A crosswind blew, sending the waves below Soshi into a raging fury. He paid them no heed as he flew toward the distant storm cloud swirling in the night sky. But no matter how long Soshi flew, the cloud still seemed to linger at the exact same spot in the sky. Undeterred, he pressed on. He was Plit's last hope. Clutching the Emerald in his hand and the Ruby in his mouth, the Sky Yoshi tried his best not to think about his injuries.
"First things first." He thought to himself again. Fueled only his rage and righteous fury, the dragon never wavered from his destination. The dark cloud was now beginning to spread outwards in all directions, but Soshi kept a close eye on the precise center of the cloud-the focal point, his destination. As the clouds started to pass overhead, Soshi knew there was no turning back.
There was a noticeable drop in temperature as the cloud took Soshi in its growing land. Rain started washing down from the sky in sheets, obscuring Soshi's vision. The winds raged even faster than before, bringing Soshi to start shivering mid-flight. At last, the focal point began to draw nearer, and Soshi could see clearly what it was focused over. A white limestone building with a red roof, and a stained glass picture of Princess Peach on the front. The flags on top of the castle were already torn off, and the strong winds threatened to do the same to the castle itself.
Alighting on the castle's bridge, Soshi proceeded forward toward the castle's front door. Safely out of the pouring rain and high winds, Soshi flapped his drenched wings, and shivered all over. He was thoroughly soaked and exhausted and just wanted this entire nightmare to be over. Soshi gripped the knob and that same unmistakable eerie feeling shot up him. Koujin was near. As he carefully opened the door, all he could see was pure darkness. He bravely marched in, ready to confront Koujin once and for all, and to save the one he held dear.
The door slammed shut behind Soshi, and an audible click was heard as it locked. No big deal. He really didn't think he'd be getting out of this one anyway. Alone in the dark once again, Soshi waited for his nemesis to show himself.
"I really didn't think you'd dare to come." Koujin cackled.
"Cut the bullcrap, Koujin. Just stop being a coward and fight me already!"
"Oh." Koujin mockingly sounded hurt. "So soon after our last encounter? And not even a 'hello' or a 'how are you?' You certainly haven't learned any manners, have you?"
"Don't listen to him, Soshi. He's playing with your head again." Soshi kept his anger and insanity in check.
"Perhaps you would be more polite to me if I simply turned on the light?" On these words, the hall illuminated and Soshi saw himself in the familiar interior of the castle. But there was one thing out of place. A single tile on the ceiling was loose. As Soshi approached it and craned his neck upwards, the tile cracked. The Sky Yoshi jumped back just in time as the tile and several others broke loose and crashed down into a heap of rubble on the ground.
As the dust cleared, Soshi saw his adversary standing tall. Yet there was another figure lying beside him, a small Koopa clad in a high-ranking military uniform. Her eyes were closed and she did not appear to be breathing.
"No…you didn't. You couldn't have…"
"Ha! It appears you are too late, Sky Dragon." Koujin laughed. "I really must thank you for giving me such a prime a easy target, especially when it is one so dear to your heart."
Soshi growled. This time Koujin had gone too far. "How far will you go to break me?"
"I believe I've already accomplished that. And with fantastic results." The Ice Lord chuckled evilly.
"You will pay for all the suffering you've caused. All these innocent lives, lost because of you! You won't leave here with your life, Koujin!" Soshi's rage grew as he brandished his two weapons.
"Yes, that's it. Let that rage consume you." Koujin said. "You know, Soshi, I see you're becoming more like me every day."
That struck a nerve inside Soshi's mind. "How DARE you compare myself to you!" Soshi screamed as he dashed toward Koujin, weapons charged. Koujin simply teleported out of the way, and punched Soshi square in the back. Soshi quickly turned around and there was no one there. Koujin blasted him in the back with his wand, temporarily paralyzing Soshi.
"You know Sky Dragon, if you had all three pieces of the treasure, you could have easily overtaken me by now. But you fell short and only came up with two. A costly mistake!" Koujin blasted Soshi against the far wall. Soshi limped on the, half-sitting, between the wall and the floor. Soshi knew he was right. He hadn't had time to search for the third treasure. He probably could have defeated Koujin if he had.
"It's just as well, really. You wouldn't have been able to obtain it anyway." Koujin leaned in close to Soshi's face, his red eyes the primary focus in the dragon's field of vision. "Would you like me to show you the third treasure, Soshi?" he whispered. Soshi just uttered a weak groan, a chilling combination of every injury he had received from Koujin.
The Ice Lord brought his wand up to his face, the many facets of the blue stone glistening off the light.
"I hold it in my hands right here. The Sentient Sapphire."