W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria
by Galistar07water
Chapter 08: A Mermaid's Tear pt. V
Seiryuu leaned back against her throne, checking her complexion in a mirror with one hand. After several more tribes in northern Nihon had fallen, Seiryuu felt her makeup needed to be refreshed before she could toy with her next victims. Once satisfied, she ordered her hand-maidens to leave. With a wave of her hand, Seiryuu conjured several holographic screens before her. One was showing her the current siege in Annam, while another showed a few head clan members of Nihon congregating for war. Seiryuu rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Those poor, little humans," she mused. "Plan and mobilize all they want. Even if they somehow joined forces, they'll still be of no match against me."
Seiryuu recognized some notable faces on the screen. They were of feudal lords, ladies, daimyo, tacticians, and leading generals from some of the most powerful clans of the Eastern Air Kingdom including the Nobunaga, Takeda, and Toyotomi. Yet most interestingly, the Watsuki and the Kinomoto were also seated at the table. They are the two rivaling clans and the direct descendants of the first Twin Guardians. There were a few distant relatives of the Watsuki clan who now branched off to live in Zhong-guo who were also sitting at the table, including the three sworn brothers who had joined forces with the Guardians in the final battle against Byakko: Lord Ryuu Bi, General Zhang Yide, and General Kuan Yu.
Seiryuu noticed that the elders of the Kinomoto clan eying the Watsuki with disdain and contempt. However, Chancellor Komei held no grudges for them as he and Lord Ryuu Bi embraced each other as if they were blood brothers. After a few exchanges of words, they all sat down, pouring over maps and debating how to defeat Seiryuu's forces that's been attacking several provinces simultaneously.
"Yes, plan and argue all you want," Seiryuu mused, one hand twirling her black hair. "In the end, it wouldn't matter."
Seiryuu smiled to herself as she glanced at another screen. It had been monitoring Kyochi Watsuki's sleeping body in one of Hwang-Ryong's chambers for months. There were hardly any changes in the boy's catatonic state. His chest rising and falling gently as Hwang-Ryong's servants attended to his condition. Although incapacitated, the Celestial Warriors were careful to maintain the boy's physical health. He was still valuable alive, at least for now.
"Foolish men! Look at them writhing and plotting like sly serpents they think they are," Seiryuu smiled wickedly at the screen showing Chancellor Komei. "I already have half of a piece to use against you, Chancellor. It won't be long until Zhu Que brings me the other half. And think how much it will hurt even more when you see your own Kenji helps me bring down everything you hold dear, in more ways than one!"
Oh, how the taste of betrayal on others could be so sweet.
Seiryuu then felt the air changed. Barely glancing up, she said, "Lady Kitsune! I was just thinking about you! So how was the wedding? Did you send the newly wedded couple our gifts?"
Kitsune grinned. "If by gifts, you mean a courtyard full of dead bodies, then yes. Although I wished I could have been the one who killed that pathetic excuse for a Champa King. I must say, your new spy is quite clever. Using his new power to shred Jaya's throat and scapegoating the Guardians to make the Annamites and the Champa fight each other? Priceless! But I still don't trust him, my lady."
"And why not?"
"He had the nerve to use me as an accessory to discredit Orube and Kimi in front of his fiancé and her twin!"
This caused Seiryuu's eyebrow to perk up. "Your rival from days gone by?"
Kitsune nodded, her lips curled with a hint of savage pleasure. "Indeed."
Seiryuu smiled. "My, that must be some reunion. After all these years, I would have imagined you giving her the beating you think she so richly deserved."
"Oh, believe me, my lady! I almost killed her for what she did to me," Kitsune replied gleefully, "but alas, your new spy intervened and I had to portray an exit to help him keep his little charade. Little did it do him any good! Orube had deduced him to be the traitor. She already told the Guardian of Light and soon the rest of them will know."
Seiryuu shrugged. This was hardly something for her to worry about. "Even if Chancellor Komei learns of his son's betrayal, I doubt even he would know what Kenji has in stores for his own clan and the fate of Nihon. Now, did you learn of anything else of importance? Because if that's all you could discover, then you are of no used to me."
Kitsune nodded. "As a matter of fact, I did. It involves Lord Zhu Que. As you've suspected, he is hiding something. Aren't you curious to know what it is?"
Seiryuu sat up straight, somewhat keened and gestured for her to continue. Kitsune approached her lady's side and whispered the secret into Seiryuu's ears. At first, Seiryuu's face was blank as if unsure of what she was hearing.
"I'm sorry?"
"It's true, my lady," Kitsune repeated. "Lord Zhu Que is married to none other than Lady Ngọc Long, the Jade Dragon herself!"
Out of all the Celestial Warriors, Seiryuu had never been the one who loses her temper. Such a display is unbecoming of her. While she had been known to have a savage-liked playfulness and seductive behavior, she had always carried them with an air of grace and regality. So, when one of Seiryuu's most powerful lieutenants found herself being choked in a vice-liked grip, she knew Seiryuu was beyond furious.
"M-my, l-lady!" Kitsune gasped, clasping at her lady's hand.
"Silent, vixen!" Seiryuu said darkly, her melodic voice hinting a deadly tone like a beautiful, shining light luring in little fish before devouring it in a rushing gulp. "If you value your life, you tell me the truth! It's not wise to test my humor with something such as this!"
"I a-am not lying!" Kitsune gasped. "It's true! My ears did n-not deceive me!"
Furiously, Seiryuu opened her mouth and let out a sonic cry, blasting Kitsune back. The White Fox Spirit crashed into one of Seiryuu's mirrors, shattering it into pieces. Seiryuu's shrilling cry pierced through the air, shattering more mirrors decorating the ceiling like a stream of crystal lanterns. The broken shards of glass rained down on them and while they did nothing to Seiryuu, they left small, red marks on Kitsune. The shriek reverberated throughout the entire palace, sending shivers down the spines of her servants and followers.
Kitsune dared not get back up, fearing Seiryuu would conjure her talisman and cut her down on a whim.
"LIES! IT CAN'T BE TRUE!" Seiryuu seethed. "Zhu Que would never marry that dragon princess and not tell us about it!"
Seiryuu paced back and forth furiously, the air around her began to saturate with rage. Her servants were wise not to enter. Any wrong move would result in their quick deaths.
"Byakko and Xuan Wu may be weak and back-stabbing, but never Zhu Que! He's too loyal! He would never betray us! And who would marry him unless they wished to die and suffer from his Wrath?!"
Of course, no one would marry Zhu Que or he to anyone else! The thought of him ever falling in love was preposterous! Zhu Que is simply too cold and serious. He rarely laughs and practically never smiles. He had always been the most reserved one, and only speaks when he felt it necessary. He listens and hears things and any secrets he discovered, he would withhold them unless Hwang-Ryong commands him to divulge them.
But would Zhu Que confess such a thing as marriage? The thought made Seiryuu try to recall his most recent behaviors these past several years. Long after their shared "enlightenment" of universal domination, Zhu Que had often stared off into the distant sky as if searching for something.
When Seiryuu had asked what he was hiding, Zhu Que would pause before giving her an answer. Zhu Que always spoke with care, but that time, it was as if he was intentionally trying to find the right words to tell, all the while withholding the entire truth. And the way he had acted? Yes, he had killed his last admiral and appeared to be a lot moodier and distant than usual, but it all now seemed more suspicious. It was as if he was portraying more of his Wrath to hide a secret.
Seiryuu couldn't stand it any longer. Without hesitation, Seiryuu quickly turned towards one of the holographic screens.
"Show me Zhu Que!"
The screen obeyed and Seiryuu found herself watching Zhu Que about to kill Irma. Suddenly, a deluge of water poured down, washing the unconscious Water Guardian away. Ngọc Long had appeared.
Seiryuu watched and listened as the Jade Dragon and the Lord of Wrath exchange words. This time, she observed closely and what she saw shocked her. Their words were not of insults and hate, but filled with remorse, hurt, and passion. The simple words spilling from Zhu Que's lips as he addressed Ngọc Long…he called her his love! And she addressed him as husband!
Seiryuu felt as if her world had been shattered as she continued to watch the battle painfully. The Celestial Warrior of Fire clashed and cross swords with the Jade Dragon intensively, sending sparks of wildfire. The look in their eyes filled Seiryuu with utter dread. The way Zhu Que looked at Ngọc Long…yes, his face was frighteningly angry. It was the expression no mortal dared to see if they ever hoped to live. But his eyes…deep within Seiryuu could see utter sadness, longing, and pain. But there was something else and it also burns in Ngọc Long's eyes. Love…they still love each other, even when their current situation says differently.
Seiryuu could take this no more.
Seiryuu screamed, letting out another sonic cry that shook the entire palace. Kitsune covered her ears as Seiryuu flung her metal fans at the screen. They went through the holographic interfaces, naturally, before slamming into the wall on the other side.
Seiryuu let out several long breathes as the truth slowly sank in. Sensing that her master was at last calm enough for reasoning, Kitsune dared to speak, but does so with great care.
"Forgive me, my lady. Had I known this would upset you so, I would have strived to be less blunt in revealing it to you."
"Yes, you should have," Seiryuu replied darkly, glaring back at her lieutenant. "But it would have changed nothing. Zhu Que is married to the Jade Dragon and had hid it well from us after all these centuries. What a fool I was to not see it!"
"What do you plan to do?" Kitsune asked. "Are you going to kill him?"
Seiryuu's eyes darken. "No," she said simply.
Kitsune was surprised. "My lady, with all due respect, Lord Zhu Que still harbors feelings for his spouse! This leaves him susceptible to her words! The Guardians are currently trying to bring him to their side! And if that happens, he'll betray us! He'll spill everything—"
"Do not think he would stoop to such a level!" Seiryuu snarled, causing Kitsune to hold her tongue. "Of one thing I am certain, unlike our treacherous Xuan Wu, Zhu Que knows when to withdraw certain secrets and when to withhold them. But you are right in one thing, my little fox, his love for Ngọc Long will no doubt leave him susceptible to her poisonous words. And I will be damn to the underworld if I let him betray us for her!"
Kitsune looked up, holding her breath with uncertainty. "My lady?"
Clenching her fist, Seiryuu next words were filled with venomous hatred for her sister-in-law. "Zhu Que will NOT fail us! He hasn't for millennia and won't now! I won't let him betray us for this so-called love!"
Unclenching her hand, Seiryuu conjured an elegant, black arrow. Its arrowhead was sharp and jagged, glistening like the moon in an eerily way.
"Love is a horrid disease, weakening the strongest warrior," Seiryuu whispered maliciously. "Well, the only way to be strong is to kill it."
She motioned for Kitsune to approach her and she did so. Seiryuu gave the beautiful arrow to her, saying, "All that can change. We can still save Zhu Que from this wretched emotion while we still have the chance. You, my loyal fox, will honor our cause!"
Kitsune realized what Seiryuu meant as a wicked smile curled upon her lips once again. She took the arrow that was offered to her and bowed to her master.
"Kill the Jade Dragon with this enchanted arrow, Kitsune," Seiryuu said. "With her death, Zhu Que will no longer have an attachment to this world. He'll be completely ours now and forever."
"I will not fail you, Lady Seiryuu," said Kitsune as she disappeared in a burst of white flame.
"See that you don't."
Darkness.
Irma remembered nothing else after she was rendered unconscious, saved for the lingering touch of rushing water that swept her away, plunging her into the void.
Irma thought it felt like floating haplessly through space as Will and Cornelia had described. As she slowly opened her eyes, Irma saw that somehow, she was surrounded by water. She could breathe, of course, as water could not hurt her. But looking around, the darkness kept going on forever. It was as if Irma was stuck in the middle of the open sea, sinking farther into the depth. The light of the surface faded from her grasp.
Irma knew she couldn't hope for a safety line to fish her out. There was no Yami above to rescue her, for this was no dream. Neither can she hope that the strong arms of two brothers would pull her out of the water onto their fishing boat. Her friends weren't here. Neither were the Jade Dragon, Orube, and Kimi. Nothing but the last image that had burned into her mind, the face that was Irma's own as she gleefully chocked Irma, her maniacal laughter echoing through her mind still.
Irma failed! She struggled against the dark voice inside of her mind and heart these past several weeks. No matter how much her friends tried to help her, no matter how much Irma desperately tried to fight it off and revert back to her old self, the dark voice was victorious.
"I've failed…" Irma whispered. "And now my friends and family will suffer for it…my greatest fear has come true…"
Irma closed her eyes, ready to give herself completely into the darkness.
"Has it, Guardian?" said an unfamiliar voice. "Are you certain your greatest fear has come to pass?"
Irma blinked and looked around. "Who are you? Where are you?"
The voice was a baritone one, deep like the sea, but its tone was as gentle as a babbling brook and wise as an imposing waterfall. Irma was certain she'd never heard of it before in her life, but she couldn't help but think that it was familiar, as if something in her heart had always heard it in times past.
"Guardian, what do you know of water and its attributes?" said the mysterious voice again. Its tone strong and firm like a wall of ice.
Irma blinked, somewhat confused. "What? What does that have to do with my greatest fear?"
"Little one, there is still so much you don't know. Like water that connects all parts of the world, both questions that I've asked are connected in more ways than one. Are you not the Guardian of Water?"
Irma wasn't sure if she should feel embarrassed but she was. "I am!" she said at first, but then lowered her head in shame. After what happened, she doesn't deserve it. "But maybe I shouldn't be. After all, I wasn't strong enough to help my friends. Not strong enough to forgive Kimi. And most certainly not strong enough to forget my anger! I let it consume me and now Annam, Lusteria, Kandrakar, my friends and family will all suffer for it."
"Water is strong, Guardian," the voice whispered gently. "It is graceful, beautiful, and powerful in more ways any mortal can understand. Yet, it can also be terrifying and deadly."
Irma closed her eyes, not wanting to accept the voice's compliment.
"If Water is so strong, then why do I feel like a failure?" Irma demanded, shaking her head. "If my powers were strong…if I were strong, I wouldn't be here!"
"Little one, you have forgotten what it means to be a Guardian of Water. You've forgotten its attributes: its strengths and weaknesses."
Before Irma realized it, a blinding flash of light appeared in front of her, shining through what appeared to be a door. Irma gasped, shielding her eyes from its blinding rays.
"Go, Irma Lair," said the voice. "Go and see what your greatest fear is. Should you be able to face it, you'll find the path back to the Light and realize what it means to be the Guardian of Water."
"And if I don't?" Irma asked hesitantly. She almost regretted asking it.
There was a pause. "Then you would be truly lost to the Darkness."
Irma gulped and turned back towards the door. She swam up to it, took a deep breath and plunged in.
Irma opened her eyes and found herself back in Huế. Yet, the buildings around her were toppled, in ruins, or on fire. Its orange and crimson color burned so brightly, the sky above them appeared to have been set aflame.
Irma gasped as she realized the horrifying scene before her. There were bodies of humans, spirits, and demons littering the city endlessly. They were of Annamite warriors and corrupted humans and demons from Zhu Que's forces. To Irma's surprised, she saw what looked like a dragon warrior very much like Quang Long, the Crimson Dragon who rescued her, lying dead not too far away, impaled by someone's spear.
All of their eyes were blank, lifeless. Their faces were frozen upon seeing their own demise. Blood mixed with scalding injuries, ashes, and soot, saturating the air with the smell of iron and burning flesh.
"No…" Irma gasped. "This can't be!"
How could this have happened? Was it all because of her? How could she have caused all this carnage? Where were her friends? Irma desperately ran about, searching for Will and the others, praying she wouldn't find their bodies amongst these poor souls.
Finally, Irma came to the palace's courtyard where they last fought. Before her was a scene that finally broke her: her friends as well as the familiar Annamite faces she had come to know these past several hours. They were all motionless.
To her right, General Chung lied on his back, killed by taking on several arrows, many of which had struck him in the chest. One flew straight at his heart, killing him instantly. The Royal Family had emerged from the safety of their inner sanctum, but upon seeing her beloved's lifeless body, the princess broke down, running towards Chung and held him in her arms. Princess Huyền Trân cried ever so quietly, Irma could barely hear her asking the gods why they deny her the chance to say her goodbye to him.
Glancing to her left, Irma was startled when she saw Orube lying broken on a pile of rubbles, impaled through the heart by her own sword.
"Orube!" Irma cried, trying to run towards her fallen friend.
Irma tripped and moaned painfully. She looked to see what had caused her to fall. The body she had tripped over was none other than Will's.
"WILL!" Irma screamed, scrambling to get up. "Will, please! Say something! Anything!"
But Will was unmoving, her last breath performed long ago. Around them were the bodies of Taranee, Hay Lin, and Cornelia. They had all died a horrible death by Zhu Que's fire for Irma could see terrible burns covering their skins.
Irma felt her world crumbling."Will, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" Irma sobbed as she held Will's unmoving body in her arms. "I wasn't here! You're gone because of me! I didn't want any of this to happen."
"Then… why did you…let it…happened?" whispered an exhausted but familiar voice.
Irma gasped as she turned around to see Kimi, de-transformed. She was weak, battered, and appeared to be somewhat half dead as she lied inside a magical, translucent sphere made of fire.
"Kimi!" Irma cried, coming up to her. She made the mistake of touching the sphere. She yelped as it burned her skin. Irma swore, hoping it would help to reduce the pain. "How did all of this happen?"
Kimi coughed, the sound caused Irma to wince. "You…you weren't here," she replied weakly. "We needed you to be strong…to be better than your inner demon, but you let us down…" She coughed again. "Lady Ngọc Long and her family came, but it was all in vain. W-without you to cover Ngọc Long, she was k-killed by a strange arrow I've never seen before. And Zhu Que…h-he went mad at the loss of his wife. He killed almost everyone…saved for me."
Irma began to hyperventilate as she sank to her knees. No. Their mentor was dead? Despite what Zhu Que have acted, Ngọc Long was still the light and love of his life. With her death, his last shred of compassion died.
"Why are you still alive?"
Kimi coughed again. "The Celestial Warriors…they planned to use my brother and I to bring down Nihon because the Chancellor is our uncle. And when they're done, they'll kill us before conquering the last major kingdom and retaking Guong-zhou and Joseon." Kimi leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She no longer has the strength to look at Irma. "Lusteria will fall…then Kandrakar and all the worlds under its protection…including Earth…"
"NO!" Irma cried, shutting her eyes, but it did little to prevent the image of her parents and her little brother killed for sport from spilling into her mind. They didn't deserve any of this! They weren't aware of Irma's magical abilities and her role in the universe. Why should they suffer because of her?
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Irma cried. She opened her eyes, but the flaming sphere imprisoning Kimi was gone.
Irma blinked. "Kimi?" Irma glanced around to find her friends, but they were gone, too. "Will? Orube? Girls?!" Irma cried in confusion.
It was as if they were never here. Irma cursed herself for forgetting all this wasn't true, but merely a vision. But before she could say or do anything else, Irma saw before her the Celestial Warrior of Fire and the Lord of Wrath. Zhu Que was on his knees, battered and exhausted. His hair was let down with dirt and blood caked on his handsome face. His talisman, an intricate sword, was lying in front of him in a pool of blood. In Zhu Que's arms, he held his deceased wife, the Jade Dragon, with a black arrow embedded in her heart. Even in death, her facial expression was that of sadness rather than pain.
"Zhu Que?" Irma spoke up.
The demigod didn't acknowledge her. His expression wasn't what she expected. Instead of cold and blank, his face was a mixture of regret, longing, and despair. He caressed Ngọc Long's face, but she remained unresponsive. Zhu Que had successfully conquered Annam, but the price was too high. He had lost everything.
"Ngọc Long, my love," Zhu Que whispered. "I am truly sorry. What foolish godling must I be to ne'er see anything but hatred. Thy love was mine greatest treasure, yet I did not see. With thy demise, mine only companion is Wrath. I am now nothing…"
Irma didn't know what to say, but his words left her speechless. She'd thought Zhu Que was incapable of compassion and change. Yet Zue Que's words were genuine, as Irma could feel the intensity of his sorrow.
Then, as if he had known all along, Zhu Que glanced up at Irma slightly and said, "Guardian, what path doth thou truly seek now thou have seen the result of mine?"
Irma blinked, taken aback by his words.
"Path?" Irma asked. "I'm…"
Before Irma could say anything further, a haunting laugh echoed. Irma blinked and saw that Zhu Que and Ngọc Long were disappearing the same way her friends had.
No! It can't be! Irma thought. This voice!
It was the maniacal laughter that had haunted Irma's mind these last several days. But this time, it was different. The voice was no longer in her head, but all around them!
How is this possible? Irma thought.
"My gosh, are you stupid!" said the cruel voice, this time it was closer. So close that Irma could reach out and touch her.
Irma clenched her fists. "I've had it with you! Come out!"
The dark voice laughed again as if Irma's attempt of courage was the most amusing thing ever. A strong gust of wind descended upon Irma, blowing away some of the curtains of the surrounding fire to make way for a fluid shape in front of her. The liquid molded itself into the form of a person before finally turning into one. At first, Irma thought it was like that creepy Altermere creature that took any of their forms years ago. But this creature wasn't an Altermere, but her own twisted reflection.
It was Dark Irma.
Sure enough, this Irma looked exactly like her, except she seemed more beautiful, mature, and bold. Her hair was a few shades of brown dark and has more curls that went well with her Guardian outfit, which consisted of dark blue and black instead of the usual green and purple. The wings on Dark Irma's back appeared more gothic and not as delicate. And the cosmetic on her face was something that Irma could never pull off, but for some reason looked perfect on her opposite's smug face.
The way Dark Irma carried herself shows just how aware she was of her own superiority. Compared to the way Kimi's cousins had looked down on them, Dark Irma's expression was ten times more arrogant. Irma had never felt so insignificant in her life.
All in all, this Irma was visually stunning.
Dark Irma scrutinized Irma and flipped one side of her curls. "Surprised?" she asked, her voice no longer an echo in Irma's head. "I would blame you if you were. After all, I'm the strong and better part of you." She flipped her hair again in condescending way. "Not to mention a lot prettier and stronger than you in every way possible."
"How is it that you're here?! You're not real!" Irma retorted.
"Gosh, you really are stupid!" Dark Irma rolled her eyes. "Haven't you noticed by now? We're inside your heart! This is the place where I've been—where I've always been!"
Irma glanced around. "This is the inside of my heart? But that's not possible! I thought all of this is just an illusion of my greatest fear."
Dark Irma rolled her eyes. "Sheesh, you really are getting dumber and dumber! Fear is an emotion that exists in our mind and heart and since you're afraid of all of this, it manifested itself into this glorious burning city!"
"Glorious?" Irma seethed, getting angry. "There's nothing—"
But Dark Irma cut her off. "Ungrateful, aren't you? After all I've done, you are pathetic. I've been pushing you to be better and stronger these past few weeks, but instead, you were stupid enough to ignore me. You really think you don't need me and you could get back to your old and useless self? Well, did it work? Of course, not! Now you're lost somewhere in this place and all you can do is to watch the world burn!"
Irma couldn't believe it! She didn't want to believe it! This dark reflection isn't her! Could never be her!
"No! You're lying! You're just a figment of my imagination! A shadow created by Zhu Que's Wrath when he infected me! You're not real!"
The next thing Irma knew, she was blasted by a powerful column of water that appeared out of nowhere. Dark Irma giggled. Irma coughed, struggling to get up but before she could, she was met by Dark Irma's boot as the latter kicked her viciously in the face.
"Am I real enough for you now?!" Dark Irma asked cruelly. "I guess I can't blame you. You're being pulled down by many things, and it's these very things that make you weak!"
Dark Irma offered Irma her hand. Irma glowered at her. "Now don't be like that. I'm giving you power and confidence! With me, I can help you achieve great heights! We can defeat Zhu Que and the lot of them together!"
Irma struggled to her feet. "What about my friends?"
Dark Irma scowled. "Your friends? You don't need them! They're one of the many things that have been pulling you down all this time! Their naïve ideals on love and friendship have left you weak! You would be smart to cut your ties with them now!"
Irma shook her head defiantly. "I can't do that! I can't just abandon them! Will and the others are counting on me! Even Kimi! I can't forsake them, my family, and Kandrakar!"
"To hell with them!" Dark Irma spat, blasting Irma back with another attack. Irma gasped, as the air is knocked out of her. Even if this was happening in her heart, the pain felt too real. Irma seethed and moaned before glancing up at her inner demon.
"Take my advice: let me take over and help you be strong!"
Irma clenched her fists. If this is what facing her inner demon is like, then she knew her answer. Standing tall, Irma said, "No."
Dark Irma raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed. "No?"
Irma exhaled slowly, daring to be the bolder like she was before. "You heard me. No! I get it now," Irma waved her hand, gesturing at the burning rubbles around them. "At first, I thought this is what I was afraid of the most: failing my friends and being the cause of everyone's demise! But then I realized that's not true. Yes, I'm afraid of losing them all, but I realized that no matter what, I will still lose them eventually in the end. Nothing last forever because we all have to die someday. What's important is that I still keep them in my heart and I still do because I will always love them!"
Dark Irma scowled, but Irma wasn't finished. "I realized now that the one thing I'm most afraid of isn't Zhu Que's Wrath consuming me or losing everyone I love, or heck, even seeing the destruction of our worlds…" Irma pointed at her dark reflection and spoke with great conviction, "I'm afraid of you! I'm afraid of turning into you!"
"What a joke!" Dark Irma sneered. "I'm offering you power and perfection! You're stupid to be afraid of that!"
"Yeah, I'll admit you're beautiful, confident, and powerful. But I see that you lack compassion and understanding!" Irma retorted. With every word, she felt more confident. "You're so arrogant and cruel that you lose your temper so easily! You would forsake anyone and anything! This isn't who I want to be!"
Dark Irma's face contorted into a scowl, looking less attractive and more menacing by the seconds. But Irma didn't care. She still has more to say to her inner demon.
"If I let you take over my body, all of this will truly happen! You don't care about my friends, my family, or Kandrakar! You only care about having power and control! Well, forget it, you sorry excuse of a shadow! I'd rather die than let you hurt those I care abou—"
Without warning, Dark Irma punched her hard in the face.
"YOU UNGRATEFUL BITCH!" Dark Irma screamed, firing more bolts of water at Irma. Dark Irma took to the sky, firing a volley of water bolts at Irma. She ran, trying her best to dodge and weave through the attack. "How dare you deny me?! You could have had it all! You could've become a goddess!"
"That's soooooo overrated!" Irma mocked her. She spun around to face her opponent and summoned a shield to block her attack. Dark Irma laughed, increasing the intensity of her attacks.
"Deep down you knew how powerful you are!" Dark Irma accused. "All you had to do was surrender to me and get rid of anyone who stands in your way!"
"Even my friends?!" Irma screamed behind her shield. It cracked and Irma was blasted back on her feet. She quickly got back up and tried to pelt her dark reflection with giant water tentacles. Dark Irma laughed and barely flicked her wrist to block them before firing water bullets back at Irma. Irma tried to surround herself with an icy-dome, but like her shield, it was starting to weaken under the Dark Irma's relentless attack.
"My friends have been trying to help me all this time! I need them! I need them all…even Kimi! I was wrong to deny her! I love them! They're practically my sisters! I won't let them go and I won't let you hurt any of them!"
"Oh, I'll do more than hurt them," Dark Irma snickered. She conjured a giant ice-drill and slammed it on the ice-dome. Irma yelped and tried to use her magic to increase the dome's strength, but she could feel her dark reflection's power. Zhu Que's Wrath was making Dark Irma more powerful, and her ice-drill would break through Irma's dome in no time. "I'LL DESTROY THEM ALL AND TAKE THEIR POWERS, ONE BY ONE! But before that, I'll take over your body! With you out of the way, I can do whatever I want!"
That declaration sparked an anger within Irma. She clenched her teeth and fist, feeling her anger and determination boiled up. I can't let Dark Irma win! Irma thought furiously.
The drill caused more cracks in Irma's dome. Irma gasped, trying desperately to hold on and to come up with an idea. But nothing came. Was this the end for her? Was her dark reflection right about Irma being weaker?
Suddenly, a soft and kinder voice spoke in Irma's mind. No, you're wrong. You're stronger than this.
Irma gasped, nearly losing her grip on her defense. She recognized this voice. It's her voice—no, more specifically, it's the voice Irma's good side. It's her Light side.
"I thought you were gone forever!" Irma whispered, unable to hide the thrill in her voice.
I'm never gone, silly! I've always been with you, helping you fight through this.
Irma thanked her. Knowing that her good side is still within her, Irma calmly exhaled and transformed. At that moment, Dark Irma's drill broke through the ice dome, but the brilliant light from Irma's transformation protected her, shattering the drill. Dark Irma recoiled back at the intensity of the light. When she opened her eyes, she saw Irma had also transformed with a smug on her face.
"What's so funny?" Dark Irma asked.
"Oh, nothing," Irma shrugged. "Just thinking that I'm not alone. I still have my Light side within me, and you know what? She's just as good as giving me the confidence and the strength I need to defeat you!"
And with that, the two of them clashed back and forth fiercely. Powerful streams of water, volleys of snow, and bullets of ice flew back and forth. Irma was surprised that some of them caused sparks when they clashed against each other as if they were made of metal.
"It's unimaginable how more naïve and stupid you get by the minute!" Dark Irma screamed as she flung a powerful water energy beam at Irma. Irma quickly fired back with her own, straining to push her energy against her dark counterpart's. "The Light side of us is weak and lame! I should have smothered her out of existence when I had the chance!"
Dark Irma pushed her attack harder, forcing Irma back.
Don't give up! You can fight this! You can fight her! said Light Irma. Think of your friends and family! They're not your weakness. They give you strength!
Irma felt a surge within her. Screaming, Irma pushed back with all her might, putting all her determination, heart, and spirit into her attack. The water energy pushed back against Dark Irma's own, much to the latter's surprise.
"You…can't…defeat me!" Dark Irma seethed as she tried her best to hold her own, but even she felt Irma's surge of power against her. "I'm everything you want to be! You need me more than you know!"
"NO!" Irma cried. She must fight this, not just for her friends and the fate of the universe, but also for herself. "You're NOT real! I'm nothing like you! Being you means giving up everyone and everything I love! I won't let you take over and ruin their lives or mine!"
Irma never felt so confident and gave one last push. Her dark reflection was in shock when Irma's power sliced through hers with such force and ease.
"NOOO!" Dark Irma screamed.
She braced herself for the impact and was met by the raw power of water. Irma quickly covered her eyes at the last moment and felt a powerful shockwave of the impact. The attack was so powerful that it wiped away the illusion of the burning city around her. Irma opened her eyes and let out a huge sigh of relief. With the burning city gone, Irma now stood alone in a vast space of darkness. What was left of Dark Irma was a cloud of smoke and dust.
"It's over," Irma gasped. "I did it. I won—"
LOOK OUT! cried Light Irma.
Irma was a bit startled, but she dodged in the nick of time as a water blade flew past her, its tip nicked Irma's hair and sliced a few inches off. Irma quickly turned around to hear a maniacal laughter. Dark Irma stepped out of the cloud, her hair a mess and parts of her outfit and wings were torn and shredded. She had never looked so terrifying.
"How?!" Irma gasped, she was too stunned.
"I told you, stupid! I'm a part of you! What? You thought you can banish the Darkness in you? That's like trying to get rid of your shadow!" Dark Irma gave another maniacal laughter before firing bolts of ice at Irma. Irma did several flips to avoid them. "Face it! No matter what you do, I will always be here!"
Irma quickly created some shields and fought her way towards Dark Irma. The two of them parried their attacks. Water, ice, snow, steam, and mist flew back and forth in what seemed like a never-ending dance.
I don't understand! Irma thought. That should have worked! What am I doing wrong?
"Guardian, what do you know of water and its attributes?"
Irma blinked, surprised to hear the mysterious, deep voice in her head instead of Light Irma's. The question brought Irma back to how she first got here. Irma tried to remember what the voice wanted from her and began to think.
Its attributes… Irma thought as she dodged a spinning ice disk.
The question reminded Irma of her dream where she met the masked boy, Yami. She tried to remember his words and was surprised how they came so easily.
"You're very loud, Irma-san," Yami had said. "You must be patient. Being upset will not help you find your answer any time sooner. You must learn to wait. Calm yourself and look for any and all answers that lay before you."
Wait, listen, and look…well, that was helpful, considering the current situation, but Irma knew she had to try as she blocked more of Dark Irma's attacks.
Yami's voice rang back in her head again. "Water is a very powerful thing. Cultures as old as time have worshiped it. It flows through all lands, connecting the entire world. If anything has mystical properties, if anything has magic, I'd say it would be water."
This made Irma think. She gazed into Dark Irma's eyes and wondered how she could ever be connected to someone as twisted as this. Zhu Que had said Dark Irma wasn't created by his Wrath but had always been inside of her heart. His Wrath had merely brought her out to the surface.
"That's just it," Irma seethed. "I can't do anything to defeat her! She's my shadow and I can't get rid of it!"
Irma heard an annoyed scoff in her head and knew it was Light Irma. But shadow cannot exist without light! It's why I'm still here in your heart, silly! Even if Dark Irma did manage to quiet me these last several days, I'm still here to help you!
Irma blinked at this as a sudden revelation hit her like powerful wave against a rock. Yami, Light Irma, and the mysterious deep voice in the darkness all gave her messages and now they clicked together perfectly in her mind. Irma wanted to kick herself for not realizing the answer sooner, but decided otherwise. She has an inner demon to confront.
Irma smiled. "Thanks, I know what to do now."
With a wave of her hand, Irma cut through her counterpart's oncoming attack. Dark Irma sneered and continued her firing, but Irma easily knocked them away with a wave of her hand. She smiled. It was working as she slowly made her way towards her darker side.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Dark Irma screamed.
Waves of water attacks hissed as they flew, sparkling and fizzing with energy. Yet, they did nothing but bounced off the air surrounding Irma. Infuriated, Dark Irma continued her assault, but Irma calmly waved each of them away, showing no sign of giving up anything soon.
Dark Irma became worried and felt a sudden strange feeling in the pit of her stomach: fear. She shouldn't be afraid! She was the powerful dark side of the Guardian of Water! Fear is for weaklings! Yet the calm and serene expression on Irma's face as she continued to wave each aggressive attack away was troubling. Dark Irma's attacks were now nothing and this made her feel weaker and insignificant.
At last, after what felt like hours, Dark Irma felt the fatigue eating at her. She sank to the knees. "How?!" she cried, glaring at Irma with such venom her eyes. "How is this possible?"
Irma gave her a smile that wasn't condescending or snarky. "You've forgotten that compassion and kindness isn't a sign of weakness."
"You're a fool!"
Irma shrugged. "Maybe but only fools cling to hatred and anger. It blinds them. Yeah, I may not like it, but I've accepted the fact there's a chance that I can become you. You're my dark side that's been created by Zhu Que's Wrath. You represent the part about myself that no one likes. The same goes for Light Irma who's the representation of my human decency. With you two, that's enough proof about there being good and bad within all of us! We're all capable of being cruel but also having compassion! Even Zhu Que!"
The knuckles on Dark Irma's hand whitened. "But that doesn't explain how you were able to defeat me! I'm you're shadow! You can't—"
Irma cut her off. "Yeah, I can't get rid of you. But I realized I can strive to live my life above your twisted ideals. There will be days when I am filled with so much anger that I'll hurt other people's feelings…all thanks to you still being in my heart, of course. But I'm fine with that! I guess I need a little anger in my life the same way I need love, and fear, and hatred, despair…and happiness."
Irma shook her heard playfully as she placed her hands on her hips. "You wanna know how I defeated you? I merely accepted you as a part of my life and who I am as a person and Guardian. And you know what? I love myself! I am totally okay with everything about me! Even my flaws! We all need a balance of light and darkness within us to live to the fullest, right?"
Dark Irma's eyes widened in shock, horrified that Irma had simply defeated her with nothing but compassion, patience, understanding, and acceptance! It was impossible! She wanted to snap back, but to her horror, Dark Irma saw that her body was now transparent.
"NO!" Dark Irma screamed. "YOU CAN'T SIMPLY GET RID OF ME SO EASILY! NO LIKE THIS! YOU HATE ME!"
Irma shook her head, feeling a little sorry for her. "I don't hate you. I just generally dislike you. And if I can learn to hate you less, I am a lot stronger than you realize."
Dark Irma let out one final scream, but she faded away. Looking around, Irma saw that rather than being immerse in darkness or in blinding light, all around her was a soft and serene blue. Irma sensed her journey completed as she felt Light Irma guiding Dark Irma back into the depth of her heart. Irma thought her inner demon would protest, but apparently Dark Irma has been exhausted by Irma's patience and acceptance, she followed Light Irma without a fight.
"Promise me that you'll keep an eye on our darker half?"
She could feel Light Irma nodding as she, too, slowly disappeared. We'll keep each other both in check and an eye on you, too!
And with that, they both melded back into Irma and she was whole again.
"Well done," said the deep and mysterious voice. "You have faced your greatest fear and found your path back to the Light."
Irma was about to thank the voice when suddenly she gasped. Her eyes widen in absolute marvel at the large dragon before her. His scales were crimson as blood and his amber-colored eyes were like deep wells of wisdom. This dragon is the owner of the mysterious voice from before. Irma blinked, still too stunned. She had known that reptilian face from Hay Lin's drawings and stories, but to see the face of the Dragon of Water was all too surreal.
"You're the Red Dragon!" Irma blurted out.
The Red Dragon smiled gently, clearly amused. "Indeed. I am Chang-Jiang, the Red Dragon. And you are Irma Lair, the Guardian of my element."
Irma wasn't sure how to reply. In the end, she just settled with a simple nod. "Yeah, um… thanks for helping me. It wasn't easy…seeing all of that, you know?"
"Indeed, for no ordeal is without its share of difficulties. To overcome them shows great strength. So tell me, young one, have you come to understand your victory against your inner demon?"
"Yes," Irma replied confidently. There was no room for doubts. She felt stronger than before. "A friend told me I had to quiet my mind and look for any answers and I found it. I realized to defeat my inner demon was to face her head on and accept her as a part of my whole being. I guess this entire ordeal taught me about how wrong I was. I was wrong about Kimi, Zhu Que, and myself. Meeting my dark and light sides showed me that we all have room for compassion and kindness, but we're also capable of doing unspeakable things. We're all like water."
Chang-Jiang nodded. "So you understand water's attributes?"
The smile on Irma's lips widen. "It's not the most forgiving element, that's for sure. In its patience, water erodes stone, warped wood, rust steel, and extinguishes fire. Water can become merciless and terrifying as it churns into powerful rain storms and hurricanes, flooding cities and taking lives. It can build into tsunamis, destroying everything in its path. But just as it can kill, it can give life. Water is the life-giving rivers and lakes that gave rises to civilizations! Without it, we wouldn't be where we are today! Our bodies are made mostly of water and so do plants and animals! It is one of the most essential and powerful elements on any world! I understand now why cultures as old as time worshiped it."
Irma glanced down and placed a hand over her heart. She closed her eyes as she tried to remember moments in her life. Irma wasn't known to wait and tolerate things. She can easily lose her temper, but there are moments when she knew when to sit down and listen to others and comfort them. Irma remembered the last time she had lashed out at her step-mother, but had apologized and listened to her. When Hay Lin was heart-broken over Eric, Irma embraced her, listening to her friend's aching heart.
There were other memories that Irma wasn't particularly proud of. Yet good or bad, all these moments in her life shaped her into the person that she is now. A bright, blue light emitted from Chang-Jiang's heart as well as Irma's. A beam of sparkling light emerged from beyond time and space. It struck both of the blue lights, merging them together into something magnificent. Irma knew this light could only come from Kimi's Jewel of Life. Smiling, Irma grabbed the glowing object and knew she just found her Virtue and her own Heart.
"I am Irma Lair, Guardian of Water," she declared. "And with the Heart of Waves and the Virtue of Patience, I will save Annam, my friends, and Zhu Que from his own Wrath!"
Chang-Jiang smiled. "Irma Lair, you possess the wisdom to hold on to your kindness and love rather than give in to hate and anger. You have understood all the attributes of Water. I am honored to call you my Water Guardian."
"Thanks for all your help, Chang-Jiang," Irma smiled at his acknowledgement. "I'd love to stick around for a longer chat, but I have to go."
The Red Dragon nodded and glanced over to Irma's right. Another door opened before her.
"Go, Guardian of Water," Chang-Jiang said. "You are needed."
In an abandoned cave near Mermaid Cove, two sisters were encased inside a block of ice. The cave was littered with ropes and fishing crates, either rusted or rotted by time. It had once been used illegally to lure in dolphins and other fish, but local authorities nearby on both land and sea had shut it down.
For the first time in over fifty years, Kenji Kinomoto had used its isolated location to lure in two mermaids. Having tortured them for hours, the duplicitous young man had successfully harvested their tears for pearls and used them as his final ingredient in a dark spell to make himself more powerful. As they were of no used to him any longer, the two sisters were sentenced to an eternity on ice. Being unaware of their fate was their only blessing, and for days no other mermaids thought to look for their missing sisters here in this desolated place.
Quietly, the moon pool that Kenji had used for his dark magic began to bubble. The moonlight barely shone through the opening of the cave's roof, yet the pool glowed eerily. The water bubbled more intensively and soon sparkling light glowed around it. The surface exploded into a column as Irma burst out of the water, her hands still clenching onto the Heart of Wave. She absorbed it back into herself and could feel a new transformation coming.
The light died down a bit and so did the rushing pillar of water. Irma looked down and saw herself transformed. Her makeup, hair, and outfit were now different! And on her back is a pair of beautiful, translucent wings! Irma had felt beautiful on the inside once she realized her Virtue and her Heart of Waves, and now her transformation reflects that.
Irma noticed the block of ice in front of her and the two mermaids still encased inside it. She frowned. This was hardly the time to admire herself! Placing a hand on the ice, Irma concentrated. She was surprised to feel the power coming to her so easily! Irma felt this ice was made of dark magic, but her Power Girl is strong enough to eclipse its hold. The ice didn't crack, instead it melted back into regular water.
The two mermaids gasped as they collapsed to the ground.
"Linh!" the older mermaid cried, transforming her tail into a pair of legs wrapped with a kelp skirt. The younger mermaid didn't respond as her sister cradled her in her arms. "It's me, Nga! Wake up!"
Nga glanced up to see Irma. The look on her face turned from anger to astonishment.
Irma introduced herself first. "I'm Irma, the Guardian of Water. I don't know what happened but I think I can help you."
Nga wanted to protest, but she realized it was foolish to deny help, especially from a Guardian. Nga nodded. "Save my sister and I'll ever be grateful to you!"
Irma did not hesitate another second as she placed a hand on the child's forehead. For some reason, Irma knew what to do. With little effort, Irma summoned the Heart of Waves from within and asked it to heal both mermaids.
Nga gasped, surprised to see her wounds inflicted by Kenji disappearing. The pain subsided as energy returned to her body. She heard a moan and looked to see her little sister stirring. Linh's dry skins and tail became moisturized and the colors returned into her face. Her eyes flickered open and Nga never felt so relieved.
"Linh!" Nga hugged her sister tightly.
"Nga?" her sister's voice squeaked.
Irma sighed, reabsorbing the Heart into herself. She was glad to see that it had worked. Nga glanced at Irma and took her by the hand.
"Praise, Water Guardian! You've saved my sister and me! It would appear not all humans are as heartless and cruel as the one who did this to us. You have our eternal gratitude!"
"By the gods, you're a Guardian!" Linh chirped in a very giddy fashion, her eyes sparkled in awe. "You're a Guardian from another world everyone's been speaking of! Sister, she's a Guardian! There's real "foreign" Guardian in front of us!"
Irma smiled. Apparently, she now has another fan. "Glad to help," Irma smiled, but then frowned and turned her attention back at Nga. "But who did this to you?"
Nga's expression darkened. Irma could feel the chill and anger radiating from them. Linh clung to her sister as if still haunted by the experience.
"A boy around your age, it appeared," Nga began. "He's from the Eastern Air Kingdom of Nihon," And with that, Linh and Nga recounted of their horrific ordeals. Once they were done, Irma's mouth fell opened.
"Kenji?! As in Kimi's cousin?" Irma blurted. She knew she shouldn't be surprised at this revelation. Ever since meeting him, Irma really detested the young man. There was something about him that makes her skin crawl. Kimi had said he was jealous because he wanted the power and the glory of being a Guardian for years, but Irma had the feeling it ran deeper than that. From what the mermaids had told her, Irma sensed Kenji has been plotting something big and they had been fools for not minding him any attention.
Irma's fists clenched. "When I get my hands on that snake, I am going to wipe that smug off his face!"
Nga nodded, welcoming the disdain. "Be wary of him, Guardian. With the dark magic aided by my tears, Kenji is now as powerful as any Guardian. Heed my words: this is not the end of his thirst for power."
Irma got up and glanced at the mouth of the cave that leads to the outside. "How far are we from Huế? I really need to get back there and help my friends before it's too late."
"Not far," Linh chirped up. "You can see it in the distance once you step out of this cave."
"It's about a hundred kilometer from here towards the south," Nga said.
"Guess I'm making a dramatic entrance by teletransporting," Irma shrugged.
Nga stood up on her human legs and placed her hand on Irma. "Wait, Irma. Take this with you." She placed something in Irma's hand. Irma glanced down to see a pearl.
"Kenji didn't get all of my tears. It dropped near Linh while he was trying to harvest the rest from me," Nga said. "May it serve you well in your battle against the Darkness."
Irma smiled and clenched the pearl tight within her hand. She wanted to say more to these two but then realized it wasn't necessary. Nga and Linh knew that Irma and her friends would do what they can to save Lusteria.
"Thank you," Irma said simply. And with that, she disappeared in a flashing light, ready to save her friends, Annam, and even Zhu Que from his own inner demon.
To be continued…
Author's note: Sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I got a new job recently and my life is very busy. I don't have a lot of free time as I used to, so finding the time to write is getting harder. Plus, I re-wrote this chapter five times! I have never been so frustrated! Originally, this arc was supposed to be only three parts like all the other chapters before. The next thing I knew, it grew into four parts…then five…and now, once again, it's going to be six. Yes, it was supposed to be shorter than this, but I felt that Irma's ordeal is vital and couldn't be shorten into just two to three pages. So it looks like the final showdown will be in the next chapter. Yes, I'm still writing if you're wondering. I don't intend to let this chapter hanging, no matter how busy I get with life Just bear with me and I promise that it will be worth it.
Cultural reference: Chang-Jiang is the name of the Red River in Chinese. Another name for it is the Yangtze River, but I like the fuller name better.
Altermere...if you've read the second saga of the W.I.T.C.H. comics or have seen season 2 of the animated adaptation, you should remember what this shape-shifting creature is.
Story Trivia: Originally, Irma's meeting with the Red Dragon was to be like Will and Cornelia with theirs, but I wanted it to be different this time.