Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however, the original characters: Alden, Cora, Setsuko, Fiamma, and Serafina. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted, unless with my consent. Thank you.

Chapter 14

The Fateful Battle

Kilala floated close to the ground so Alden could leap off her back easily. He jumped down and quickly ran over to his sister's still body.

"Cora!" he cried. "Wake up!"

Alden shook her shoulders.

Surprisingly, Cora regained consciousness.

"Alden," she said, dazed. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Alden told her. "You…"

Before he could finish, something interrupted him. He felt that something was strange, and looked towards the skies. They were no longer black and threatening. They were clear and blue, and the ashes were fading with the wind. Sunlight appeared and ripped through the smog that had accumulated with Fiamma's fires. Everyone looked around them, inspecting the strange change in atmosphere.

Suddenly, a large column of light erupted from the skies and shot down towards the earth. The land shook. Fiamma turned around and noticed the light.

"No," she said. "That light. It cannot be. Again. It cannot be."

The light shone powerfully. Everyone had to shield their eyes.

"What is it?" Cora asked.

"I don't know," Alden said, eyes skyward and squinting.

Then, something appeared in the light.

"Something is there," Kagome said, wondering.

"Gah! It's so bright," Inuyasha said.

A being seemed to be engulfed in the midst of the brightness. No one could discern what it was. Soon however, the channel of light faded, and the floating form revealed itself.

It appeared to be a woman, hovering still in air. She was clothed in white robes and ribbons, which were flowing freely and gracefully. Her hair was golden and her eyes matched the sky. A pair of enormous ivory wings extended from her back, with beautifully lustrous plumage. Her hands were clasped gently in front of her. She glowed with magnificent radiance and purity.

Her melodious voice rang out across the land. It was loud, beautiful, and haunting.

"I am Serafina," she said. "Angel of the heavens. Loyal cadet of God. Who has summoned me?"

Everyone was in complete awe. No one could find words. Feet remained planted and voices were rendered mute.

After some moments, Kaede was the first person to verbalize her thoughts.

"Fiamma and Serafina?" she wondered. "It cannot be!"

Serafina turned toward Kaede's voice. It was then she noticed everyone looking up at her.

"You, elderly priestess," Serafina said. "Have you summoned me?"

Kaede could not answer her. She was too stunned by the sights that had just unfolded before her. Words and voice eluded her.

"No, it wasn't you, I suppose," she said.

Cora's eyes swirled with trepidation and curiosity. Serafina noticed her.

"You must have," Serafina said, addressing Cora. "Young girl."

Cora's eyes remained as they were, set still upward toward the holiness of Serafina. A glint of light shone from the shard in her arm. Serafina noticed this spark as well.

"You possess great power of purity," Serafina said. "Why is it that you summoned me, young girl of innocence?"

Cora remained silent and still next to Alden. Serafina could sense her fright and awe.

"Do not be afraid, child," Serafina consoled. "You must have immense power of purity indeed if you have summoned me here. Now, what is your name and why have you called me?"

Cora exhaled but no words came out.

From a distance, Fiamma's eyes expanded at the sight she had witnessed. She stared at Serafina and her celestial radiance.

"No, it can't be!" she thought to herself. "Not again!"

Kaede, at last, mustered enough valor and spoke to the seemingly heavenly entity before her.

"You are Serafina?" she asked, still in awe.

"Yes, priestess," Serafina said. "I am."

"So the stories are true," Kaede continued. "It was not just a legend I had heard in my younger years."

Inuyasha shook off his disbelief and spoke next.

"What stories?" he asked.

"Long ago, there was said to have been an epic battle of good versus evil," Kaede said. "In which an incarnation of the devil and an angel of the heavens waged war against one another. This evil incarnation was known as Fiamma, who desired to bring about the complete destruction of humanity. However, a soldier of the sky, named Serafina, came down to earth as humanity's holy guardian. They fought with supernatural prowess, until, with celestial light and magic of the divine, Serafina destroyed Fiamma and banished her to the deepest depths of hell. And so she was to reside for the rest of eternity."

When Kaede had finished, Serafina spoke.

"Your storytelling abilities and wisdom are extraordinary, priestess," she said. "That all happened eons ago. When the world was still young. The earth required holy intervention because of the terrible destruction by that demon, Fiamma."

Just when Serafina said that name, she felt something. A twang. A fearful aura. She turned around, away from the others, and noticed the ensuing blaze and destruction in the distance.

"What has happened?" she asked.

But before anyone could answer, she waved her hand with lithe movements. Winds blew in. Gales pressed against the blades of grass. And, miraculously, extinguished all of the fire that was scorching the earth.

As Serafina did this, she noticed Fiamma, who had been staring at her. The demon that had nearly caused the world's demise so long ago. The wretched soul that caused so much destruction on earth that Serafina had needed to come down from the heavens as a guardian for all the mortals. Her nemesis.

"Fiamma," Serafina called to her. "So, you have returned. This is why I have been summoned here."

Serafina floated over to Fiamma's midst.

"How did you escape?" Serafina asked, with vehemence already in her voice.

Fiamma merely stood, leering at the angel. Serafina was the one that had destroyed her and imprisoned her in the fiery depths. She was the protector of the vermin known as humanity, the one that intruded on her plans of ultimate cataclysm. She was her nemesis, likewise.

"You imprisoned me," Fiamma said. "Why do you protect this disgusting world, littered with disgusting creatures?"

"You are disgusting," Serafina cried. "You are vileness incarnate. You are so wretched that it was required that heavenly forces intervened to put you in your place."

"I shall never go back there. Never. Never again will my eyes see the horrid bowels of hell."

"I do not know how you escaped your eternal torment. But, if you are here to destroy once again, I shall be here to halt your malevolent endeavors."

Everyone was still. Everyone listened.

"I toiled in the depths for what seemed like eternity," Fiamma said. "But I managed to hold on to strength. Vengeance fed my fire. And I managed to tap into a magic source. A powerful one."

"What magic source?" Serafina asked.

"A source of incredible time magic," Fiamma answered her. "And I used it to destroy the eternal seal that bound me below and I managed to flee the depths. With the bit of strength I had left."

"What was this source with such power, demon?"

"A reservoir of incredible power. A well. I distorted its time magic and I was able to tear free of my confines."

"A well on this land? On earth?"

"Yes, the Bone Eater's well, as it is called."

Fiamma pointed to a location in the distance. Serafina could make out the sight of a destroyed well in ruins. The Bone Eater's well. It had been obliterated due the distortion of magic from before. Fiamma had tampered with its power as a source of strength to break the very seal of her eternal agony. The very shackles of hell.

"You wretched demon," Serafina spat. "I shall return to you to the depths of agony!"

With quick movements, Serafina lifted her hands up heavenward. They glowed with unsurpassable purity. She conjured a powerful pillar of light and aimed her strength at Fiamma.

Fiamma was hit in the chest by the powerful blast and was sent hurtling in the distance. The earth trembled from the impact.

"Ugh," she moaned, sprawled out on the ground.

"Demon, your fate has been sealed," Serafina said, triumphantly. "You shall never see the light of this world again."

Everyone watched an epic battle unfold before them. Cora's eyes trembled with fright. Alden watched with curiosity, as his nightmares were coming to life. Kaede stood in disbelief, in which a childhood myth became a terrible reality. Shippo was frightened out of his wits. Miroku watched intently, and Sango stood with a hand on Kilala. Inuyasha observed the fight with a tight grasp on the Tetsusaiga.

Fiamma pushed herself up and regained her mien. Her fists were shaking.

"I shall never go back," she said. "I will destroy every living thing before that should happen!"

Fiamma unleashed her vengeful wrath. Fire erupted from her fingertips, her eyes, her soul. Everything around her was set ablaze. Before Serafina could react, Fiamma hurled heavy flames in her direction haphazardly. Serafina was hailed on by a rain of fiery comets.

Fiamma's fire spread across the land once again. Everything within its vicinity ignited with a roar.

Serafina could not protect herself from the barrage. Her body fell to the earth like a weeping, wilting rose.

"I shall not go back!" Fiamma cried. "My destruction shall reign!"

Serafina lay on the grass, motionless. Her white wings were slack. Her feathers glowed with the frolicking flames of the fire.

The skies turned a melancholic gray. Fire and smoke and ash clouded the atmosphere. The sun seemed to disappear completely. Darkness had taken control.

Amongst this darkness and fire, Cora's shard began to glow. With it, began the pulsating rhythm of purity in her palms. She could feel her power igniting again.

Everyone took notice of Cora's radiance.

"Again?" Cora wondered.

"Serafina," Kaede said. "She has been greatly injured. Perhaps ye are trying to heal her."

"Oh," Cora said in a gasp, as her palms shone brilliantly.

With a blinding brilliance, Serafina's angelic body began to illuminate. The rhythm of the light matched Cora's. An abrupt flash shined forth, and Serafina regained strength. Her wounds were healed.

"I…" Cora mouthed, before slipping into unconsciousness again.

"Oh no, not again," Alden said.

Fortunately, Kagome was near and caught Cora before she fell and hurt herself from her fainting spell.

"Cora," Kagome said. "You're using up all your strength."

Serafina opened her eyes. She lifted herself off the ground and regained her composure. Her heels floated like feathers and she rose up to meet Fiamma's gaze once again.

"What?" Fiamma said, startled. "That didn't even leave a scratch?"

"No," Serafina answered, examining her flawless hands. "I was healed."

"What?"

Serafina looked below and noticed the unconscious Cora with the others.

"That young girl that had summoned me here before must have also used her powers to heal me," Serafina said. "There's more to these mortals than meets the eye perhaps."

"A girl?"

Fiamma noticed Cora and the others. She realized that they must have some sort of connection with Serafina. The girl must have been healing her and giving her power.

"So, the girl," Fiamma said. "The girl is aiding you."

With an abrupt motion, Fiamma flapped her wings and took off down below. She dove towards Cora.

"Keep away from the mortals!" Serafina cried. "This is our battle!"

Serafina quickly took off after her. When she caught up to Fiamma, she was pushed away.

As Fiamma neared them, Inuyasha assumed a gallant stance in front of Cora, armed with Tetsusaiga.

"Vermin," Fiamma snorted, diving straight for him.

As she dove, Fiamma grasped the Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha struggled to release it from her grasp, but to no avail. With supernatural strength, she disarmed him and Tetsusaiga grew back to its original, slender state. Having the Tetsusaiga in her hand, she scoffed at Inuyasha. Then, with a quick movement, she sliced him across the chest.

"Gah!" Inuyasha cried.

Fiamma then dropped the Tetsusaiga on the ground. This wasn't her main goal. She was out to destroy Cora now, the girl of purity and a source of Serafina's strength.

"The girl shall be destroyed," she said.

"No you don't!"

It was Kagome. She armed her bow with an arrow and aimed for Fiamma. The shot was precise, but Fiamma merely flicked it away with her wrist. As if the arrow were an annoying gnat.

"It didn't work!" Kagome said.

"Pathetic," Fiamma mumbled.

At this time, Serafina had caught up with the ensuing battle.

"Demon!" she cried. "Leave them!"

Fiamma was determined to destroy the girl. She began to hover around in circles to attempt to disorientate Serafina. She was very agile and limber.

"Hiraikotsu!"

Sango unleashed her weapon to hit Fiamma. But the boomerang missed her entirely.

"Damn," Sango swore.

As Fiamma continued to circle, she began hurling fireballs haphazardly.

"I'll try my wind tunnel," Miroku said.

However, a moment later, he was incapacitated. A fireball exploded near him and scorched him.

"Miroku!" Sango cried.

"Enough!" Serafina yelled. "This our battle to be fought, wretched demon!"

Fiamma stopped circling and ceased her fire. She noticed that Cora was now nearly vulnerable. There was just Alden to contend with, who sat near her, desperately trying to wake up.

She dove for the girl.

Alden saw her coming straight for them.

"No," he thought.

Fiamma neared her destination. She would destroy the girl and then there would be no more purity or source of power for Serafina to draw from.

Alden saw that she was homing in on them. He was petrified. However, out of complete desperation, he felt that he should stand up and defend Cora, no matter how futile the effort seemed. He was her brother, after all. He had to protect her. Which is just what he did.

As Fiamma came close, he felt an energy take over him. It was something he recognized. It was like once before, when he had to protect Cora from that demon and he reflected the blast right back at it just in time. He felt the same kind of waves washing over him. With both terror and valiance in his eyes, Alden unleashed his power.

He felt a force rush out of his being. This circle of energy burst forth, and Fiamma was caught in the midst of the erupting blast.

Everyone gasped, as Fiamma was hurled back through the air. She landed in a slump, where she lay in the grass completely still and silent.

Alden panted, and then fell to the ground. Inuyasha tried to catch him before he fell, but the effort was in vain. Both brother and sister now lay unconscious.

Serafina saw what had just transpired.

"These definitely are not mere mortals," she thought to herself, reiterating her beliefs once again.

Serafina looked over at the injured Fiamma. She lay sprawled out on the earth like a twisted marionette. She was a puppet fueled by hatred and malevolence. She then turned to the two unconscious mortals. The ones that both had aided her in her cause to purge evil. They both lay next to the other mortals, their friends. They lay there completely drained of vitality.

Everyone looked up at Serafina, the holy guardian angel of the earth. Her angelic voice sang across the land like sad music.

"You mortals have put yourselves in danger," she said to them all. "But for the ultimate selfless cause. To destroy Fiamma, an incarnation of evil. To restore peace to this world again."

Fiamma remained completely still. Her wings did not tremble. Her fiery eyes were closed.

"I saw now return this demon to the depths," Serafina said. "But I need the aid of your powerful mortal allies."

She indicated the unconscious siblings.

"Their names are Alden and Cora," Kagome told Serafina. "They are brother and sister."

"So they are," Serafina said. "They are no simple mortals. They have been granted extraordinary supernatural abilities somehow. I shall now awaken them."

With a circular movement of her fingers, Serafina caused Alden and Cora to both regain consciousness instantly.

"Alden and Cora," Serafina said to them, as they gradually recovered their awareness. "You must assist me. Your powers are somehow necessary to vanquish Fiamma and return her to the depths, where I can seal her for eternity. And with absolute certainty this time."

Alden helped his sister up. After a moment, he almost fell again, but fortunately, Sango caught him. They both stood before Serafina.

"How can we help?" Alden asked her.

"Tap into your power," she said. "There lies the strength we need."

Alden and Cora both felt rejuvenated. Serafina had restored some of their energy. Cora allowed her hidden shard to shine. Alden tried to conjure his energy again that always seemed to be unleashed in desperate times.

Serafina held a palm up to the skies. Her body began to radiate more brilliantly. Cora's body began to glow in unison, with the shard in her arm glimmering with purity. Alden's body began to illuminate as well, with an unusual aura appearing around his head like an aureole. The three glowing figures fused their power together.

With the united blast, the three caused a beautiful explosion of lights. The earth seemed to shake a little off its axis. The world seemed to be watching and listening.

With this trinity of power, the three vanquished Fiamma. Her tattered body erupted in the chaos of the explosion.

"Forever you will writhe in torment below!" Serafina cried.

Fiamma was flung mercilessly into the earth's gullet. Down, down, down she fell, into the shadows of the world.