Flame of Darkness
By: Starlight-x
Chapter 9: Battleground
"So, this is where we're supposed to go?" Duo stared up at the ruins of a temple. He took a step nearer and poked with a stick at some greenery that had spread over broken down rubble. "Doesn't look like anybody's been here for a while."
"You're wrong." Heero spoke quietly. "Something's still here."
"You sure about that?" Duo asked.
"Yes," Relena gave a slight shudder. "I can sense it too."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Duo tossed the stick away. "Let's go investigate."
They made their way into the temple. It was dark; an air of uneasiness seemed to settle over them. Piles of rubble littered the cracked flagstones of the floor along with dark stains. At the furthest end of the temple was a carving of the god.
"What a temple. Who'd ever want to come here to worship anybody?" Duo muttered.
Hilde looked up. Part of the roof had fallen, leaving a view to the bright blue sky overhead. She saw the hawk circling. "Well, we still have our very own observer."
"Relena?" Zechs looked carefully at his sister who was frozen, staring at the statue of the god. "Are you all right sister?"
"He's here." Relena whispered. "Can't you feel him?" She continued staring at the statue.
"Where?" Duo looked around, wishing again he had his sensitivity back again. Patience. Quatre's voice echoed in his mind.
"So you are the ones determined to defy me. What an unseemly group you are."
Everyone stared as the statue rose from it's sitting position to tower over them. It gave an amused chuckle that only managed to sound sinister. "Yes, I am Ha'derkaath." He moved forward into the shaft of sunlight that streamed through the hole in the roof. "Finally we all meet face to face." He looked over all of them, his gaze lingering first on Relena. "You, little elf, have caused me much frustration."
Heero could sense Relena trembling and stepped closer to her, glaring defiantly at the death god.
Ha'derkaath turned his attention toward Heero. "You, a mere human, think to stand against me?"
Heero didn't reply. His stubborn silence seemed to irritate the god. "You humans, so easy to manipulate. Now you're allowing yourself to be controlled by an elf."
"I choose my own path." Duo said firmly. "And as for Heero, he's never done a thing he doesn't want to in his life."
"You're all fools to come here. What did you think you could do? You will all die as easily as this." Ha'derkaath lifted one hand and the hawk that circled overhead began to fall from the sky.
"NO!" Hilde gasped.
"Fool." Wufei said. "That bird was one of the Watcher's."
"Another irritant in my side." Ha'derkaath said dismissively.
"You were never given permission to touch one of mine."
Everyone turned at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Behind them stood a tall man, his face cast in shadow. In his arms he cradled a hawk.
"You." Ha'derkaath accused.
"Yes, me." The man took a step closer. "You should count yourself extremely fortunate that you couldn't harm her," He glanced down at the hawk in his arms. "Otherwise even your self imposed godhood wouldn't have saved you."
"Self imposed?" Ha'derkaath seemed stunned. His voice filled the temple with the sound of indignation. "You arrogant wretch."
"You've forgotten." The man shook his head slowly. "How convenient for you."
"Who is that?" Duo asked, watching the god and stranger.
"I am not certain, but I do believe he is the Watcher." Wufei replied.
"You don't know for sure?"
Wufei gave Duo a sidelong glance. "Of course not. I've never personally seen him. Only the Matriarch ever goes to see him and he rarely comes to physically watch anything. We should consider the fact that he is here a great honor."
"What do you mean I've forgotten?" Ha'derkaath's enraged roar drew their attention.
"Simply this." The Watcher turned his attention to the patch of blue sky visible through the hole in the roof. "You are not really a god. Well, you're as much a god as a self made one can be."
"Self made? You…."
The Watcher whirled on Ha'derkaath and for a moment the entire room seemed to lighten. "I am the Watcher." He said in a soft voice. "I look, observe and see. I've done it for many years before you existed and I'll do it long after you are gone. Do not even think to call me a liar." Then the room darkened once again. He smoothed the hawk's feathers and seemed to melt back into shadows.
Ha'derkaath stared after him before he finally seemed to remember the small group that stood and stared at him. He turned his attention back to Relena. "My little Holder of Hope." His voice was a dark caress. "You have caused me such trouble."
"I've come for the Key of Truth that you stole." Relena responded clearly.
"Have you?" Ha'derkaath said easily. "Look around you little elf. Do you see the key anywhere around here? No." He turned his attention toward Wufei. "And the keeper of Justice. I welcome you most heartily. I have wanted to possess your key for too long and you have been gracious enough to bring it to me.
"You deceive yourself Ha'derkaath." Wufei stood ramrod straight. "Justice has come to you but not to allow you to possess it. No, Justice has come to annihilate you."
"You think to kill me?" Ha'derkaath laughed. "Me, who slew dozens of your kin when they tried to resist me?"
"For that reason Justice has come." Wufei's eyes had begun to turn an alarming shade of silver.
Ha'derkaath laughed again. "You would dare to fight me when I have in my possession the Key of Truth?"
"Truth can not be changed." Relena took a step forward. "It matters not how you try to twist it or cover it up. Truth is. The Key of Truth does not define truth, it only helps illuminate it."
Ha'derkaath ignored her. "I suppose it is time to begin." He spoke a long string of harsh sounding words. The group was transported out of the temple. They found themselves on a wide open space. Overhead the sky was overcast lit only by an occasional flash of red lightening. Surrounding them on all sides was an army of undead.
"He's not fooling around is he?" Duo muttered and drew Song of the Warrior.
Wufei said nothing. One minute his human form was there, the next a silver dragon had taken it's place.
"Ah, Keeper of Justice, you finally show your true form." Ha'derkaath spoke almost gleefully.
"Not Keeper, Guardian." Wufei spread his wings, managing to look even more menacing then he already did.
After several failed attempts at preliminary spell casting Heero gave up. He could sense Relena standing next to him trembling. Her fear reached him through their bond. His left hand holding his staff firmly he reached back with his right and grabbed for her. He got hold of her arm and dragged her closer to him. "It's all wrong here." He heard her murmur.
"Concentrate." He growled at her. "Think of something and only that. You're distracting me."
"Sorry." She breathed. After a moment her unrest settled and Heero found himself able to concentrate as well.
"Now," He continued. "Stay close to me." He looked around at the monsters that surrounded them. "We're soon going to be involved in the fight of our lives."
Nothing happened. The monsters stood frozen as if waiting for a signal while Ha'derkaath and Wufei were locked in a staring match.
Duo fidgeted from one foot to the other. This was frustrating. It was as if they were all in a stalemate.
"Malak!" The cry startled everyone. Dorothy had finally caught sight of the single person she'd been pursuing for so long and now rushed towards him, blade drawn. As if her cry had been the signal everyone seemed to explode into action.
Duo now found himself frantically fighting for his life against a tide of undead. He risked a couple of glances around and saw Noin and Zechs fighting in perfect harmony. Heero had Relena practically glued to his side while he quick cast one spell after another. Relena's eyes were closed and she appeared to be concentrating very hard on something.
Next he saw Hilde, she was whirling with her twin swords made out of fire. She caught his gaze and winked at him before turning back to her fight.
Keep in control. Quatre's voice echoed in his head. Make your emotions work for you not against you.
"I know that already. That was one of the first lessons you pounded into my head." Duo grumbled from between gritted teeth. He noticed that everyone, including the undead seemed to shy away from where Wufei and Ha'derkaath fought. The dark god seemed to be concentrating on attacking Wufei's chest while the dragon breathed silver fire at him and cast powerful spells.
More undead distracted him.
00000
Dorothy fought her way toward Malak, not caring who or what was in her way. Her pale blue eyes burned with a fierce light. He noticed her coming and gave a chilly smile.
"At last. We meet again Courtesan."
"Your death has come." Dorothy lifted her sword. "I carry your bane."
"We shall see." Malak sneered. "Perhaps I carry yours."
Askar guide me. Dorothy attacked. The fight seemed to be a stalemate at first. Every single blow Dorothy rained on him, Malak countered. Likewise his attacks on her were useless.
"Well, it would appear as if we are evenly matched." Malak seemed relaxed.
"No, I will win. You will die." Dorothy spoke through gritted teeth.
"We shall see." Malak said again.
Cala. Dorothy swung her sword with the fury born of grief. Again Malak easily parried each of her blows. Suddenly an unearthly howl filled the air distracting him slightly. Dorothy saw her opportunity and took it. Her sword stabbed him through the chest. Malak stared down for a moment before he let out a cry of pain. Dorothy pulled her sword free and he staggered back. She noticed almost absently that there was no blood; instead the flesh around his wound had taken on a blackened, almost burned appearance. She swung again. Each time she did another wound appeared on his body. Malak kept staggering backwards until he stumbled and sank to his knees. He looked up at her with eyes devoid of anything and grinned. "This is for Cala, you bastard." She whispered and cut off his head.
00000
The howl startled Relena. She opened her eyes, breaking off her concentration and looked around. Her gaze fell on Ha'derkaath. He looked to be grabbing something that glowed in the center of Wufei's chest. The dragon was strangely silent as he fought back. Ha'derkaath was the source of the unearthly howling.
Suddenly Duo rushed past. As he neared the two locked together in combat he swung his sword. As Song of the Warrior connected with Ha'derkaath's leg it shattered. There was a bright flash of light and Duo stumbled back. Where he'd originally stood was a fair haired man. For a moment he stood looking around before he turned back to Wufei and Ha'derkaath. "At last." There was relief in his voice. "At last."
Ha'derkaath stopped his howling and released Wufei. The dragon took a couple steps back and shook his head from side to side as if clearing cobwebs from his mind. Ha'derkaath stared down at the blonde-haired man. "You!"
"Yes, it is I." There was sadness in the voice. "It is time Ha'derkaath. No more." Then he began to sing.
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A/N: Uh, this is the shortest chapter I've written for this story. I apologize if the length disappoints some but the stopping point was too perfect. Next chapter should be the last unless I decide to add an epilogue. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the read.