Disclaimer: --sighs-- Here we go again with the annoying disclaimer…I don't own any of the Sonic characters. (I seriously wonder if anyone even bothers reading this thing anymore...)
Yep, I'm finally updating again! (yay) I was busy working on other things this past week but I made sure I found time to update this. I've just started a Naruto story and that saps a lot of my free time also. But I don't know how long I'll keep that up, just depends. I've changed the category of this to tragedy b/c someone…--gasps--…will die near or at the end! (Can anyone guess who? I won't tell anybody until I post the end!) Well anyways, don't forget to send in reviews! The end is coming near…I can feel it…I'm predicting maybe only a few more chapters…then I'll start a Redwall fanfic and maybe a few oneshots about the Sonic crew…and possibly another story involving Melody.
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Melody sprung towards him, her sword sweeping at a downward angle towards his stomach. Key sidestepped, barely avoiding the blur of steel. He was surprised at how fast she could move just after returning to consciousness. He continued to try to reason with her.
"Melody, I can help you…just please, please, please stop being so stubborn." He pleaded, defending himself from a few more high-speed blows. He struggled to block another crashing blow from her sword. The two swords clashed in a ring of dangerous steel and the two pushed against each other with all their might, gritting their teeth as the swords began to slip. Melody nearly fell forward but caught herself with her foot.
Melody's fierce eyes stared deep into his as she ceased movement, "No one can help me now…" The blue-green orbs reflected a soul etched in pained-sadness.
"Melody, listen to me, I believe in you and I know you can overcome the curse. I don't know how, and I don't when, but you have the ability and you have the support. Don't give up on yourself." Key's voice was desperate and his hands were tightly grasping his sword as he watched her carefully, flinching at her every movement in fear of another round of attacks.
"NO!" Melody shrieked, "STOP SUPPORTING ME! DON'T YOU GET IT! THE CLOSER SOMEONE GETS TO ME, THE MORE IN DANGER THEY ARE!" she took a few deep breathes, trying to calm down as she added in a soft voice, "I don't want to put anyone in danger…" Tears collected in the corners of her eyes as she spoke even softer, "Especially not you…"
Those words took Key by surprise as he answered quietly, "Think about what's best for you, for once, Melody. Tell me what you need to break the curse and I'll risk and life and limb to find it…"
"A flower…struck by lightning…" Melody answered, giving in.
Key mulled those words over in his mind for a few seconds as he mused to himself, "Struck by lightning, aye? I wonder…" He put his thoughts into a suggestion, "Melody, I think I might know what you're looking for and where to find it. You remember that childhood place we spent most of our summer time, right?"
Melody didn't know what he was getting at but she nodded solemnly, eyes still holding a bit of sadness in them.
"There were frequent lightning storms. A flower that survives such a blast, lives forever, beauty magnified." He recited excitedly, "So odds are, one of them will stand out more than the others and we'll have the right flower."
Melody's lips curved upward into a slight smile, "You're a genius, Key…"
Key shrugged modestly, "Anyone could have thought of it. Let's get there as soon as possible."
"Wait!" Lizzey exclaimed, "You can't leave without me!"
Shadow rolled his eyes moodily and commented, "What's the point of following?" he yawned, tossing an emerald up and down as he ignored Lizzey's annoyance towards him. He smirked and said, "I think that eventually Amy and I should go back to our village…I've decided to stop running away from my problems…" (what a miracle!)
Amy's eyes widened in shock, "I full-heartedly agree, Shadow. But I want to make sure she gets through all right."
Shadow agreed, not wishing to anger her and finally said to Lizzey, "Fine…we'll go and help…" He sighed and leaned his head back against the couch.
Melody overheard everything and shook her head firmly, "No, I draw the line. You guys stay where it's safe, I only need one person to help me and I don't want to harm any of you guys."
"But Melody—" Lizzey began to complain. Melody's expression silenced her almost immediately. She sighed and gave in, her ears drooping.
Taking Melody's hand in his and squeezing it warmly, Key teleported them both to a totally different area on the angel realm. They were standing atop a cliff, jutting downward to a vast stretch of sandy beaches. Waves churned violently below as the clouds ominously became a harbinger for inclement weather. (o0…big words…lolz) Twenty yards or so from the edge of the cliff, the earth slopped gently downward, covered in a thick assortment of grasses, until a certain point in which it just stopped, creating another cliff.
Melody stood near the cliff, inhaling deeply, relishing in the wonderful scent of the salty air. Her mind went back to her carefree childhood, many days of which were spent exploring the beaches below or the caves which dappled the hillside at random intervals.
Rain slowly began to patter down, growing in strength in a matter of seconds. Melody snapped out of her memories as lightning struck the clifftop with a blast of threatening energy. She shrieked and nearly slipped on the wet grass as rain ran down the face of cliff in great sheets, drenching the sands below.
Key laughed good-naturedly and caught her arm, supporting her. He led her to a dryer spot and motioned for her to sit down. She obliged, squinting through the rain at him, waiting for him to speak. Key never said anything; he felt countless emotions swirl inside of him as he looked into the eyes of his childhood friend. He looked beyond her for a second and spotted something glowing unnaturally. It was a rose, though black in hue, covered in thorns and standing slightly taller than the rest of the flowers. The lambent glow it gave off was enough to cut through the rain, piercing them like prisms and creating rainbows which danced as the drops fell.
Key whooped in triumph and dove towards the flower, touching it to make sure it wasn't a mirage. Melody raised an eyebrow at him but turned to see the strange plant. Her mouth dropped open and she couldn't find the words.
Key grasped the stem in his hands, ignoring the thorns which pierced his skin, and yanked it from the Earth, marveling in the beauty of such an unusual flower. His blood dripped down the stem, lightning into a pink as rain water diluted it.
Suddenly he felt cold steel against his neck and his joy dissipated. He turned and stared in disbelief at his attacker and screamed, "MELODY, RUN! GET OUT OF HERE!" He muttered a few magic words and the flower appeared in her hands.
Melody staggered forward a few steps but stopped, "KEY!" She felt heat emanating from the flower but ignored it. Without warning, a light enveloped her, traveling up her arms and legs in a huge burst of power. She blinked in surprise a few times as the miraculous glow died down and she felt energy and warmth seeping into her soul. The flower wilted, having done its duty.
Melody didn't waste any time thinking about this, as she was staring helplessly at Key and his attackers. She ran towards them recklessly, sword pointed forward, rain deflecting from its dangerous steal edges.
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"Let's follow them now…" Lizzey suddenly said, leaping up from the couch. "Trouble seems to follow Melody wherever she goes." She grabbed her small knapsack and slung it across her back, waiting for Amy to join her.
Amy sighed, "If she gets mad…I'll just tell her you dragged me…" she joked, sliding off of the couch, dragging Shadow down too.
Shadow grumpily stood behind her, eyes holding a certain amount of boredom. He allowed Amy to cling to him as she held onto Lizzey's hand. "Chaos control…" he muttered.
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Well…I've gotten another chapter done…this story will end soon…and someone will die. I'll try to update sometime this or next week b/c my other updates have been a bit slow in the coming. But bear with me, the end is near. I also have a few oneshots in store (about random things) as I have mentioned above…so watch out for those too. Don't forget to review…I like to read the review (I don't get much email!)