Disclaimer: I give up. Referred to the last 29 chaps for it.

Author's Note: Yay chapter 30! Only 5 more chaps people... REVIEW!

Sisters till the End

This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!

Chapter Thirty: My Allies, Your Enemies

Coran grimaced as he looked at the Temple of Artemis. So long ago had he imagined the day when he would walk up those marbled steps and survey the damage done to the Temple, and then laugh as he faced the on-coming battle, emerging as the victor. That was before Kat came along, he thought, grimacing again. How he had fallen for the Dark Angel, becoming her lap dog was just as pathetic as becoming a Zaibach soldier. Oh how the mighty fall. "Why the grimace, Duskblade?" Valkerie asked, catching Coran's attention. "Nothing of your concern, traitor," he hissed. Valkerie only frowned and crossed her arms, opening her mouth to respond. "Oh, shut your mouth before he slaps you," Gwyn said, rolling her eyes. Valkerie glared at her. "I'll do whatever I please, thank you very much."

"You wanna bet? After I get through with you you'll be begging Deadeye to put his katana through you."

"Is that so? Well, why don't we see who comes out on top, Mimic."

"Both of you shut the hell up!" Both women glared daggers at Coran but he shot them right back. "We are here for a mission, if you remember," he said, all anger seeming to have disappeared. "Already the armies are yards away from the Temple so would you like to explain to them why you are standing here beating the other up in the middle of a world war?"

"I'd like to see them try," Valkerie laughed. Gwyn shot her companion a look but nodded to Coran. "What's the plan then, Deadeye?" She questioned, her anger still hot on her tongue. "Do we play here or-" She stopped, whirling around as a small vortex opened up behind here. Everyone went on defensive, staring at the vortex, as a cat would water. Coran had his katanas at the ready, Gwyn her reaper, and Valkerie had already knocked an arrow, half drawn, her fingers playing along the quiver's string, ready to release. Suddenly a woman stepped out of the vortex, surprising all of them. She was tall and athletic, and hourglass figure to match her dark green eyes with the strange quality of scales within the iris. Her long dark brown hair with sharp red highlights was pulled back, framing her oval face and strong beauty and pale skin marred only by the long, thin, scares on her face and reaching down her neck. She gazed across the group with coolness, then stepped back to let none other then Dilandau Albatou through.

"Albatou," Coran snarled, sounding much like that of a dog. "Come to execute a surprise attack?"

Dilandau snorted as the others watched the rest of his Dragon Slayers also spill through the vortex, crowding the small clearing Coran had secured. Finally, a tall lavender haired beauty stepped through, and with the wave of her hand the vortex disappeared. Valkerie gasped and Gwyn looked surprised. "You did not tell us that Rika Avalon would be joining us, Deadeye," Gwyn said, bowing to the woman. "You honor us, Fate."

Rika nodded her head towards the woman. "Thank you, but our time would be better spent aiding each other in this attack," she said. Turning to Coran and Dilandau, she spoke sharply. "Now you two break it up. We have no time for dominance rituals."

Dilandau dropped his hand that had been fingering his sword handle. "I agree with Avalon on that," he said. "Are the Protectors in place?"

Coran didn't drop his katanas and simply looked towards the Temple, which was now reconstructed. He only gave it an amazed blink before returning to business. "Yes. The Ritual will be starting soon and the armies are now yards away," he replied, his voice cool. Already the sounds of battle were coming closer. "We best get into place."

Motioning to his assassins, Coran and his team moved out, running towards the Temple. Dilandau let them take the lead-no sense in letting his team move into an ambush-and waited till they had stationed themselves along the columns of the Temple before issuing orders. "Morwyn," he addressed the other woman, the assassin, with the scars all over her face. "Follow Coran. Rika, I trust that you are with me? Good. The rest of you split up into threes, we mustn't let anyone into that Temple. Now let's move!" With that the soldiers spilled from the bushes and undergrowth of the forest and ran towards the Temple.

"…I'll fight."

Kat grinned and embraced Scott. "We won't let them win," she told him, and he looked into her eyes. She knows that they won't, he thought. He gave her a weak smile as she began ordering the Protectors into the glowing circle. As they left, Zorya walked up to him. "So, this is sort of exciting," she said, a glint in her eyes. "I get to witness you becoming the Second and saving the world."

"Romantic?"

She laughed and gave him a playful hit. "No, not really. But a turn on."

"Then we'll have to see how far saving the world turns you on," he muttered, and to his surprise Zorya blushed. "Yeah well, we'll see tiger, but you have to survive first."

"If I survive."

She took his head in her hands and looked into his eyes. "Hey, a person who wields their own power makes their own destiny, remember?" Scott nodded and she kissed him. Though brief, the kiss made Scott weak and powerful at the same time. "Now get going, they're waiting for you," Zorya said, pushing him towards the Protectors. She watched as her love walked towards the circle, constantly looking back at her, and waited until he was in the Protector's reach before drawing her sword. The sounds of battle were now too close for comfort and she might be the only defense between the armies and Scott. No sense in not going down fighting, she thought as she trotted towards the columns.

She was halfway across the Temple when a man appeared in between the columns, one eye a milky white. "Deadeye!" She called to him, recognizing him immediately. He was the one who trapped her in the forest and made her spill her knowledge. The man glanced at her, slightly confused, before returning to watch the Protectors. Zorya trotted up to him and touched his arm, pulling him away from the Circle. "Odd that we'll be fighting along the same side," she joked. "What are they doing? Has the Ritual begun?" Coran demanded, pulling away. Zorya grabbed his arm back more fiercely and pulled him away. "Yes, so can we get to defending the place before the armies come?" She snapped. "Is it just you or do we have others?"

"You have many allies, Black Panther," Morwyn called. Zorya recognized the assassin and nodded her head.

Morwyn was well known in Austria, as having roots there. She had grown up in a famous Austrian Royal Guard family and when she was 13 was brought into the Royal Guard. Though, later, the news of her killing 3 guards and when found out was disowned was regarded with horror, Zorya knew that the assassin hadn't minded. "My allies are my enemies' enemies," Zorya quoted, earning a respectful look from the woman. She also spotted Valkerie and Gwyn, a Fanellian troop and another assassin, between the columns along with the Dragon Slayers, Dilandau, and none other then the Fate known as Rika Avalon. "I guess everyone shows up for front row seats," she said, eyeing the Dragon Slayers with contempt.

"The will fight by our side," Coran said, almost regretfully. "They have been cleansed of the evil, or so says Avalon."

"So we make for a pretty strange band of heroes."

"Would Fate have it any other way?"

Zorya laughed but nodded all the same. No, I guess not, she thought. With a last look at Scott and everyone in the Circle, she took up a spot next to Coran in the columns, sword drawn as the first soldiers of the battle spilled forth towards them.

Alex smiled at Scott as he entered the Circle. "The floor is yours," she said, eyeing his as he stood in the center of the Circle. She, Nicole, and Kat were placed in their own small circles within the larger circle, each circle having the carving of the Ancient Symbol for the Protectors. "So, any last words?" Scott asked as he stepped into the center. "How about, let's kick this!" Alex said.

"May our hearts be light, our actions by guided, and by the good Lord, let us do this right," Nicole added.

"We're going to make our own destiny. Whatever happens happens for a cause. I'll always love you guys."

"Yeah."

"You got it."

"Alright. Ready?" Scott looked at everyone. There seemed to be an air of resignation and anxiety around everyone. As if letting out a breath, everyone nodded. "Then let's begin."

Digging deep inside of him, Scott pulled out the power that he had felt ever since reaching Gaea. He grinned as that power filled him and made his blood tingle. Yes, this was the true power. He was one with Gaea and he knew what he had to do. It all seemed so simple, looking at it now, and he wanted to laugh out loud. How could such a daunting task be so simple? It was absurd. Yet it was, and he sighed. This would be easier then he thought.

Slowly he brought out the power. It couldn't be too fast-oh no-he could kill everyone if he brought it out too fast and what good would that be? We're going to do this, he thought. We're going to get through it.

Kat could feel Scott's power as he brought it out. It was slow, like a slug, but steady like a hill. Yes, this would work. Following his example, she brought out her own power, letting it flow around her like an aura and circle her. He would need it soon. All around her she felt Nicole and Alex doing the same and soon all of her senses were filled with the power that the three held. Scott's own power was growing by the second and soon he would turn to them. Nicole smiled as she felt her own power circling her like a protective dog defending his master. It was so reassuring to feel her own power around her that all her doubts were soothed instantly. No… not her own power… everyone else's power. They were so strong together. Of course, how else would we stay alive? She thought. We'll get through this.

Naru opened her eyes a long time ago. She had watched as Scott had refused his powers and how the Protectors had worn him down. Please, nobody makes his or her own destiny, she thought. What bullshit. But she had remained calm, watching, unaware, and working to free herself.

She always carried small needles with her. They had balled points and were not sharp at all but they were very useful when you were using pressure points to knock one out. Currently she had one up her sleeve and she had slid it down, and was currently cutting through her binds. Sure, it would have been much easier transporting herself away but what good would that have done? She would still have been tied up and Lord Tandor would've been angry with her. I have a duty to him, she thought as she worked in slicing away the thin vines. And I will fulfill that duty.

So she had worked until finally her arms were free, and from there it had been a matter of pulling away the vines. Now she stood, facing the sight before her. In the middle of the marble Temple a circle had been carved into the floor long ago, but now it glowed as the four people stood within it. The Protectors in the outer circle, each in their own bubble, and Scott, the Second, in the inner circle. Naru grinned. All had their eyes closed, absorbing one another's powers, not paying attention. Open to an attack.

Lord Tandor will be very proud of me, she thought, glancing at the columns where an assortment of assassins and Dragon Slayers stood, fighting off the first wave of battle. All were too busy to notice one small Dark Star. He'll reward me well. Oh, how he will be so pleased! The world will be his and there will be no more hate or violence against us.

Quietly she crept, her feet making no sound of the hard marble floor. No one noticed her. She crept ever closer to the circle. They were all too busy. Oh, this would be an easy job. She was standing next to the circle; a column of light surrounding it, each Protector and Scott bathed in their own aura. Their eyes were still closed and she almost crowed in glee. This will be fun, she thought, eyeing the distance. One big jump and she could have Scott. Just one big jump…

Scott had brought out all of his power, as the Protectors had brought out theirs. He grinned as he felt all the power around them. Easy, he thought. He readied himself and extended his powers beyond the space around him, around the whole world. The Protectors followed his lead and he gasped as he felt everything-the grass, the sky, the wind, the trees… everything. He could feel Kat, Alex, and Nicole and knew that they were experiencing the same as he was. It's… beautiful, he thought. So beautiful…

Now! Naru had seen they Protectors and Scott suddenly become pure light-their bodies were still there but now they were pure light. Fearing she might risk losing her opportunity, she jumped. Entering the circle time seemed to slow down to almost a crawl. Slowly she was getting closer to Scott, slowly her arms came out, and slowly she saw him opening his eyes…

…He was connected with Gaea just as the Protectors were. We're almost done, he thought as he began to extend his powers. All he had to do was cleanse the people on Gaea of their sins and evils, and destroy the evil, and they would be home free. He had half extended his powers to the Protectors, absorbing their powers and energy, and started towards the world-as he could feel the evil-when suddenly a ripple caught his attention.

It was like a ripple across a pond. It started out small but grew larger and larger. Is that… his thought never quite made it, for suddenly he felt something hit him, hard and fast. To his horror, he felt the thing melt into him like warm butter and felt the shadow taking over his mind…

Naru screamed as her hands melted into Scott's body. What was happening? She tried to pull away but she could not and she watched as Scott slowly took her in. It was like trying to fight a vacuum. You just couldn't. With a blink of an eye, she was in him; she could feel his purity, feel his power. Lord Tandor…. The thought was fleeting, like it was gliding across a lake and she was on the other side. Then it hit her. She was a part of the Second. She could feel the Protectors connected to him, feel their power, and she knew what she had to do. Time to die, she thought, and somehow began to feed evil into their very souls, killing them slowly and painfully. She cracked with giddy as the screams of each one reached her-she could feel each scream-and their painful tones were music to her ears. Yes, Lord Tandor, we will win, she thought. Oh yes.