Disclaimer: No still don't own them, the Teen Titans that is, do yu really think I'd be here if I did?
Special Disclaimer: "DARK CHEST OF WONDERS" is NOT MINES it's NIGHTWISH'S, get it? Got it? Good, so get off my back about it.
A/N: Nope, this isn't the end – yet – but it's getting there … I think … ah you'll see later, but I gotta go, school starts soon, damn Doc. Manager, making me late to update. It's being EVIL!
X: HAH! Take that!
Me: No! Stop hurting me!
X: Study!
Me: NOOOOO! A blow to the head! AH! PLEASE SOMEONE SAVE ME!
X: HOMEWOK!
Me: … (gasps, gags, and chocks on her own piled work) … help …
X: BAH-HAH-HA-AH-HAH! Report to class!
Me: … at least … I can make friends.
X: NOT TALKING!
Me: AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
X: That's what you get, I WIN! YES!
Me: Ugh … must … recover … from shock … of … news! Ugh … enjoy … while I die of –
X: PHYSICAL EDUCATION and the horrors of TRIGONOMETRY!
Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
--
Humiliation, Hesitation, and the Final Annihilation
--
"Dark chest of wonders
Seen through the eyes
Of the one with pure heart
Once so long ago"
--
"Oh sister dear …"
"What?" Syn scoffed still trying to get the thick and sticky red blood off of her hair that dripped in large amounts. Turning around to face her brother … she instead turned to face her death …
Or so it would seem …
Once she turned around Dante launched himself at her with every intention of tearing her to shreds, but with a sneaky grin she held up her right wrist where the seven charms hung and glowed a vibrant white, "You should already know I'm far different then everyone else in my family grandfather."
Too late to pull away, Dante was thrown back when a white shield had erected itself and pushed back the offending evil that dared to try and kill her. Still smirking Syn chuckled when Dante scampered away and up the tree, Syn grinned and followed after him, And here I thought the fun was over … should have known a desperate soul would take drastic measures … damn it Dante WAKE UP! From one tree to the next and from one branch to the other, Syn lost sight of her far faster brother – only because he had a head start – but she was locked on his scent trail. Snarling she jerked to a halt when his trial ended, but there was no water in sight.
Meaning … looking up she prepared for him to drop down on her in an ambush, however miscalculated and before she knew what had happened her ankle was grasped and she was jerked off the branch she balanced on. Thrown to the forest floor, her back hit hard against a branch instead with the plus of Dante's added weight broke the branch and with a sickening CRASH she had created a crater in the ground. Dante roared in triumph, and snarled down at his sister, his hand wrapped around her throat in a crushing grip. Black and red eyes bore into his sister's challenging snarl.
Syn saw his claws getting ready to pierce her skin, and she stilled in realization, Shit! That's right, Dante tapped into a'meo's poison, fuck! Quick thinking Syn closed her eyes and concentrated on the silver Seven Charm Bracelet on her wrist before Dante had the chance to do serious damage another white barrier was erected. However without meaning to she burned her brother in the process and once again he fled far from her white magic. Fuck this, Dante, if you don't do something now I WILL take this into my own hands … looking down at the glowing charms she sneered.
"Don't ask for it Dante, just don't." Gone in a flash Syn looked around for her brother and found him trying to sneak up on her once more. When he launched himself at her, she spun around and nailed his chest with a harsh power charged punch that had the force of the charm bracelet behind it. "You obviously don't get it yet do you? I'm the last person you want to fuck with after you've pissed me off."
"Useless little girl! You'll pay for your insubordination!" with a vicious roar, Dante raced to Syn whose eyes suddenly glowed a deadly white.
"Just try to make me." With her hair gently floating up as her powers grew to an unbelievable level. Her aura, her chakra poured out of her body in waves and formed the spirit of her soul-self that consumed her entire being. The form of a giant white dragon roared in outrage as it opened it's glowing red eyes. Dante challenged pure power and raised his claws to strike down his sister, but with no hesitation at all she sucked in a deep breath and launched her soul-self at her brother.
The white magic hit him with a force and velocity like nothing imaginable, consuming him, burning him, and eating him alive he roared … screeched … then screamed as the searing white hot pain stabbed deep into his heart. His whole body … his whole being … his everything was being ripped to shreds, his mind suffered like nothing he had ever felt before in his life … and yet … it felt familiar and he knew why …
Because somewhere along the path of his short life … Syn had done this once before … and that was when he lost control and succumbed to Hell, nearly turning into the very thing that Ellris condemned himself to forever be. A Hellborn … a creature meant to only serve for darkness … even if he didn't want to … it would be in his nature to suffer and have others suffer just for the hell of it. Dante screamed till his lungs were sore and just when he thought it wouldn't get any worse it all stopped and he dropped in exhaustion.
With a flick of her hand, Syn called back her soul-self and the white dragon swirled in mid air, roaring it slammed right back into her chest never to be seen unless she deemed it so. Taking a deep breath Syn clutched her chest and winced when she felt the evil that was within her brother slightly Effect her - speaking of which, Dante … looking around for her brother she spotted him slowly sitting up, hand to his head and moaning in pain he blinked when he spotted his sister jogging up to his side, "Hey nerd, you alright?"
Eyes closed, Dante took a deep breath and slowly reopened them and his violet eyes weren't what Syn saw before … and for a split second she feared that one of her most powerful attacks didn't phase him at all. Deep green eyes stared up to her and Syn gasped, she remembered those eyes from a picture … a picture that was within the Azarian Castle in the Safe-Zone …
It was the eyes of the High Priestess Jahzaya!
The demoness her mother said went missing during the time she was in now!
She couldn't believe it … so she asked, "Ja-Jahzaya-omo?"
(Remember? "omo" is the highest term of respect for elder demons, it matters not of gender.)
"I see you've been schooled well little one," the females voice over lapped her brothers and Syn was still in shock … why was Jahzaya contacting her through her brother … unless.
She reached a dreadful conclusion, "My … my lady … were you … Ellris …"
"Demonic host … that I was, and for freeing me, I am eternally grateful, but there are others who need your help …"
"Jahzaya …" Syn tried to find the right words to respond … but without warning her brother's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he passed out, his body, mind, and soul having taken enough damage. Before he hit the ground, Syn caught him and slid him into a laying position on his back, still shocked and in disbelief …
Jahzaya … wow … she never would have believed it if she hadn't had spoken to her and Dante … he had held her soul, how cool was that! "Syn …"
Syn blinked back to reality when Dante came through – wait, coming through already after everything she put him through? That was impossible! "Dante …?"
"Lady Jahzaya …" he blinked awake and sighed tiredly, "… she said something about helping the others …"
As if it all came rushing back to her she gasped and at the moment Dante found the strength to sit up and went searching around for his glasses … seeing them nowhere in sight he sighed and sneered when Syn gaped, "Dante, the Sins! Ellris didn't have the Amulets!"
"Obviously enough … I would have died with Ellris if that were the possiblity ... damn it ..." Dante scratched the back of his head, "Syn … where are my glasses?"
"Forget them you only need them to read anyway, you're perfectly fine without them, come on!" up on her feet, energetic as always, Dante – amazingly – balanced on his own two feet and took two steps all without falling. Syn couldn't help to stare in suspicion, "Dante … did Lady Jahzaya leave you with anything?"
"Besides giving me back my strength? Nope."
"Good, cause that would have sucked that you get a new power and I didn't get anything out of the deal."
Dante eyed his sister in disbelief then scoffed and rolled his eyes, dusting her off his shoulder as Syn just being Syn, "And here I thought you were doing all this out of the goodness of your heart."
"Hell no! I came here to kick ass and if I found out that I could get something else in return, shit, I want it!"
"You're unbelievable, you know that."
Syn smirked sinisterly and chuckled darkly, "What can I say? It's what I do."
Dante snorted, "Well, jobs not done yet let's wrap this up!"
"Race ya!"
"I'm already there!"
--
"Fly to the dream
Far across the sea
All the burdens gone
Open the chest once more."
--
No hesitation.
Even though he was warned to stay within the ship along with the others by Rorek – for reasons that the wizard said he'd explain later – X made his way to the roof of the ship with Robin. Standing carefully at the edge of the round, silver, and sleek ship, X looked down at the long drop to oblivion, he scoffed and saw his chance to contribute in the fight. Backing up a good few feet to stand next to Robin, the hero was still looking around and getting a good measurement of the situation noticed X stop right next to him with a mischievous grin that just asked for trouble, "What are you planning?"
"Watch and learn kid … you're about to see what it's really like to be a thief," taking out his dagger and clutching the blade within his teeth he looked to Robin and winked when the Titan Leader suddenly realized his plan.
"X! Don't! What are you? Insane!"
You have no idea, the last thoughts of a fool that took off in a fast sprint with Robin following after him trying to save his life from a stupid mistake, yet once he made it to the edge of the ship. Robin drop to a slide in order to stop himself from falling over to his death while X on the other end launch himself in mid-air flying a clear twenty feet from the ship and falling fast.
A prediction told him that Starfire would be coming around at any moment and she did, flying away from one of the deadly Sins, Saligia spoke of. She stopped and launched a barrage of starbolts to slow down the green dog-demon, but the female sin dodged it all. Then with a green blast of Envy's energy the Tameranian as forced to swirl away and fly for her life, going higher she gasped when she saw X falling. Getting an idea she prayed that X would understand and flew faster. Catching him by his wrists he clung onto hers and held on when she flung him around and down at the demon.
X smirked and took the dagger out of his mouth when Envy came flying for him, grasping his throat; he nailed the blade into her heart and twisted, "Ooo, I know that gotta hurt."
With a vicious roar the demon threw X to the side, but since he still held the dagger she equally ripped the blade out of her chest and screamed bloody-murder as she fell to her doom. Never making it before her body evaporated into a pile of black sand blew into the wind. Beast Boy dodged a barrage of another Sin's attacks, and nearly came close to bumping into X in the process … yet that's when he realized that X didn't have anything to help him, What is this guy? INSANE! Last time I checked he couldn't fly!
Without further hesitation Beast Boy swooped down and in his pterodactyl form clutched X's arms and flew him back to the ship. X on the bottom with is blade still in hand looked up and noticed the Sin that was after Beast Boy. Lust, with her beady eyes and flowing hair with long fangs and a body that left little to the imagination screeched and dove down to finish the green changeling and his newest catch.
An idea – a crazy one no doubt – formed inside the thrill-junkie's head.
As he predicted, Beast Boy faked left then dodged right and flew higher up to the ship, X looked back and saw the demoness catching up with a demented gleam in her black eyes. He snickered; Here kitty, kitty, kitty, he taunted, and laughed, why?
Because Lust was a cat demon.
"Beast Boy, let me go!" Beast Boy screeched in confusion, unable to ask while in his animal form, X wiggled out of his grasp, "Let go! Trust me!"
Unable to argue, Beast Boy did as told and X was suddenly released while still in motion, he fell back and like the cat Lust was, he twisted and tossed the blade at her face when she roared up at him. As expected she caught it and rushed him, clutching him around the neck and flinging him around, she never intended for him to grip her wrist so tightly and when she let go he jerked her with him. The hand with the blade let the weapon slip and X spun around to catch said weapon, only to stab it into her heart from her back.
With a yank he released her and fell just as she turned to dust like all the rest of her companions. Free falling and nearly reaching the trees this time around until something big – something very big and very black spun around under him and with its huge claws caught him, then tossed him onto its scaly back. With beating wings and shiny black scales it only took a moment for X to conclude it was Malchior, "Hey man, where the hell you've been?"
"Looking for the twins, have you seen them?" came the quick response and sudden question.
X thought for a moment. Twins? Who the – OH! Right, the future, I swear I'll never get use to this, "Been busy ya know, can't baby-sit even if I wanted to – Yo! Watch the sky!"
Without warning – but X saw it coming anyway and held on tight just when Malchior spun out and made a straight dive bomb into the forest, only to jerk himself back up. Mouth full of heat he shot out the fire to keep the third Sin at bay, he flew back and once the fire cleared the dragon-demon sneered and growled in shock when he saw Malchior's tail slapped full force on his body. Like a baseball is to a bat, Avarice was sent flying, only to be caught within the tight grasp of one particularly ticked off half-breed.
Trapped in her darkness, Raven consumed his mind with her powers and without warning stabbed his mind with a white searing pain that killed him slowly … painfully … and with a suffering that killed him 30 times over. Malchior shuttered and X felt it, "I take it she tortured him?"
"The mind is a very fragile thing … if anyone knows how to kill the mind … it will be Raven."
"Puts a new twist to the term mind-fuck." X cringed and patted the side of Malchior's neck, "Alright scale-face, let's make our way around and finish the last of these baddies so I can kick it and chill."
"That was the last one," Malchior informed and flew closer to the ship, swooping in front and flashing his wings to the control center the captain took that as the sign of the safe go ahead and Malchior continued around to check for left over trouble, only to suddenly feel a pulsate of something powerful. Even X felt it, and Malchior took the both of them even higher to see what it was they felt had pulsed through the dimension. Only to find the black sands gathering in a swirl of energy. Combining, storming, then finally imploding in on itself; the blast upset Malchior's rhythmic beat and he nearly lost control of his flight pattern.
X on the other hand was awfully close to being blown away with the wind, peaking over Malchior's scales to see what had happened, he gasped when he saw seven colors of the frickin' rainbow coming his way! "Malchior! Get down!"
"What? Why?" Malchior looked around and X gaped when the seven was coming closer … closer …
"Malchior! What the fuck man! You don't see that!" he pointed a head and Malchior tried to see what it was he was talking about he saw nothing!
Honestly saw nothing!
"Kenneth, I see nothing!" Too late, Kenneth braced for impact, but felt nothing … he tensed and prepared for some form of pain … but didn't feel a damn thing! Wha … looking around trying to find the seven colors Kenneth blinked once, blinked twice then looked over himself to be sure he wasn't imagining things and that's when he saw it. Malchior on the other hand growled and snorted annoyingly, and proceeded back to the chip, "Really human, that wasn't funny."
On his left wrist … it may have looked girly … but he knew it was far from sweet …
The seven colors of the seven amulets … they were on his wrist connected in a golden charm bracelet he gaped and tilted his head in confusion, I don't get it? Jumping off Malchior's back just before the dragon touched down and transformed, X flipped and landed in a kneeling crouch just next to the dragon that eyed the thief in disbelief. Kenneth sighed in frustration and glanced at Malchior then raised a brow and glared, "What?"
"Your appearance … have you noticed as of late?"
Kenneth chilled in fear when he remembered Francesca's words: "Has master gone to the Med-Lab to get himself looked at incase you have not been poisoned?" it didn't take an idiot to piece everything together, the burning on his ears, his connected past, and especially the Demonic Inhaler that was with Raven's kids? It all lead to one thing, even the charms on his wrist. Lifting a hand to feel his ears he gritted his teeth and gulped down the scream that wanted to break out when he felt them tipped: elfin.
In being the smart thief that he was he figured it all out and walked by the questioning Malchior thinking to himself, That Inhaler was a drug … a drug coming in contact with a human that has a drop of elfin blood … in this world that could mean a lot of things … but in my case, it means a reverse in blood. Now … I might as well be a full-blooded elf with a drop of human blood. However, in coming into contact with a Demonic Inhaler that Raven's kid used – and who knows what kind of powers they hold – I gotta have a sense of a demonic aura … attracting the charms to me … shit! I fucking hate it when I know I'm right! Stopping in the middle of the hall he looked up when he sensed - he cringed at the term he used - Francesca coming around the hall, she looked up at him and within her copper eyes she smiled and purred at her master.
"Hello … has master turned out victorious? I quite admire his new look."
Kenneth sighed and kept walking down the hall brushing his fingers along her back and feeling her purr she blinked when he had not addressed her and tilted her head, I guess … master still needs time to adjust … in the meantime … I must right what has been taken advantage of. Saligia will be proud that I have finally understood her.
Speak of the devil – er, dragon, the sister to Malchior had contacted Francesca right when she made her way to the roof of the ship, "Francesca, they're coming back, go do your thing girl."
"I shall … but I must ask … why is it that you find me a friend? I have been meaning to ask since we have met at the Palace Azar when Master had seen that vision of young lady Syndella."
"… Because you're the only nightstalker left of your kind … the only one that will later become my companion."
"But I am owned to Master Kenneth … I do not –"
"You don't have to try … just get those kids back to their time, they wasted nearly all of their Kry'onic Powder Diamonds in the travel back here."
"Shall we not let them have their last good-byes?"
"It's better this way."
"… Of course."
On the roof, feeling the ship shift to land at the Safety-Zone, Francesca looked up and spotted Syn and Dante coming towards her, waving her down, she sat down. Her copper eyes shimmering in deep thought as she gathered enough energy to accomplish her goal as Syn touched down and Dante flicked his wings around his shoulders. Smiles on both their faces, Syn ran up to Francesca and patted the top of her head, "Hey Francesca, wasup, we were told there was some form of danger? Give us the scoop!"
"Danger? There was … but not anymore … the coast as we know is clear."
Dante scoffed and dusted off his shoulders, "Well, I guess that's that then."
Syn pouted, "No fun, and here I thought we'd play a bit more."
"If there is no qualms, I request a hug from the both of you in order to celebrate our victory … please …" with those big copper eyes, and cute fuzzy face, who wouldn't disagree. Syn smiled and pulled Dante from his dusting, still trying to fix himself up, he tripped when Syn yanked him and dropped to his knees, without hesitation she threw her arms around the white nightstalker and Dante rolled his eyes, This is ridiculous, he thought with a growl and in turn hugged Francesca … the white nightstalker tilted her eyes and none of the kids saw a thing coming.
--
"Dark chest of wonders
Sene through the eyes
Of the one with pure heart
Once so long ago."
--
And there you have it … no people, chill out, it's not the end, you'll know when it's the end if you've read my two other stories "Business as Usual" and "Fine Line" you'll know how I end them. ANYWAY! I gotta split and finish up the rest of the this story, the ending so close I can taste it!
Once again: I DO NOT OWN "DARK CHEST OF WONDERS" NIGHTWISH – I'LL SAY IT AGAIN – NIGHTWISH OWNS IT, NOT ME! SO LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE ABOUT IT!
Just a reminder is all so this story doesn't get deleted, that would be a fucking trip!
L8er daez!
