The Scath's Return

"The flame signal that was seen last night confirms our suspicions," Master Kinchi was saying to the gathering. After our fun, we returned to the Masked HQ and told the council about the Scath signal in the sky. They had seen it too. Today, they were holding a grand meeting of the entire Masked order in the main hall. "The Fire Scath has returned!" Master Kinchi said.

"The Fire Scath is a deadly warrior." Master Shinobi said. "This next mission will be the most important mission ever carried out by a Masked. The Masked called upon by the council to serve this mission is Master Slade."

I stepped out of the crowd and stood before Master Kinchi and Shinobi. "Slade, do you accept this mission?"

"Yes, Master Shinobi. I have a score to settle with the Fire Scath." I said.

"Slade, we, the council, have decided to offer you a choice. Once this mission is complete, we are offering you the choice to leave the Masked order or stay a Master forever." Master Shinobi said.

"What?" I asked.

"We know you have feeling for the girl, more than just teenage hormones. If you wish to leave the Masked and live with her, we will not stop you." Master Kinchi said. "You can make the decision once you return from your mission."

Thoughts revenged through my head as I started up the bike. As the garage door opened, Shaun and Arella walked into the bike room. "That is my bike, you know." Shaun called.

"I know." I said. "I'll give it back when I get back."

"Slade, be careful." Arella said.

"I will." I revved the engine and was about to ride out when Arella threw her arms around me.

"Come back, please." She said. A tear fell from her eye. "I love you."

I clicked off the front half of my mask and looked her in the eye. Instead of saying anything, I kissed her passionately. Then I clicked the mask back in place and rode out the door.

I had a hunch that if I went to the building I saw the flames fly off of last night I would find some evidence as to where the Scath went. I found the building, a large steel frame skyscraper with all the outside walls made of glass. I took the stairs up to the top since riding the elevator would seem conspicuous, and besides the stairs are good exercise.

At the top of the building I found a Mark of Scath burned into the top. The ash was still fresh. "Now I know where he was. I just have to figure out where he went."

As I said this, an enormous boom split the air and a cloud of black smoke and orange flames rose from a distant part of the city. As the smoke rose I recognized the place the explosion had come from, that looked like the building used as the Masked hideout! My heart stopped beating and my breathing shortened.

I ran back down the stairs, jumped on the bike and drove back as fast as the bike could take me! I had to be sure, had to know if it was the masked building that was on fire. I hoped I was wrong. But I wasn't wrong; the smoldering building was the Masked HQ. A part of a wall was still standing, but the rest was collapsed. I started digging through the rubble and found Master Shinobi, dead, under a large chunk of bricks. Master Kinchi and the rest of the Masked council were each burned so bad it was difficult to identify them. I found countless other Apprentice, Warrior, and Master buried in the derbies. But where were Shaun and Arella?

"Slade," a weak voice said. Hanging on the wall, his arms and legs pinned up by ninja throwing stars and a short sword stabbed in side, was Shaun.

"Shaun, I'm going to get you down." I said, and grabbed the hilt of the sword.

"Leave it. I'm done for." He said, blood dripping from his mouth. "It was him, Slade. The Fire Scath. He came and did this."

"How? How did he find this place? How could he take down so many Masked?"

"I don't know. It happened so fast. He took her! He took Arella!"

"What?" I yelled.

"I tried to stop him, I did all I could. But I was no match. Please, forgive me." His head fell limp and his final breath escaped his body.

I starred down at the ground. Anger, sadness, hatred, and dread all filled me at once. I slammed my fist into the wall and a small crater was formed in the bricks. "There is nothing to forgive, Shaun. I know I never said it, but you were my best friend. Your death shall be avenged. I'm sorry." I grabbed the hilt of the sword and yanked it from his body. He fell to the ground and I pulled the throwing stars from his arms and legs.

I slipped the stars into my belt and jumped back on the bike. I would find the Fire Scath and kill him. And I had a pretty good Idea of where to find him. I hit the throttle and drove off for the town library.

The library had been closed since the Water Dragon incident, and scheduled for demolition. But that wouldn't stop the Fire Scath. I worked my way down the different tunnels and corridors, taking the bike with me, until I came to the hallway to the main room. Looking in I saw the Fire Scath standing in the palm of the Trigon arm. Arella was tied to the pinky finger.

"What do you want with me?" Arella asked.

"You are the mother of the sixth Gem. Trigon has commanded it. Don't worry your pretty little head, your suffering is only temporary." The Scath said. He held up his first two fingers and they started glowing orange. He stabbed his fingers into the statue and tore hole of swirling orange and black light. A portal to Trigon's dimension.

"How about no suffering, why isn't that an option?" Arella asked.

"Can't be done. I must obey my lord and master. Too bad for you." He held out his hand and a bind of heat reached from his hand to wrap around Arella. The bind tore the ropes apart and wrapped tightly around her body.

I revved the bike and zoomed forward out of the tunnel , the bike jumped and flew through the air. I let go of the bike and pushed it so it would collide with the Scath. He shot a blast of fire from his hand and hit the bike in a fiery explosion. I pulled the five ninja stars from my belt and threw them each with quick succession. He shot down four of them but the fifth hit him across the face. He roared in pain and dropped Arella.

I landed on the palm of Trigon's hand. Arella threw her arms around me in embrace. I picked her up in my arms and leapt from Trigon's hand to the floor below and started running for the door. A blast of fire shot down in front of us creating a barrier of flames in our path.

The Fire Scath jumped from the statue to the ground behind us. "You're not getting away this time."

I set Arella down and turned to face the Scath. I drew the sword and pointed the blade at him. "Try and stop us."

"You're going to fight with the sword that is still stained with the blood of your fallen comrade? At least you'll present more of a challenge." His hands erupted in ablaze of flames and he charged. He shot three balls of fire at me, all of which I blocked with the sword.

He swung a flaming fist at my head; I dodged and swung the sword down on him. He summer-salted under the blade and pounded me in the chin with a flaming uppercut. As I staggered back he grabbed Arella by the wrist, jumped back into the palm of Trigon's arm statue and shoved her into the portal! The portal closed with Arella trapped on the other side. "It is done!" He laughed.

I leapt up onto the statue and pounded my fist into his face. He was thrown back and I pinned him up against one of Trigon's fingers, the blade pressed tightly against his neck.

"If you're going to kill me, at least see who I am." The Scath said. He pushed back the hood and the face was the face of a person I knew a long time ago.

"Marth?"