A/N: Sorry it took so long! But there has been many reasons why it took as long as it did. One of'em was my crappy 8 year old computer. But luckily I got a new computer over Christmas.

Chapter 12: Freedom

Swoosh, a giant axe flew past his head. With one final punch, his claw sent the man flying back and into the stone wall of the arena. "Pathetic." Siegfried spat on the dirt covered ground. With soul piercing eyes, he turned toward the king and snarled with disgust. Then, he turned toward Cassandra who was in a dressed in a very revealing thong and bra. There were many other girls, but as long as she was up there, he barely noticed them."

"Finish him." The king commanded with a thumbs down.

Finish him yourself."Siegfried snapped back as loud as he could. Searing pain flared through out his body as his powers suddenly went out of control. With his human hand, he tried a desperate attempt to rip the collar off of his neck, but to no avail. When the pain finally cease, he pushed himself back to his feet.
"Demon, you had better learn your place. Without your armor, our bullets will pierce the human parts of your flesh. And as long as that collar is on your neck, you are at my mercy. Now bring out the next gladiator!"

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"It's show time." Dyne said as he signaled Derrick with a hand gesture. In rapid session, him and three other soldiers cloaked in brown moved up a flight of stairs and bashed the door in. Before either of the two soldiers could make a sound, Dyne flew in there with sword drawn and slit the first guy's throat as a dagger penetrated the seconds.
"Derrick, what's your status." He spoke into a walkie-talkie he kept on his side.
"Tower number two is secured and our snipers are getting into position. Louise is taking her small squad to the women who are to be sold in the auction later on" Derrick answered.
"Good. How's Raphael doing" Dyne questioned.
"Raphael is about to start his match" Derricked peered through his scope and looked around the arena. "The others are now in position as well."
"Roger that. I'm not moving into position. All units, we act when Raphael gives the signal."

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"Ladies and gentlemen, our next gladiator has traveled far and wide in pursuit of a worthy challenger. Welcome him! The slayer of demons, the Masked Slayer." The announcer screamed as two large wooden doors opened. Raphael in disguised stepped through with a spear in his right hand.

"You've got to be kidding me." Siegfried sighed in embarrassment. The disguised Raphael stopped within four feet of the Azure Knight, he spun his spear and stabbed it in the ground with a manly pose, making the crowd cheer even louder than before. "The Masked Slayer? Heh, it's almost as pathetic as your outfit Raphael." Siegfried.
"Siegfried, we're here to rescue you. However, there are two things I want from you"
"And that is?" Siegfried eyed him suspiciously.
"Your words, I thought about them and understand what you were saying. But I want to know why…why tell me something like that? No longer can I pursue Soul Edge for my own desire" Raphael said, knowing full well that his dreams for Amy will no longer come true.
"I told you so you wouldn't have any regrets if you chose to continue you quest"
"I see. Now, for my second request. You are to fight with everything you got. I want to fight you with no interruptions and without this ring." Raphael held up his left hand to flash a golden ring, "This way we know who is strongest."

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Cassandra stared at Siegfried and the mysterious Masked Slayer, wondering what the two were talking about. As soon as the Masked Slayer lowered his hand, the spear in right hand thrust forward. Siegfried moved a bit his right in order to dodge the spear. With highly trained skill, he grabbed the spear's shaft with his left hand while pulling the Masked Slayer closer and lunging his right fist forward. In one powerful blow, the spearman went flying across the arena.

Siegfried snapped his stolen spear over his knee and threw it on the ground with a smirk. "Yes! Go Siegfried! You can beat that man!" She cheered. The challenger rose to his feet and withdrew a rapier from his side. The challenger raised hisright hand to quiet the crowd, though only half of the crowd complied.

"I demand this demon to be given his weapon. With this sword I'll be unmatched. I want a challenge and I'm sure the crowd wants a match!" Raphael yelled. The crowd cheered even louder than before. The king stood up to analyze the situation. If the crowd approved this much, then he'd have no choice but to accept. He pointed to the gatekeeper inside the arena and gave a thumbs up. In a matter of seconds, the gate opened as a slave ran out dragging Faust across the dirt floor. The sword landedby his feet as the slave turned around and ran to the gate, screaming in fear. The Azure Knight picked up the sword and swung it once to get a feel for it.

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"Let's begin the real match." Raphael smirked as he charged forward. Quickly he dove to the side to dodge Faust. Quickly getting back to his feet, he stabbed his rapier forward only to strike a repositioned zweihander. A punch from Siegfried's free hand came over the sword and struck Raphael in the shoulder, causing the man to skid back several feet.
Raphael charged forward once again, gaining the up hand using his speed. The sound of steel on steel rang throughout the arena as Raphael assaulted Siegfried with blow after blow. However, Faust was like a gigantic shield if turned right, and with Siegfried's strength, he easily maneuver the sword in any position he needed, offensively or defensively.

As if time slowed, Siegfried watched the rapierpierce through thedeep crack in his sword and slither its way to him. Got you, he tossed the sword tohis left, causing a firmed gripped Raphael to stumble as his sword plunged with Siegfried's. In the blink of an eye, the masked Raphael found himself being grabbed from behind and slammed into the ground. Then, in a true feet of strength, he wastossedclear across the arena and onto the ground in a violent roll into the wall. "Seems like you"
Siegfried picked up his sword and stabbed it into the ground so he could remove the rapier from its' blade. The crowd cheered as he picked up Faust and rested the gigantic sword on his shoulder and boasting his victory over his opponent by pointing the rapier at him. "Now finish him off!" The king ordered.
"I refuse!" Siegfriedyelled out his refusal.
"Comply with my order or face dire consequences demon." The king sneered at Siegfried.
In a show of defiance, Siegfried tossed Raphael his sword before turning to the king and lifting Faust off his shoulder and pointing it at the tyrant, "You're a coward who hides behind guards and walls of stone. You're too afraid to come down here and face me like a man"
"You wretched fool! Gatekeeper! Release Drake!" The roared while jumping from his seat. The crowd gasped in unison.
"Drake?" Raphael said to himself as he ran over to Siegfried's side. "Please tell me Drake is the name of a poodle"
"Somewhere, someplace, someone has named their poodle Drake. Here, however, I don't think that is the case." He and Raphael turned toward another large set of doors, a set made out of pure iron and have never been opened in between or during his matches. A loud, fearsome roar could be heard as the doors slowly opened.

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Raphael, Siegfried…no…, Cassandra went pale in fright.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine." The girl to her right whispered. "Trust me. My friends are going to put a stop to this real soon."

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"Funny, I always thought such beasts were told by the church to spread fear of Satan and bards to entertain." Raphael let out a small laugh full of irony.
"Nevertheless, it's real and we're its' next meal unless we do something"
"I guess it's now our never." Raphael reached into his vest and pulled out a flare gun and fired it into the sky. In a matter of seconds, bullets whizzed through the air as guards around the arena dropped in pools of blood.

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"Get down!" The girl who previously talked to Cassandra ordered as she stood up. Two of the guards suddenly dropped with red holes in their head. A man in a brown cloaked appeared with a sword in his right hand and a small scabbard containing a dagger in his left.
"Lady Louise, your dagger." The man said as he tossed the lady her dagger. As soon as she caught the dagger, a halberd was thrust in her direction. In one quick motion, she withdrew the dagger and redirected the weapon with precise skill. Another guard appeared out of nowhere and pounced on her, restraining her slim form with his superior might. Cassandra stood up and grabbed an unsuspecting guard by the back of his shirt and tripped him over her foot. With anger in her eyes, the heel of her red sandal slammed into the stunned guy's throat.

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The beast, a powerful four legged winged green dragon, roared once again, revealing it's sharp white teeth. "Feed on all who oppose me." The king pressed a button on his remote, causing the Drake's collar to beep for a bit. The dragon, in a fit of rage, stormed toward the two swordsmen. Raphael dove between the legs and then rolled to avoid the tail while Siegfried leapt up and latched onto the first thing he could, the dragon's horn that stood out of the back of its' head.
Violently the dragon shook its head, attempting to throw off the unsuspected nuisance. "Hold still you damn dragon." Siegfried growled as he held on for dear life.
Raphael ran to the front so he could face the dragon, "Siegfried, hang on"
"Easier said than done!" Siegfriedgrowled as he brought up his left fist and punched the creature in the eye.
"Use your sword fool. Your human muscles won't harm that thing!" Raphael yelled at him.
I know…but this creature is being forced to fight like we are. I have no right to end its' life. Siegfried mentally kicked himself at his predicament. His old self would've plunged the sword deep into the creatures eye, but that man is dead. And will stay dead if he has anything to do with it.

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"Get off me!" Cassandra commanded as she stomped on her restrainer's foot and then kneed him in the groin.
"You bitch!" The man shouted in anger as he brought up his knife. In an instant, blood splattered from his forehead as his body dropped back limply.
"Cassandra, you okay?" Dyne said as he stood beside her with his rifle.
"I'm fine, but we have to help Siegfried!" She expressed her concern.
Dyne scanned the arena crowd, "The king has the remote to the collars, we find him, we find the key to stopping that dragon." Damn, this wasn't part of the plan…there! He spotted the king being escorted by two guards. "Louise!" He turned around as his ally stabbed as soldier in the neck, "Catch!" He tossed her his rifle.

"I'm going after the king, you lead a squad to the prison and fear the slaves." He ordered while drawing his sword.
"Alright. You two! Come with me." She ordered two of her soldiers"
"Come on Cassandra." He turned toward his fleeing father.
"I'm sorry, but I have to help Siegfried." She shook her head and turned toward the arena's pit.

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"Gah." Siegfried groaned as he was thrown from the dragon and into a wall. A loud roar was made as the dragon approached him at full speed. He stood up to his feet and stabbed his sword into the ground and balled his claw into a fist. A powerful shockwave was sent throughout the arena as the dragon was knocked off its feet. with a single blow."Raphael!" He shouted to his partner.
The Frenchman ran over to the collar, and with a single thrust, pierced the programming box, causing it to explode into many pieces. Siegfried walked over to the downed dragon's snout and looked at it dead in the eyes, fear was the main emotion he could see. Fear he knew all too well, fear he had seen and caused. The dragon was scared it was going to die. Looking at his deformed claw, remembering the pain he had caused others with it, pain he could no longer bringing to the innocent. "Get out of here." He whispered.
He wasn't to sure if the dragon heard, so he glared back into the eyes of the dragon and growled out his command, "I said get out of here dammit. You're free!" He threw his left hand into the air and pointed. The dragon stood up and let out a roar of gratitude before spreading its' magnificent wings and flying into freedom's blue sky.
"Siegfried!" He heard a familiar feminine voice. As soon as he turned around, his arms went up to catch a fall girl.
"Cassandra?" He looked at her in confusion while setting her onto the ground gentle. "What's going"
"I'm not too sure on the details. But Dyne's here and I think he's leading a revolution."

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"Get back here!" Dyne shouted as one of the king's guard turned toward him with a rifle in hand. A bloody gasp was made as a flying dagger stuck the man in the throat. The second guard turned with his rifle and took aim. Before either of them knew what happened, a bullet caught the guard in the chest.
"You're free to go." Dyne heard Derrick's voice on his walkie-talkie.
He grabbed hold of it and brought it to his mouth, "Derrick, shoot my father in the leg"
A gunfire was heard over the walkie-talkie as the king suddenly dropped to the ground holding his leg. Putting the communication device back, he approached the king with his sword in hand. "You bastard. All my life you've done nothing but caused pain. It didn't matter if the world was facing a crisis against Conner, all you could think of was power"
"Listen to me. You're making a big mistake! I can make you rich beyond your wildest dreams! Oh please don't kill me!" The king pleaded.
"Father, you are not fit to rule!" Dyne spoke as he dived on top of his father and pressed his sword to his chest.
"Dyne!" The king looked in horror.
"Father, why? All the pain you've caused…tell me your reason!" Dyne yelled out hisfatheras a confused and scaredchild would've.
"After your mother died, I wanted to give you and Jesse everything. My country didn't have everything, but when I had the world in my grasp, I knew I would. But when you and Jesse ran away, my determination grew. I knew that if I had the world, there was no place for you to hide and I'd be reunited with my children." The king explained.
Tears started to pour from Dyne's eyes, "Jesse…forgive me." The king's eyes shot wide open in terror when he heard those words.

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"Come on you two. We have to get up there with the others." Raphael suggested as a guard's corpse landed in front of him.
"I agree. Cassandra," Siegfried glanced at her, "hang on." He wrapped his human arm around her slim form and leapt on to the area with the bleachers. When he landed, he glanced all around to assess the situation. Noticing that the guards were dropping their weapons and raising their hands.
"What's going on?" Cassandra pondered out loud, knowing full well that Siegfried didn't know the answer.
"I don't know; but if we find Dyne, maybe he'll shead some light onthis confusion." Siegfried said, hinting a bit of worry in his voice.
"There!" Cassandra pointed to a set of steps on their right. Dyne was walking down the steps with tears in his eyes and blood dripping from his sword. In his hand was a red robe, dragging a familiar looking corpse with it.
"Is that?" Cassandra said already knowing the answer. The corpse…was the king.

TBC…