" An army of stone golems were running towards them.
"Let's run!" Cruz shouted as they all took haste. They ran through and past the fallen stone pillars that were all over the path. Suddenly, Blade tripped over a rock and fell to the ground.
"Huh?" The panther figurine fell out of the bag and was falling to the ground. Before it could hit, Cruz dove for it and caught it in his hands. "Phew... thanks alot Cruz..."
"Be careful with this, Blade." Cruz said while handing it back to him. "Don't wanna lose Jade's ring, now do we?"
"Right!" Blade got up and started running to catch up with Jade. Blade and Cruz jumped over the fallen ruins until they were side by side with her.
Blade got an extra boost of speed and got ahead of his friends. He stepped on a loose piece of ground that set off a trap. Suddenly, several bamboo spears shot at Jade and Cruz.
"BLADE!" Jade's screams and the sounds of spears piercing a human body made Blade turn and around and look at his friends.
Cruz and Jade were trapped in a circle of implanted spears and couldn't escape. Cruz even had 3 spears pierced in his body and left him motionless.
"Blade!" Cruz shouted before the hollow ends of the spears started to flow blood...his. "AHH!" He screamed in agony as he was drained of his blood.
Blade started to run to his friends to help them... but he looked at the diamond figure he had stolen. He stopped running and just stared at his friends. And then saw the Golems approaching fast. He had to make a decision. He clutched the figurine to his chest and started running, leaving his friends to slowly die.
"Blade..." Jade said as she tried to break free. She turned to push the spears out of Cruz's body... but he wasn't even moving anymore. That's when the Golems marched over.
"You left us high and dry, Blade." Cruz ended his memory and looked at Blade with anger and hatred burning in his eyes. "I survived losing nearly all my blood... but Jade... she was captured...killed... because of you!"
"That's not what happened!" Blade shouted. "I tried to help you guys... I did..."
"Then why did Jade die!" Cruz drew his long sword and swung at Blade, slashing him in the chest. Akida growled and lunged for him. "Away with you!" He kicked the wolf in the face and knocked him down.
Akida yelped when he hit the ground. "Akida!" Blade drew his small viper blades and charged for Cruz. "You monster!" He tried to stab Cruz, but he missed and suffered a powerful punch in the face.
Cruz dropped his sword and started to jab at his opponent's face rapidly. Blade backed against a tree and leap onto a branch. Cruz leapt after him and began to pursue him. They jumped from branch to branch until they were on the highest. Cruz rushed him with his fist ready. Blade ducked down and grabbed his arm.
"AHHH!" Blade flipped him off the branch and watched him hit the ground. He then drew out his blades and dove towards him. Cruz rolled out of the way just before Blade could hit him. Cruz leapt to his feet and spin kicked Blade in the head and knocked him down.
Blade leapt to his feet, grabbed his Viper Blades and rushed towards Cruz. His opponent snapped into attention and grabbed Blade's arm when he got close enough. A hard kick in the stomach knocked both the wind and a few drops of blood out of his mouth. Cruz then flipped him over his head and slammed him into the dirt.
Blade got on one knee and wiped him bleeding mouth. He started to pant and wheeze. "This isn't good..." He thought to himself. "Cruz is catching his stride... if I allow the fight to continue any longer..."
Cruz laughed sinisterly. "What's the matter old friend? We've only just begun. Perhaps you're better off standing still so I can finish you off."
"No!" Blade got up and charged at him again. "I'm ending this right n-" Blade suffered a powerful spin kick to his head. Cruz had hit him so hard, the force knocked him against a tree. Blade hit his shoulder blade hard and heard a snap. It was his bone... it had been fractured.
Meanwhile, several yards away, Max and his friends were caught in their own battle.
Max lifted him powerful Grade-Zero over his head and slammed it into the head of a skeleton warrior with all his might. He then spun around and nailed the skeleton coming at him from behind.
Monica had no trouble slashing the skeletons that attacked her with her Sun Sword. "We need to hurry guys! The thief still has the Talisman!"
Cain punched his way out of a gang of skeletons. "Outta my way, bone pile!" He kicked the next one and found his way out. He pulled off a bone arm hanging on him and threw it away. "Hey guys!" He pointed to the wide space between some trees. "I got a pretty bad feeling comin' from over there. Like a demon or sumthin'!"
"Eek!" Coronya ducked the incoming attacks from the skeleton in front of her. "Ahhhhh!" Coronya materialized a small star wand and smacked it into the monster's head. "Take that!"
"HISSSSsssssSSSS!" The skeleton charged at her.
"Ahhhh!" Coronya closed her eyes and floated away.
"HOOOOOOOOOWL!" Akida the wolf came rushing from the wide space and snapped his teeth into the skeleton's leg. "Grrrrrr..." With a good yank, he pulled the leg off and caused the skeleton to fall to pieces.
"BLUE..." Coronya's little fox paws started to glow blue. "BUBBLE! POP!" She fired a large blue bubble from her paws at the bone pile. The bubble surrounded the bones and trapped them. "Now that's teamwork! Thankies Wolfy!" She flew around Akida happily.
Akida let out a confused low growl and looked around. He saw Monica slicing a skeleton in half. He walked up to her and let out a small, non threatening growl.
"Hey..." She put her sword away and looked at Akida. "Were you that wolf that was with that thief?" Akida nodded and looked towards the clearing with a growl. "What is it boy?"
Cain just finished off the last skeleton when he walked over to the wolf and princess. "What's with that animal?"
"I don't know." Monica looked at where Akida was looking. "He's staring at that clearing... where you said you could sense a demon, Cain."
"I think he wants us to go there." Max suggested as he reloaded his gun. Akida growled in agreement and ran into the clearing at full speed. "I'll bet he'll lead us to the thief too!" Max chased after him.
"Max! Wait up!" Monica ran to try and catch up with him.
Cain was the last to follow. "Hey! That brainless mutt might led us to trouble!"
Back at Cruz and Blade's battle, Cruz had hung up his sword for now and was rapidly punching Blade in the chest. Blade couldn't block the blows and was being forced back against a tree. Blade groaned in pain every time a punch connected.
"Cruz is too fast for me..." Blade thought to himself. "If only I could..." Blade pushed his arm towards his side. "Got it!" He pulled from a sheath a Viper Blade and swung at Cruz. He backed away from the blade and dodged it. "No!"
Cruz stood away from Blade with a evil smile on his face. But when a small trail of blood appeared on his arm, his smile turned to a look of rage. "You managed to cut me... I don't like that, OLD FRIEND!" Cruz pulled out his long sword and stabbed it into Blade's hurt shoulder.
"Ahh! CRUZ!" Blade shouted in agony. The blade was stabbing at his fractured bone.
"Hurts... don't it." Cruz grinned, then looked angry. "Imagine how it felt to me!"
Blade growled and made a bold move. He walked deeper into the blade. "Ahhhhhh...ARGH!" He then stabbed his knife into Cruz's stomach. Blood covered the knife and his hand.
"Grrrr..." Cruz narrowed his eyes and pulled the sword out of Blade's shoulder with a thrust."
"AHHH!" Blade felt the sharp pain, and felt even more pain when Cruz spin kicked him right in the face. Blade was knocked away from Cruz and hit the ground, landing on his stomach.
Cruz pulled the knife out of his stomach and threw on the ground next to Blade. "You've show me the kind of person you truly are, Blade." Cruz stood over Blade's back, holding his sword over his head. He was ready to stab the long sword right into his back. "You killed me once before... but now I kill you!"
"FIRE...BALL!" When that was shouted, a large fireball flew towards Cruz and hit him in the back.
"UH...ARGH!" Cruz spun around and glared into the distance. "WHO DID THAT!"
Monica stood between two trees, her hand still warm from the magic. "Is this the thing you were sensing Cain?"
"Yeah!" Cain and Max were standing next to her. "He's nuthin' but dark power! Go find safe ground you two!" He looked at Akida and Coronya.
"Right!" Coronya said as she and Akida left the scene.
"Reinforcements?" Cruz looked at Blade. "You can't even fight alone, can you?" Blade was laying there, growling in pain. "I'll handle you later..." Cruz looked at the 3 heroes and readied his sword. "Who wants to die first?"
"I volunteer..." Cain said with a grin. "To kicking your ass!" Cain charged him at full speed. Cruz swung his sword when he got close. Cain leap in the air and dodged it. "Swing and a miss!" Cruz growled angrily. Cain created a small ball of dark energy and threw it at Cruz while in midair.
Cruz stepped back and swung his sword in a circle in front of him. It created a shield that blocked the energy and made it vanish. "HAAAAAAAAH!" Cruz swung his sword and hit Cain in the stomach. The force knocked Cain back and forced him to the ground.
"Yeouch!" Cain looked at the cut on his shirt. "That's sharp."
Max ran towards Cruz and pulled out a rapid fire gun. "How 'bout some lead!" Max held the trigger down and fired his ammo at Cruz. But Cruz gracefully moved his blade around so quick that he blocked and stopped every bullet fired. "Whoa! He's quick! And precise!"
"And you're dead, kid!" Cruz rushed at him and vertically slashed at Max. But the young kid rolled out of the way and pulled out the Grade Zero.
"HAH!" Max swung the wrench at Cruz. Cruz quickly swung at Max with his sword. The weapons locked and both were trying to push the other back.
Monica pulled out the Sun Sword. "Here I come Max!" She ran to his side and swung at Cruz. But thanks to a slight reposition, Cruz was now locked with both their weapons.
"2 against 1?" Cruz said displeased. "And you still can't beat me."
"How bout 3 against 1!" Cain jumped to his feet and charged at Cruz once more. His fist glowed with light energy. Cain leap towards Cruz and punched him hard in the right side of his face.
"Argh..." Cruz was knocked to the side and fell to the ground. Max and Monica held back their weapons and looked at him.
"What the...?" Monica was in shock. "His face!"
"Huh?" Cain felt something hanging off his fist. He took a look and saw a piece of Cruz's face on it. "Oh crap! Is that his skin!"
Cruz groaned and kneeled up using his hand for support. He slowly rose to his feet. A large piece of his face was missing and part of his bloody skull was exposed. "You have caused me pain..." Cruz glared at the three heroes with hatred burning in his eyes. "I do not... like that..."
Back in peaceful Palm Brinks, Cedric was hard at work on the BlackOre Railroad. He had help from Borneo and Erik, and Gerald was there watching.
"By the time I'm done with it..." Cedric said as he was putting some touches on the engine of the train. "This train will be better than ever."
"I've always thought highly of your work, Cedric." Gerald complimented. "Wish I could say I was excited about this though..."
"What? You're not, Gerald?" Cedric moved on to the next part of the engine and began working on it.
"Once it's finish, Max is going to leave again. For who knows how long."
"You shelter that boy to much..." Cedric walked to the other side and started tightening some loose bolts. "Max is able to make his own choices in life."
"I realize that, but fighting monsters and saving the world is a bit much for him, don't you think?"
"Go ahead and worry, Gerald. I worry too, but it's not too much for him. He and Monica saved us before... they'll do it again."
Gerald decided to turn away and started walking, but he was stopped by a beautiful woman. "It's been so long Gerald..."
Gerald looked as if he's seen a ghost. "You... You've returned?"
Cedric couldn't help but look. "Huh! Aren't you..." He lost his balance and fell off the train. "Whoa!" He hit the hard ground. "Ouch... Max's mother?"
"AHH!" Cain shouted as Cruz grabbed him by his neck. "Hey man, it was an accident!" He was referring to ripping part of Cruz's face off. "I'm sure a little tape can fix it!" Cruz threw Cain hard into a tree. He crashed into hard and slid to the ground. "AHH!"
"You took part of my face away..." Cruz gritted his teeth and rushed at him. "How about I rip off yours?"
"Here's an idea!" Cain's fist started to glow again. "How bout I just even it out for ya?" Cain performed a powerful uppercut at Cruz, but is missed when he stepped back. Cain landed on his feet. "Dammit!" Cruz thrust kicked Cain in the stomach and made him bend at the waist. "OWWWW!" Cruz grabbed him by the throat again and forced his head into the tree, causing the bark to break away.
Max fired several rounds of ammo at Cruz from behind. Cruz spun around and stopped every bullet again with his long sword. Cruz moved with lightning speed at Max and punched him in the face. Max was knocked down, but quickly leapt back to his feet.
"Not bad..." Max grinned and wiped the small line of blood on his mouth. Max drew out the Legend and thrust it into Cruz's stomach.
"Uhgh!" Cruz opened his mouth and blood flew out of it as his stomach was crushed by the hammer. "Grrrr..." Cruz clenched his fist and blasted Max with a powerful jab in the chin. He then used his other fist to hook him. He could only get two punches connect before Monica started hitting him with rapid magic blasts.
"Now it's my turn!" Monica drew out her sword and charged at him. She slashed the sword. Cruz held up his hand and let it be hit. The skin flew off it and the skeletal hand was exposed. With it, he grabbed the sword's blade and pulled Monica closer. "No!" Cruz kicked her in the chest and knocked her away. She moaned in pain and hit the ground. "Ahhhh..."
"Monica!" Max shouted her name and glared at Cruz. "You monster!" Max had a white knuckled grip on the Legend and swung at Cruz's head. Cruz turned around and stopped the hammer by grabbing it just as it was overhead. "WHAT?"
"Bad move!" Cruz said with an evil grin. He pushed the hammer back and made Max lose his balance. He had both fists ready and started to punch him in the face. He moved quick and delivered endless punch after punch. Max couldn't even block one and was being pounded mercilessly.
"Oh man..." Cain got up and saw the scene. "Max is his punching bag... not for long though!" Cain ran at Cruz and jumped. "Look out below!"
"Huh?" Cruz has dropped kick in back. Cain forced his foot into his back and pushed hard, trying to snap the spine. "AHHHHHRGH!" Cruz grabbed the handle of his long sword.
"What!" Cain and Cruz were both on their feet when Cruz spun around and started to swing his sword wildly. Cain moved quick and dodged every slash while taking steps back. Cruz suddenly stopped and looked at Cain. Cain's shirt had several cuts in it. "Damn... I really like that shirt too." Cain had a cocky smile on his face, but it fell when he felt blood running down his right arm. His arm had a large cut across it. "Guess ya got me."
Cruz swung at Cain again, but this time he grabbed the blade and stopped it with his barehands. Cain tightened his grip and held it still. "I'll end your life now..."
"Wrong again, asshole!" Cain's hands started to bleed, but he refused to let go. Cruz gritted his teeth and tried moving his sword. "I know you hate me now... but let's see if you hate me more after I do this!" Cain moved one hand and threw some blood into Cruz's eyes.
"AHHHH!" Cruz let go of his sword and rubbed his eyes. Cain's fists glowed. He preformed a one-two punch combo to Cruz's stomach and finished with an uppercut to his chin. Cruz was knocked off his feet and down on the ground.
"Game over friend!" Cain created a large ball of dark energy, ready to throw.
"GrrrrRRRRR AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!" Cruz screamed in fury and was clearly full of rage. His body blasted a large line of dark energy into the sky.
"WHOA!" Cain stopped the energy he had and made it vanish. "This guy is pissed off!"
"RAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Cruz leapt to his feet a slashed at Cain with his fingernails. He left a long, bloody cut on his chest. He made another swipe and cut him in the chest again, making him shout in pain. Cruz punched Cain in the stomach. He then punched him hard in the face and knocked him into the dirt.
Cain hit the ground, back first, and spit out some blood. He laid there while Cruz out his foot on his chest. "You're not... gonna kill me... I won't let you..." Cruz lifted his foot off and then stomped hard on his chest. "Ahhhhh!" Cruz did it again, harder this time. Cain lost some more blood from out his mouth. "ARGH!" Cruz stomped him one more time and stopped.
"You..." He said in a dark, low tone. "All 3 of you..." He looked at Max and Monica, who were just now getting back up. "I'll make sure you all suffer!"
Blade was watching the violence from the ground. Still in pain, he couldn't get up. "Cruz... why... why are you doing this?" Blade said with tears falling from his eyes. "You would never..."
Cruz spin kicked Monica in the face and knocked her back down. "You weak, little..." Cruz kicked her in the side and made her roll to her stomach.
"Please..." Blade was begging to no one. "Tell me why... you're acting this way. Even if you were angry, you'd never do something like this."
Max was back on his feet when Cruz arrived. "Suffer!" Cruz punched Max in the stomach and grabbed his throat. He was now strangling him, squeezing the breath out of him.
"Damn it..." Blade was trying to look away, but he couldn't help but watch. "Cruz... what happened to you?"
START FLASHBACK:
Two young boys, one the Cruz and the other with no name, were standing outside a dark cave. Armed with wooden swords, they were going to explore it.
"Ok..." The young Cruz turned to the other boy. "We're gonna run in and take all the treasure 'til we can't carry no more!"
"Do you think we'll be rich?" The other boy asked.
"Yeah! You can buy yourself a name with the loot we gonna get! By the way... why don't you have a name?"
"I dunno." The boy kicked the ground. "My parents died when I was really little, and the woman who takes care of me gave me a stupid name."
"What is it?"
"Archibald..." The boy stuck his tongue. "Yuk!"
Cruz laughed. "Oh boy! What a stupid name! No wonder you say you got no name!"
"I want a better name... something tough and cool!"
"How bout... " Cruz looked at the toy sword in his hand. "Blade!"
"Blade? Like a sword?"
"More like a knife... Knife Blade will be your full name!"
"Hmm..." The boy scratched his head and grinned. "Nah! Blade is much cooler!"
"'K! From this day on, I deem you Archibald no more! You are..." Cruz took the toy and dubbed the other boy. "Blade! The greatest treasure hunter alive! Second to Cruz of course!"
The newly named Blade smiled. He thought to himself, "I'm glad I didn't tell him my middle name..."
NEXT FLASHBACK:
Cruz and Blade are now older. They have left their old village and are leaving in a small forest. Being poor, however, they are forced to become Highwaymen to make money. They are hiding in the trees by a dusty road, waiting for their next victim.
Blade spotted someone coming down the road. "Our next target is coming, Cruz..."
"I see him..." Cruz was in another tree. "Ok... on my count, we'll fall out of the tree, flash our weapons, he drops the loot and runs away. Got it?"
"Right!"
The person drew closer. "One... two... THREE!"
Cruz and Blade both leapt from the trees and stood in front of their victim. "Your gilda or you life!" Blade said, but was shocked when he saw the person up close. "Oops!" They were trying to rob a huge, muscled man with a scary look on his face.
"Don't be scared, Blade!" Cruz said while drawing his long sword. "This ugly guy is no match for our weapons!"
"Oh yeah!" Blade drew out his Viper Blades and growled. "Give us the money and no one gets hurt.
A few moments later...
The man was calmly walking away from Blade and Cruz. Blade was laying on the ground, beaten up and too weak to stand.
"Owwwwwwowwwww..." Blade moaned, covering his bleeding nose.
"Sorry Blade..." Cruz apologized and grabbed some bandages. "I didn't think he'd run ya over like that."
"After the 13th punch..." Blade said in pain. "I figured we were robbing the wrong guy... Owwwwch..."
After a few minutes of first aid, Cruz and Blade started heading home by walking down the path. Blade was now bandaged up and able to walk.
"That's ok Blade!" Cruz said with a grin. "The next robbery will be a piece of cake."
"HYAH!" Someone screamed this and caught Blade and Cruz's attention. Suddenly, a beautiful, black haired woman leapt from a tree and had two knives in her hands. "Lay all your gilda on the ground and leave..."
"Ya see, Blade!" Cruz said, while drawing his long sword. "We're gonna rob a girl now."
Blade pulled out his Viper Blades. "You lay your gilda down and leave!"
"Oh... a couple of wannabe highwaymen, huh?" The woman sneered and laughed. "One that looks like he got hit by a train."
"You don't wanna get hurt now, girlie..." Cruz stepped closer. The woman suddenly jumped and kicked him in the face. "Ahh!" Cruz was knocked back and hit the dirt.
"Cruz!" Blade shouted for his friend and looked at the woman. "That was a cheap shot!"
"So what?" The woman looked at Blade. "What are YOU going to do about it?"
"You little!" Blade charged at her with his Viper Blades. She blocked them with her own knives and the two thieves engaged in a knife fight. Their knives clashed with each other as they both moved with grace.
Cruz shook out of his daze and watched them. "Go get 'er Blade!" A few minutes later... the knife battle continued. "Ya got her on the ropes, Blade!" An hour later... "She's getting tired, Blade!" 2 hours later... "Uh... you guys done yet?" 5 hours later... "Yaaaaaawn... Uh... go Blade. Yeah..."
Blade and the woman were still fighting, a lot slowly than 5 hours ago. Blade swung his knife into her knife and took a breath. She swung her knife into his knife and panted slowly. Blade decided to take a step back and look at her.
"You're...pretty tough... Got a name?" He asked while taking slow breaths.
"I'm... called Jade..." She said, while yawning. "What is... your name?"
Blade yawned and started to wobble. "B...Blade..."
"B...Blade..." Jade smiled a little. "Nice to meet...cha..." She closed her eyes and collapsed.
"Yeah Blade!" Cruz cheered for his friend and comrade. "Ya beat her! Ha-ha! Huh?" He looked and saw that Blade had collapsed too. "Wha?" His hand was holding Jade's hand as they both slept peacefully after their battle. Cruz laughed. "Well I'll be darned!"
Back in reality...
Cruz was still choking Max, ready to strangle him to death. But Monica rose up and charged at him.
"Put him down!" She yelled and swung the sword at Cruz. He dropped Max on the ground and dodged the sword. He then grabbed it and pulled Monica closer. "Fireball!" She created a large ball of flames with her hand and threw into Cruz's face.
Cruz didn't even let the smoke clear before he punched Monica in the stomach and grabbed her by the collar. The smoke around his face blew away and it showed that more of his face has been burnt off, exposing more of his bare skull. The skull was starting to turn blood red. Monica's eyes widen in horror as she watched his face practically melt off.
"What...what are..." Monica whispered. Cruz grabbed her by neck and head and threatened to twist and snap her neck. "No!"
"CRUZ!" Blade slowly got up. "Don't do it! Don't make me..."
"Make you what?" Cruz glared at him. "Kill me? Destroy me? Why don't you try! Are you not strong enough!"
"Cruz..."
NEXT FLASHBACK:
"Hey Cruz..."
"Yeah, Blade?"
The two thieves were in the hideout, a dark cave with little light and a lot of space. Jade was out on a walk, enjoying the beautiful summer day outside. "I've been thinking...about me and Jade..."
"You're gonna do it, huh?" Cruz smiled at the idea of what Blade was planning to do. "Just remember to treat her good..."
"I don't know..." Blade said worriedly. "You think it's too soon... I mean, I wanted to wait until we we're all out of the thief game."
"Is that all it'll take?" Cruz grinned and shook his head. "Well... I guess it's time for one last heist. But it's gonna be a big one! And we're gonna steal something really special... something we can use, for Jade's engagement ring... right Blade?"
Blade smiled and shook his friend's hand. "Thank you so much! Will you honor me by being the best man at the wedding?"
"Honor you?" Cruz bowed. "The honor... is all mine."
FINAL FLASHBACK:
The huge and final heist was near completion. All Blade, Cruz, and Jade had to do was run...
"BLADE!" Jade's screams and the sounds of spears piercing a human body made Blade turn and around and look at his friends.
Cruz and Jade were trapped in a circle of implanted spears and couldn't escape. Cruz even had 3 spears pierced in his body and left him motionless.
"Blade!" Cruz shouted before the hollow ends of the spears started to flow blood...his. "AHH!" He screamed in agony as he was drained of his blood.
Blade was in so much shock for his friends, he dropped the panther figurine and it shattered on the ground. "CRUZ! JADE!" He ran to them and tried to pull the spears out. Meanwhile, the Goloms were drawing closer. Blade, however, didn't care how close they were getting.
Cruz, however, did. "Blade! Get out of here! NOW!"
"No!" Blade yelled back at him. "I'm not leaving you guys!"
"Blade! You'll be captured and killed!" Jade pleaded with him. "Please! Be reasonable!"
"And what! Let you two die? NEVER!"
"Blade!" Cruz gasped out. He was losing too much blood, too fast. "I... I'll make sure...Jade makes it out ok. But don't worry about me... I'm... " Cruz smiled a little at his oldest and dearest friend. "I'm already dead..." The spears stopped flowing blood. He was completely dry.
"No... Cruz..." Blade started to cry. "Don't say that."
"Run..." Cruz whispered and gasped. "Run away... and...keep Jade safe... Be happy... together." Cruz lowered his head, and just stopped talking.
"CRUZ!" Blade and Jade both shouted in misery.
"Please Blade!" Jade said with tears flowing from her eyes. "Run!"
Blade couldn't say, or do anything. His legs took over him and pulled him away from his almost-fiancee. He kept looking over at her as the Goloms surrounded her and the lifeless body of Cruz. "N...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Cruz..." Blade was back in the forest, looking down at the ground. "You gave up your life to protect us. That's why I didn't say you. You wanted us to live. Cruz..." He looked up and saw the torn apart Cruz, ready to break Monica's neck. "I know no what is going on... but you are not Cruz... you imposter..." Blade felt his fist shake and body tremble. "You appear and dare ruin my friend's good name?" He narrowed his eyes and had a fierce look on his face. "You imposter! You think I'll allow that!"
"Shut up." 'Cruz' said and focused his attention on Monica. "I'll shatter your neck bone... you know that already?" Monica tried to fight back, but his grip was too strong.
"LOOK AT ME!" Blade pulled out his Viper Blades, they started to glow bright green.
"What?" 'Cruz dropped Monica and looked at it. "What is this power? And why do you have it?"
"I am Blade... a Thief of Justice..." Blade took a stance and faced down the fake Cruz. "Your kind of evil is what brings this world to depression. It is my calling to see that your evil is destroyed. Monster... suffer the power of the Viper!"
"Viper!" 'Cruz drew out his long sword. "I won't give you the chance..." He charged at Blade. "To use it!"
"Viper Strike... attack!" Blade threw his knives straight at Cruz. They left a stream of green light as they jetted towards their target. "Bring down evil!" The knives both flew into Cruz's body and stuck. Suddenly, green energy began to cover and shock the monster.
"ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!" 'Cruz' screamed in agony. His skin and body was now completely falling apart. His red skeleton was being exposed. "It... HURTS! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?"
Monica and Max got up and caught their breath. "Max! Look at what's happening!" Monica said and pointed at the fake Cruz.
"Wow..." Max was clearly impressed. "Such power..."
"Hey!" Cain shouted. "I'm the only one in this forest who should use energy attacks! Hmm..." He closed his eyes and sensed all around. "Blade's anger must have broken his energy limit... but what is this faint energy I'm feeling... that's coming outta that monster?"
'Cruz', who was now reduced to a red skeleton, was standing before Blade when the energy around him disappeared. "You son of a bitch! You're not supposed to be this powerful!"
"You made me mad..." Blade merely explained his actions. The Viper Blades vanished from 'the monster's body and reappeared in Blade's hands."And made my friend and mentor seem like a wicked person. Cruz has more courage than you can ever have." Blade's Viper Blades were still glowing. "Now return to wherever you were spawned!" Blade rushed at full speed towards the skeleton. He fast feet made his move like lightning. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" With two slashes of his knives, he rushed pass the monster and out his blades away.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The monster's body was slashed in two and emitted a bright light. In a few seconds, the boney creature exploded in a bright blast of fire and was reduced to aches. A small red ball of light flew into the sky.
"Huh?" Blade stared at it. "Is that..."
"What is that, Monica?" Max asked as he helped Monica back on her feet.
"It's..." She was in awe as she watched. "A spirit..."
"That energy..." Cain was looking at it as well. "Is the energy of a man who had died a while ago. That monster musta ate it or something."
The ball of light started to form into a person. A person who Blade knew very well. "It is you!" Blade's mouth opened. "Cruz!"
It was true. Cruz's spirit was standing before him, smiling... and at peace. "Hey there Blade... what's up?"
"You... you really are dead then..." Blade looked down sadly.
"Don't be sad for me... I'm ok, really. Well... I am now. I'm sorry..." Cruz looked at the ashes of the monster. "The skeleton consumed my spirit... and used it to form his own body and learn my skills. Also... he filled me with images of you being killed, which made me angry... and made him stronger."
"Cruz... it's alright." Blade smiled, with tears ready to fall. "I should have known it was a fake."
Cruz looked at Blade and smiled. "Jade's alive."
"Huh?" This surprised Blade. "She is! Really! Where is she!"
"That..." Cruz shook his head. "I do not know. She was able to escape the spears and monsters, but I'm afraid that's all I know."
"Then... I'll search for her. No matter how long it takes... I will find her."
"Blade... there's more I must tell you... The three travelers behind you." He pointed at Max, Monica, and Cain. "There are on a adventure, to slay an evil demon known as Dark Element. He is also known as Griffin and Rota. What ever you want to call him, he must be destroyed. I could hear the monster say that once he killed the three, he would take their only Talisman." Blade pulled on the Talisman he took from the heroes. "That's the one. Blade... the trap... the monsters... it was all Griffon's doing. We robbed him of a important artifact."
"That panther figurine..." Blade pulled out a shiny shard of it. "You died... because of him..."
"Please... don't be concerned about me. Think about the millions of other people who might die in his hands. Blade... will you please help them?"
"I don't know... if they'll even accept my help."
"Of course we will!" Monica said. "This is everyone's war, you know."
"You've suffered just as everyone else has, Blade." Max added, seeing him and his dead friend. "Now you can make a difference!"
"You kick almost as much ass as i do!" Cain gave him a thumbs up.
Blade smiled and nodded. "Yes... it is settled." He turned and looked at Cruz. "I will join them! Huh?" Cruz was floating up towards the clouds. "Cruz!"
"My time here is over... I must return to heaven now." Cruz smiled as he looked down at the heroes. "Blade... don't forget Jade. She's waiting for you... And make sure all those monsters get wiped out!"
"Right Cruz!" Blade nodded and put his fist to his heart. "I will not fail you..." In a few moments, the light faded, and Cruz's spirit was gone. Resting peacefully in heaven. Blade suddenly hear Akida's howl and saw him running towards him. "Akida!" The wolf happily crashed into the thief and knocked him down, licking him in the face. "Cut it out, boy!" Blade laughed.
"Hey guys!" Coronya flew to them with excitement. "I found the next time gate! It'll take us to the future!"
"We'll go tomorrow..." Monica said while taking a seat on the grass. She took a breath and sighed.
"Something wrong Monica?" Cain decided to go chat with Blade, while Max stayed with Monica.
"Look at us... all that trouble we and fighting one monster. I sudden to think what the next one will be like..."
"Monica..." Max said deeply concerned.
Blade gave Cain the Talisman back. "Hey..."
"Yeah?" Cain replied to Blade.
"What'll happen next?"
"Another fight... with a even more powerful demon." Cain looked at the Talisman. "'Cept..." He closed his hand slowly. "He'll have one of these to power himself up... It ain't gonna be easy... or pretty..."
/Our heroes rest for now... they'll need all they can get when they face off against the next opponent. Will they be able to destroy him and claim his Talisman? Even with Blade's assistance... they could still be out powered./
START TEASER:
Blade: Blade here... thief, treasure hunter, and the newest addition to the team. We'll have our hands full in the next battle.
Cain: Yeah! They only mentioned it like 4 times at the end of this chapter! But what are we up against? Skulls, ghosts, vengeful soldier spirits and ghouls with a hunger for raw flesh, and one freak who can bring the dead back to life! A freakin' Necromancer!
Blade: Yes... and while you, Max, and I deal with the monsters, Monica deals with the Necromancer... alone.
Cain: Hey... someone wanted Monica to get more attention, here it is! She could get killed!
Blade: She's tougher than she looks however.
Cain: Yeah... and her chest is bigger than... OUCH! HEY! SHE THREW A FIREBALL AT ME!
Blade: You probably deserved it... next chapter!"
The Talisman of Rebirth
and the Joyful Necromancer
Cain: If you ain't reading this... you got freakin' problems!
END TEASER:
A/N: It's good to be back! Also... if anyone out there knows where I can find a good FREE grammer checker, please tell me. I got a great spell checker, but it's my grammer that needs help. Thanks for reading... don't forget to review!