RP #11 - Sekhmet. Posted on 9-19-06
From the area
outside of the village, Vanim, Mallie and Purrti approuch the
village. Purrti growls then takes off toward the village without an
explaination, at the the gate of the village. There could be heard a
loud roar, Anna almost too weak with everything, lifted her head and
let out a pitiful call for help back, slowly turned to look at Deadin
spoke in clear elven though a different dilect through the muzzle
confining her "xxizz uns'aa..." (translation from drow:
Help me...) then passed out from the pain within her.
Meanwhile,
Vanim and Mallie continued on toward the village with part of the
merarmy with them. Mallie going on about her brother would be so
proud of her. Vanim nodded and hoped they would get to the village in
time.
The large feline heard Anna's call for help. roaring, she
took off toward where Anna was, a very large angry female panther.
But seeing Deadin then at Gaur, stopped growled, her yellow eyes
nearly red with anger, as the elven warrior came forward, she leaped
up to the roof and let out a loud roar, realizing that most only seen
Anna in her weakened state. Purrti looked like a beast but was
thinking of her next move out of reach of the weapons also hoping
spells wouldn't be used.
Zelos: Purrti! Get out now! We will take care of her.
Purrti: mostly feline but understandable to human She is in danger... something has changed her. I can smell the change. looks at Gaur She has his smell pointing a paw toward Gaur, growls with hate. different the Deadin's but the same creature... l' Fuer'yon. (Translation from drow: The Beast) Though one thing that will be different about changing a Purrdi, staring directly at Gaur is the feline blood will fight, she will not change like you expect, beast in elven form her eyes glowing in rage as she glares at Gaur. Her feline half will flee to protect those she cares for and looks at Deadin I will not say more for she will say it herself. I will await without With a loud earth shaking heartbroken roar, she departs, violently scattering the straw of the roofs as she vanished over the roof tops while she exited out of the city, avoiding the elven warriors that followed her.
RP #12 - Newtype06. Posted on 9-19-06
Deadin's hands shook with rage. The Beast still held sway over parts of Deadin's mind, but now it realized that Deadin was truly in control. The Beast sat back, awaiting its moment for glory and power.
"What did you do to her!" Deadin raged, broadsword in both hands.
"She is an enemy, Deadin!" Gaur sneered, his curved longsword and dagger sliding out of their sheaths. "Just like you are an enemy, Tainted One!"
Gaur charged, slashing powerfully with his longsword. His left hand lay coiled, the dagger at the ready to strike when an opening appeared. Deadin parried quick thrusts, trusting on his instincts honed from centuries of conflict. Gaur, it seemed had spent some time practicing as well.
Gaur brought his sword over his head, spun, and brought it down towards Deadin. The Elf caught it with his own blade, the two swords interlocking at the hilts. Gaur lashed out with his dagger, but Deadin twisted himself out of the way and grabbed Gaur's wrist as it flashed by. Locked in a deadly embrace, Gaur and Deadin eyed each other in hatred. Deadin looked out, into the crowd, and Gaur followed his glance.
Standing there, petrified in fear and disbelief, Lia Woodshadow watched the deadly duel, a single tear running down her face.
"You lost, Gaur," Deadin grunted. "She'll never be yours now. No matter how many battles you win, no matter how many lives you ruin, you will never ruin hers!"
"If she will not give herself to me, then I will be forced to take her!" Gaur whispered, pushing Deadin back and unhooking the swords. Some of the crowd gasped, and Lia's teeth gritted in determination. She turned, and ran off, out of Deadin's vision.
Gaur charged again, his red mane flowing behind him. Feinting and disengaging with his longsword, Gaur probed and tested Deadin's defenses with his dagger. Deadin retreated effortlessly, backing out of Gaur's range and carefully circling around him. The crowd seemed very interested in the outcome of the fight, gasping and crying out when the swordsmen came close to finishing each other. However, neither Elf managed to land a blow.
"Perhaps I should refresh their memory, Deadin," Gaur smiled, backing off and motioning to the crowd. "I give you…Deadin Woodshadow! The Ymirian Shadow Wolf! The murderer of Niten, his own master!" The crowd began their usual rumblings, and after a few moments some of the older Elves had a moment of realization.
"No…" Deadin pleaded. He could feel the crowd slipping. "That wasn't…I…"
170 Years Ago…
"Help…me…" It said, walking resolutely up to the dark haired Elf. "Help…me…" it said again, reaching out with a scraggly grey claw. The Elf backed up, terrified at what he saw. It had been a friend, but now….
It all started with a simple walk to the field Deadin and Lia had spent so much time at. The night sky touched the lone tree, and Deadin had relaxed there. His moment of peace was shattered when a howl pierced through the night.
Deadin felt his hand curl around his broadsword. Niten was a mentor, a friend, and trusted companion. But now, he was something totally different. Niten had been bitten. By who, Deadin did not know. But even now, the former sword master approached Deadin, lost in his beastly form. He stood seven feet tall, black fur touched with portions of grey. He twitched involuntarily, fighting the Beast that plagued his old mind.
"Deadin…" Niten moaned, falling to his knees at Deadin's feet. "Kill…me…"
Deadin felt his sword fall from his grasp. He, too, fell to his knees. His master, a man who had been like a father to him, was asking him to kill him. Niten, the Grand Master, was asking Deadin to end his suffering.
"I can't…" Deadin cried, feeling the rain beginning to fall on his shoulders.
For a brief moment, the wise old Elf Niten once was resurfaced, supplanting the ravenous creature he had been. He looked up at Deadin, saying "Though you give up your life…"
Deadin stood, feeling his sword once again in his hand. "…do not give up your honour." Deadin finished. The rain was pouring down now, and it pinged off Deadin's blade as he raised it up into the sky.
Niten smiled a wolfish smile, and bowed his head. "While on the Way, do not begrudge death…"
Deadin's sword began its downward descent…
"And never depart from the Way of the Sword."
Deadin roared, pressing the offensive. He dipped, stabbed, spun, and flung his body like he never had before. His sword rang through the air, bashing Gaur's weapons around. The Red Elf could only get out of the way before the rampage that was Deadin. A quick three strike combo left Gaur without his dagger, and one mighty smash later sent Gaur's sword flying aside. Gaur stood, powerless under Deadin's blade.
"You lose," Deadin said. "Die, now…"
"Really, Woodshadow?" Gaur said offhandedly. "Let's say I up the ante!"
Gaur backed up, a red beard growing on his face. His armor expanded, changing to accommodate a body that was larger than normal. Gaur's eyes turned feral, and his hands elongated into ferocious claws. The crowd took off in terror, leaving only Kratos, Terra, and the rest of the Army from Exire.
The Hybrid stood there, its snout pointed and snarling. It towered over Deadin, and even the Beast felt some sense of doubt when looking upon this creature. It stepped forward, eyes lost in a ferocious bloodlust.
The Red Wolf had returned.
RP #13 - Sekhmet. Posted on 9-19-06
Vanim stood beside the entrance, keeping Mallie behind her as Purrti leaped over the wall causing a shower of straw and several elven warriors came face to face with Vanim and then turned to see the merarmy.
Warrior: The beast...
Vanim: That large cat is not a beast. She is my companion and friend. She is upset about their friend and mine. Now, stand aside that we may enter.
The elven warrior startled by the ocean elf as she pushed them aside then walked in with Mallie intow, as she came to the area, she saw Anna quickly being taken back down to the house by Guar's minions. She saw Deadin and Gaur fighing and the choas ensue as Guar shifted forms. Mallie eyes widened as she and Vanim went to go look for the others from Exire and to see if she could find in the pulsating crowd, Mallie's brother and sister, who would be still watching the fight.
Meanwhile within Anna, the feline aspect and the werewolf aspect fought. The pain was intence within her but she was out of it, not caring what was going on around her. The werewolf had overcome the elven half of her and changed it but it was a full scale war with the feline part. It wasn't sure why it wouldn't give up but it was slowly losing to the feline that was not meek like it had thought, it was dominate and powerful, it realized it would have to compromise with this part not try to overpower it...
RP #14 - Lord Yuan. Posted on 9-19-06
"Oh... CRAP!" Merrick almost screamed as he saw the changes in Gaur. Drawing his sword immediately, he took up a defensive stance should they be attacked. He lowered his head. "Deadin, I never knew. Under what conditions did Niten die at your hands, and why did you kill him? You're still one of us, though, and nothing changes that. I've killed someone close to me as well." he looked back up, and was tempted to join the fray, but decided against it.
He then did something unexpected with such a fearsome foe near. He sheathed his sword. He had a grim look upon his face as he said to no one in particular. "This is his fight. I won't interfere unless it's the only way to save his life." Terra tore her eyes from the fight and gave him a weird look, so he told her, "That beast and him obviously have some kind of history together, possibly related to his master's death. Deadin won't..."
"Be able to move on until he conquers his past?" Kratos asked. "One might call it accepting the past. However, I must admit that I felt a certain sense of fulfillment when I struck down Kvar, who had ruined my life." Merrick nodded.
"I know... I still have unfinished business with someone as well." Merrick replied, as he made up his mind. After this issue with the Tarivians was over and once peace was restored, he would find his sister and her companion, and make them pay for what they did to his family... and the emotional torture he went through.
RP #15 - AngelicAura. Posted on 9-19-06
Aaron barely took a minute to find Deadin. A large fight had broken out in the middle of the village. Of course, Deadin was the instigator. Or...was he?
"Deadin's in trouble!" Aaron whispered strongly.
Reverting to his instincts and abilities, he whispered again "I should help him..." He unsheathed Unda, and began to chant the words to a spell. Aaron saw that nobody was doing anything as he was chanting, though. Somebody nearby smacked him upside the head. He turned around, and Kratos was behind him.
"Can't you see this is a personal affair? Interfering could endanger many people. Leave it to these two!" Kratos chided.
"But...Deadin can't get hurt! We can't lose him!" Aaron argued.
"I-said-don't-interfere. Is that clear?" Kratos snapped.
Aaron loathed. He was beginning to feel rather useless in the current situation. He was slowly slipping into the shadows, into obscurity. If only he could do something. But there was clearly nothing that could be done. Not without endangering other souls.
But then what is war? When we entered war, We endangered many, many lives. So, we are already risking lives. Why doesn't Kratos understand that? Lives must be risked. I thought he was apathetic to anything that stood in the way of winning. What was happening to him, then, for he's not showing that feature, Aaron thought.
RP #16 - White Rose. Posted on 9-19-06
Terra stood with full attetion, as she watched the intense personal battle between Gaur and Deadin... She and the others heard the foul cries of the Ymirian wolves and they looked at one another... one trying to intimidate and dominate the other. The pure lust of blood tasted sweet upon their lips, and hatred ran through their eyes, chilling anyone to the bone that dared look upon them. As scared as she was, she told herself not to look away... remembering the teachings of both Deadin and Kratos.
They moved again... This time Gaur lashing out, causing Deadin to back away and block a blow from his enemy's sword. Terra flinched and closed her eyes... something she had done since the battle started when things weren't turning in Deadin's favor. Her body grew tense... this was not only her teacher on the line... but also her friend. A lonely soul she met wondering the forest outside of the crash site. One who had vowed to protect her, in return for her kindness towards him.
Kratos watched alongside Terra, her parents, the Sages, the Bryants, Sheena and Zelos, Merlin, Aaron, Kyoshi, Yuan, Ellryia, and the rest of the Exirian army. His eyes narrowed in pain as he bared witness to the dual between his long-time friend and his opponent. It brought back scornful and bitter memories of his past... Memories of his fights with his son, memories of his spats with Mithos Yggdrasil, and all the pain he felt for the last 4,000 years as he helped out his lost half-elven student with his twisted and cruel plan to mold the once seperate worlds into his own... This fight between Deadin and Gaur was deeply personal. And it only made Kratos wish that he had the backbone long ago to put up his own personal fight against Mithos for all that he had done...
The ancient swordman tensed up, tightning his fists... What if Gaur claimed victory today? Kratos would lose one of his oldest and dearest friends...
The growls of the beasts became louder and more fierce. Both combatants howled in agony as teeth and metal sank into flesh and bone. It would only be a matter of time before one of the mighty warriors dropped...
Hands grasping both shoulders startled the angelic human and he snapped out of his thoughts... Looking to his left, he spotted his granddaughter, Terra. She looked at him with a warm smile, and some tears. "Deadin'll win this. He won't let that jerk take victory from him..." Kratos sighed and looked to his right. Father and son exchanged glances, and Lloyd nodded to his dad. "Don't worry dad. Deadin's too good of a warrior to lose."
A heavy weight seemed to be lifted off of Kratos' chest and he sighed, returning his attention to the battle. But only for a moment... the old warrior began to glance at his closest companions...
Regal Bryant stood firm, unflinching... his eyes following every fluent movement of the two beasts. His adopted son, whom he had heard of from Lloyd, was named Raiden. Though they looked nothing alike in appearance, it was clear that the young man idolized his father. The way he dressed and the braces he wore upon his legs looked strikingly similar to Regal's. They stood together erect and serious, focusing on the battle.
Raine, Presea and Genis, were among three of the finest warriors Kratos had ever come to know. The professor looked on in worry, tempted many times to heal Deadin, but stopped with Presea gripped her shoulder. Preasa stood next to Genis, holding hands with the younger Sage. She was as unflinching as Regal, but Genis on the other hand was obviously nervous about the whole situation... gasping at each close encounter of blade, claw, or tooth. He grew pale in the face at each drop of blood.
Zelos and Sheena held one another close. Sheena looked on in tears and Zelos, for once, was taking the fight rather seriously. His head and eyes moved with the rythem of the bout. The red head jumped away, taking Sheena with him when Gaur was pushed their way accidentally by Deadin, only to return quickly back to the formed circle with a fury.
And lastly, he turned his head to Lloyd and Colette... Lloyd nodded to him, and looked back out at the fight... his lips furling in anger, and his teeth gritting. Colette held Lloyd's hand tight as tears rolled down her cheeks. She squeeked many times during the fight, nervous at the slightest mistep Deadin took, or each dodge Gaur made against Deadin's weapons...
The ancient hero looked back at the battle, with pain in his eyes... 'You'd better not die on me, my friend...' His fist tightened again, and then relaxed. 'Show this coward what you're made of.'
Deadin dodged a swipe of Gaur's sharp claws and took a quick glance at Kratos. A smile tugged at his lips, and he nodded... with Kratos nodding back a moment later.
...Deadin had told him that he would be alright... Kratos could only hope that his unspoken words were true...
RP #17 - Newtype06. Posted on 9-19-06
Gaur's perfect armor shattered, revealing the scar in his chest from Deadin's blade, so many years ago. Gaur charged, grabbing Deadin in his claws and throwing the elf straight through one of the nearby buildings. The Army started, stunned that the fight apparently ended so fast, when suddenly a voice could be heard in the house.
"P…P-ppp PERFECT BEAST!"
The building exploded, blasting into timbers. The Hybrid jumped out, his sword in hand and the immovable Excalibur at his side. The Grey Wolf and the Red Wolf squared off again, this time on equal terms. Deadin charged, his sword whirling through the air, trying to score the critical blow that saved him from doom in the past.
However, Gaur proved to be too fast for him. Indeed, the Red Wolf almost danced about Deadin's blade. At one point, it caught the aged weapon in his maw, immobilizing it and drawing Deadin in closer. Gaur punched Deadin in the chest, sending him flying through a wall of soldiers that had shown up. Deadin rebounded, weaponless, and Gaur spat his sword out.
Now it was a brawl to the death. Deadin raked Gaurs body, and Gaur chewed into his. The two Hybrids roared and clawed, rending fur and tearing muscle off their opponents and taking hits in turn. Deadin stepped back a little, and charged, tackling Gaur to the ground.
"Eviscerate!" Deadin shouted, clamping down on Gaur's forearm and shaking him like a rag doll. Gaur recovered, punching Deadin squarely in the face. Gaur's technique was perfect. He was used to combat in this form. As Deadin reeled backwards, Gaur charged and tackled Deadin in turn. Deadin rolled with it, throwing Gaur over his head. Gaur recovered in the air, landing on his feet. Gaur attacked again, battering away at Deadin's defenses. One vicious kick dropped Deadin to the ground.
"I win…" Gaur said, his voice ravaged.
Deadin tried to respond, but he found he couldn't. He couldn't move his legs, or his arms. His hearing seemed to fade, and the world darkened. Deadin struggled to make himself move, but only then understood.
He wasn't in control anymore.
The Beast stood, oblivious to its wounds. Gaur eyed it suspiciously. He understood what had happened, but was unsure of the abilities of this new combatant. Deadin was not the Beast, and the Beast was not Deadin.
The Beast whirled into action, jumping up into the air and taking shelter in the sun. As Gaur looked up, blinded by the rays, he barely saw the silhouette of the Beast bear down on him, crushing him into the ground. The Beast flipped away, its shoulders shifting and its head bobbing back and forth.
Gaur smirked, and raced to meet this new challenge. Throwing a fist out to crush the Beast, he gasped as the Grey Hybrid merely opened its mouth, taking the punch directly in the face, yet still clamping onto Gaur's fist. Gaur swung his hand mightily, almost comically, trying to free himself of the…thing clamped onto his arm, but the Beast held on steadfastly. Gaur ended up punching the Beast in the face with his free hand, and only then would it relinquish Gaur's hand.
The Beast lowered it's head, charging blindly. Gaur's eyes widened as the Beast plowed right into him, taking both of them into the building behind Gaur. Gaur picked up a two by four and cracked it over the Beast's head. The Beast licked its chops, eager for more. Gaur was all too happy to grant it its wish.
Several two by fours later, Gaur found himself in a mighty grapple with the Beast. Their hands were clenched together, and each creature was struggling to push the other to its knees.
"Fascinating, Creature," Gaur laughed. "You are truly one of us! A grade-A Ymirian Shadow Wolf. It's such a shame…"
Gaur exerted himself, gaining the upper hand and forcing the Beast to one knee.
"Now, let me show you my demon: The Feral!" Gaur shouted, his eyes loosing focus, but suddenly sharpening again with a look that craved for blood.
The Feral smashed the Beast to the ground like it was nothing. It snarled over it, grabbing the Beast by its leg and hurling it into the air. The Beast howled as it flew through the air, only noticing that the Feral had covered the distance, and patiently waited below him.
The Beast punched downwards as it fell, but the Feral was too quick. It ducked out of the way, rebounding with a vicious elbow drop. Kratos, Terra, and the Army hid behind some of the nearby rubble. Merrick had his hand on his blade, but even he doubted what he could do in such a situation. This was a battle between monsters, and reasonable people had no place in such conflicts. The Beast and the Feral battered each other, but it was obvious who held the upper hand.
The Red Wolf jumped into the air, thrusting his knee forward. The Beast barely had time to bring its arms up to block the deadly knee. As the Feral came down, it swept the ground with its other leg, knocking the Beast over. The Red Wolf punched straight down into the Beast's stomach, and the Beast coughed up blood.
It was losing.
The Feral backed off, walking around in a particularly predatory manner. As the Beast laid there on the ground, its eyes looked over beyond the destroyed cottages. The Elves were back, watching the spectacle with stunned eyes. They knew now. They understood what Gaur was. Standing among them, eyes red with tears, was Lia. But more importantly to the Beast and Deadin, next to her stood a man whose eyes burned into the Hybrid. A man whose gaze beckoned them on. He was old, old even for an elf. His grey hair was receding, and he wore a long beard. A pair of spectacles sat on his nose, and a cane rested under his hand.
He was Falin Woodshadow.
Get up, son, old Woodshadow thought. His eyes conveyed the same message.
Yes sir, Deadin and the Beast thought in unison.
The Beast stood, watching as the crowd of elves came carefully closer. Even in the deepest, darkest, basest parts of the Beast's mind, it still knew that this creature was its father. For Deadin, he found strength unlike any he ever knew. Falin looked at him, smiling with pride, as a single tear slid down his cracked face.
The Beast roared, ready for another round.
RP #18 - Lord Yuan. Posted on 9-19-06
Merrick looked on in bewilderment and amazement as the beast got back up. "Yeah! You can take him, Deadin!" he said with a little hop as he threw his fist onto the air.
Terra coughed and pulled his arm down. "Your armpits stink!" she told him, he responded with a shy chuckle and a quiet apology. She looked on as the Beast readied to fight the Feral again, as Merrick slipped into thought again.
'Is that really Deadin? I knew he was a powerful master, but nothing like this! And Gaur! Is it really them inside those monstous shells? What if they lose control and attack us? It's not safe here! He glanced back over at Terra. 'I might not be able to buy enough time for her to escape if something goes wrong. I need a... Hey! Merrick, you're a genius! He turned to Terra. "Want to get a better view? It's a tad dangerous here but we can hop on my rheiard and watch from higher up. I'm going, you coming? Terra nodded.
So, the two hovered a good 20 feet from the brawl, about 10 feet off the ground, and as Merrick steadied the vessell, the Feral roared, and Merrick had a feeling in his gut that the next blows would be landing within seconds.
RP #19 - Kevin1292. Posted on 9-19-06
"Damn, those two are crazy." Kyoshi whispered to himself. He heard a low humming noise and looked up, seeing a rheiard above. He wasn't able to tell who it was so he pulled out a wingpack and went up next to them.
"Merrick and Terra, what are you guys doing up here?" He asked scratching his chin.
"I wanted a better view and so I asked Terra if she wanted to go too. So here we are."
"I see." Kyoshi started sniffing around. "What's that horrid smell?"
"Sorry," Merrick said reaching up to scratch his head. Then out of nowhere, Kyoshi fell off his rheiard landing rather hard on the ground below.
He let out a sigh of relief after realizing he wasn't hurt bad. Then nearly a second later the rheiard came crashing down right next to him. "Holy sht!" He yelled. I sure am lucky. I wonder if anybody noticed. But nobody except Terra and Merrick had, as they were all watching the evermore violent fight between Deadin and Guar.
He got up and back on his rheiard and flew back up after pulling a clothespin from his pocket and putting it over his nose.
RP #20 - Newtype06. Posted on 9-19-06
The Beast stood before the Feral, its eyes blazing and its tongue lolling. It knew that it could not best the Red Wolf. Gaur had proven that already. Instead, the Beast tried a different tactic, something that it had never thought of doing before.
It let Deadin in.
Deadin was stunned, watching as the darkness he was imprisoned in slowly faded away. He could see Gaur, or at least his darker shadow, the Feral. He could see his friends, standing far away; he could see Lia, and his father, watching intently from the crowd. The Elder stood amongst them, as did Ecthgow, the Captain of the Guard. Deadin drew on them, feeling their support.
I can't win, a voice said in the Hybrid's mind. It was dark, a growl with consonants.
No, but we will! another voice thought to his counterpart.
Deadin felt control being restored to him, in some basic form. He could move his arms, he could see through his eyes. But he felt the power and unstoppable force the Beast commanded surging through his veins. His wounds were nonexistent, his arms bands of steel, coiling over and over again for the strike.
The Feral looked at the True Hybrid in surprise. In all his years, Gaur had never heard of something like this happening. One had to always be in control. Either the Elf, or his Demon. Never before in the history of the Ymirian Shadow Wolves had such a feat been attained.
The Feral charged, rather sloppily, Deadin noticed. The Beast responded by stepping to the side, grabbing the Feral's head in a powerful headlock and smashing it into the ground. The Beast pounded the Feral's head into the dirt several times, before it pulled out of the Beast's grasp and backed off.
Deadin charged, weaving carefully through the Feral's wanton strikes. The Feral swung its arms with incredible speed, but in its madness it failed to notice Deadin's eyes. The Hybrid watched as muscle after muscle coiled and unfurled on the Feral's arms. The Beast reacted in turn, snapping to the side and throwing deadly blows at the Feral's exposed chest.
The Feral backed up, jumping into the air, hiding in the sun and trying to mimic the same move the Beast pulled off earlier. Deadin rolled into the space the Feral just occupied, and the Red Wolf passed harmlessly overhead. The Beast swung his foot around, clipping the Feral's legs and sending it tumbling to the ground. The Beast charged up, ready to tear out the Red Wolf's throat, but Deadin calmly restrained him. Such techniques were reserved for the likes of Gaur.
The Feral, powerless on the ground, shifted uncomfortably. Gaur was reasserting his control. It seemed the Feral's brute power was of no help here. Deadin's seasoned ability read every move. The Red Wolf, Gaur once again, stood and brushed himself off.
"Very impressive, old friend," Gaur said. "I've never seen anything quite like it. Still…"
"Shut you mouth, scum!" A voice erupted from the Elven crowd. Falin walked forward. His cane was gone, his spectacles in his pocket. The Elf looked as young as he did when Deadin knew him last. "It was you! It was you that sent Deadin away! And now look! You are the one guilty of the crime he was banished for! You blinded us, you deceived us!"
"Heh, and I succeeded, you fool," Gaur smirked.
"Why don't you tell them, Gaur?" the Hybrid said. Its eyes were a model of integrity and truth, while his mouth slathered and growled for more. "Why don't you tell them the truth about Niten?"
Gaur looked at Deadin, his eyes in a blaze. "You can't prove anything."
"We'll let them decide, shall we?" Deadin said. He turned to the crowd, raising his arms in appeal. "I did not kill Niten. I killed the creature he had become. He became one of us, a Wolf of the Night, and it pained him to lose the honour that he had spent so much of his life to attain! I have made it my burden to venture where he dared not to walk. He asked me to do it, and I did. But the creature I killed was another Wolf, another monster. Niten, the elf we all loved, my teacher, my friend, my master was killed the moment this creature tainted his blood with this accursed disease!"
The crowd was silent.
"Bravo, Deadin," Gaur laughed. "Regardless, you are the one who killed Niten! It doesn't matter!"
But Gaur's words bounced off Deadin like so many pebbles. The crowd of Elves, moved not only by Deadin's words, but also by Falin's, began to shift behind Deadin, taking a place with the Army from Exire and the rest of Deadin's friends. Even the Elven Elder, the elf who had banished Deadin one hundred and seventy years ago, stood side by side with Lloyd and Kratos. Small purple flames began to lick the hilt of Excalibur…
"You think you've won, don't you?" Gaur said. His hands began to swim through the air, preparing some sort of spell. Deadin didn't even flinch. He was beyond anything Gaur could throw at him. He realized that now. "Let's see what they have to say about that!"
With one final wave of his arms, dozens of Tarivian foot soldiers appeared before Gaur.
"Cheated," Kratos growled, standing twenty paces behind Deadin. He and the rest of the army were at Deadin's side in an instant. The tiny purple flames around Excalibur's hilt ignited into a raging fire. Deadin noticed, getting a grip on the majestic weapon.
Help us…please… Deadin and the Beast whispered in their minds. Excalibur, the gift from Zelos, the mighty blade, began to grind against its scabbard, sending purple sparks everywhere.
The Hybrid pulled, and the blade painstakingly slid from its' sheath. The moment its steel touched the air, the blade was enveloped in purple flame. Yet the wispy fires did not harm Deadin.
Words were stamped into the blade. "To the Commander" was written down the length of the blade in beautiful elvish script. Deadin brandished the blade at Gaur and his forces, and the armies charged.
The Tarivians cowed before Excalibur, and they paid for their hesitation. The Elves and the Army plowed through the vanguard, and Deadin was once again face to face with Gaur.
"Nice trick," Deadin snarled. Several more Elves had been killed. "How'd you pick that one up?"
"You don't know, do you?" Gaur said angrily. "There are creatures in this world that bestow great power onto those that can defeat them."
"Archangels," Aaron said from in the crowd.
"Call them what you like. It was easy enough to sneak up on one of them and kill it. Now look at my power!" Gaur cried, raising his arms for effect.
"You have nothing, Gaur. Look around you." Deadin said flatly. Indeed, Gaur had lost it all. He lost his army, his love, and his prestige. All he had left was revenge. But the Beast wasn't about to give him that luxury.
The Beast stepped forward, Excalibur still gleaming in his hand. Gaur shifted back into his elvish form, some tatters left where his armor once was. Gaur stumbled backwards, trying to gain support, but finding none. Finally, reaching into his sleeve, Gaur produced a dagger and rushed at Lia. Lia gasped, and Falin moved between Gaur and Lia
"NO!" The Hybrid shouted, and leapt into action. Covering the distance in the blink of an eye, the Beast swung Excalibur, cleaving Gaur in two.
The Red Elf was no more.
"It's over," Deadin said, letting the mythical blade drop. He slowly reverted into his elven form, letting himself flop down on a rock. Lia ran over, knocking Deadin over in a wild embrace. Falin, rejuvenated beyond the explanation of all, stepped over and proudly placed his hand on his son's shoulder. Deadin cried, he was so happy. Kratos smiled happily, for the first time in a while, and Colette and Lloyd held each other in a happy embrace.
"My family!" Deadin shouted gleefully, looking from Kratos to Lloyd, to Terra, who had just joined them. "You are all here!" He stopped suddenly. Something was wrong. Gaur's body suddenly erupted in green sparks. They flew from his corpse, and orbited Deadin instead. The green lights levitated above Deadin, and formed into one.
"Get back!" Deadin shouted, pushing his family away. The single green spark plummeted onto Deadin, enveloping him in its power. Gaur's body vanished, as did the green light.
All that remained was Deadin. The Elf stumbled to his feet, a little groggy. He blinked his eyes a few times, unable to believe what he was seeing. The Beast tried to assist Deadin in regaining his senses. After all, it was those senses that had saved their lives only moments before.
Standing just beyond the crowd, thousands of the Tarivian foot soldiers filled the town. Simultaneously, they knelt down, prostrating themselves before Deadin.
"Earth Tarivians," Deadin said automatically. "Gaur's troops…are now mine…" He pointed to two of them. "Find Anna Lea Iscon, immediately!" The two Tarivians disappeared, and the rest remained. "As for the rest of you, I will call you when the need comes."
The Tarivians disappeared. Moments later, a pair of Tarivians brought a terrified Anna to Deadin. Deadin ran to her, smiling broadly, and embraced her with all of his heart, pulling her close to him forever.
"Wow," Zelos said, eyes wide, "he's good…OW!"
Sheena removed her elbow from Zelos' gut.
"What! I can't admire a guy for his technique?" Zelos pouted. Sheena sighed and rubbed her temples. That's my husband, all right…
Deadin grabbed Anna's hand. The Beast could feel something was wrong, but it couldn't decipher what. Deadin led Anna to his family, introducing her to Lia, Falin, and all the Elves he could remember. Kratos stepped forward, shaking old Falin's hand, and Lloyd soon followed suit. Deadin went to find Terra, and introduced her to Lia. In time, he knew they would become great friends.
Everything was perfect, Deadin noted. For the first time in a long time, everything was just perfect…
