Ice against Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own Shadow of Destiny or any of its characters

To say I was tired was the understatement of the year. Every step I took it seemed a ton of lead was attached to my feet; my body was stiff and my head ached. To add to my hardships the floor on this new area looked like a soft jelly. It was hard to maintain balance walking on this gelatinous ground. Homunculus seemed to had a hard time with this situation either.

"At this rate will take a year before we can reach whatever is ahead", I said ruefully.

"Patience is a great virtue", he smirked.

"Which we don't need at the moment. We have a deadline, remember?"

"Yes and I believe we're very near our goal", he answered.

"We are close to the stone? I thought it would be hours before…"

"Closer to the completion of our task but not on the very end", he continued.

"That's so great!", I said in slight mock. "As if I wasn't tired enough", I mumbled to myself.

I chose that moment to almost trip on the uneven rock of the pavement. Wait, when the floor got solid? A while ago it was all slimy and… I didn't fall. I recovered my balance the last second and then I noticed with disgust a strange leaf embedded on my hair. A underwater plant must have stuck when I went in the water. How many times I wonder that I'll have to wash my hair until all this grime is rinsed? I had always been a little touchy about my hair. I could care less about clothes but hair was an essential to me. Perhaps because my grandfather really loved it. I don't know, really. My hair had this jet black color and it tended to look so shiny on daylight. Midnight sky, grandpa said once. But at this very moment the fact that I have tailbone length hair it's troublesome. Despite I had made a ponytail I was worried if it could get in my way on my fights. Nothing happened so far and cutting it wasn't an option. Ever. My unusual looks had made me popular with the boys and attracted the girl's jealousy when I was at college. You see, I have very pale skin, jet black hair and blue sea eyes. A striking combination I've been told. However, it usually attracted the kind of jerks only interested in gorgeous girls so they can look better to others. That's the real reason why I didn't care about getting involved with anyone in the first place. My love life was boring to be exactly. No excitement at all. I've never fall in love. Never kissed anyone either. To top it all I had my innocence, yet. People lose virginity at college, I suppose. That wasn't my case. Nobody perked my interest until now. Homunculus is different, although. How can I explain this? He's perfect, so impossibly handsome… How could I resist him? first guy I have a crush is not even human. Such beauty…he could make even the most handsome male model look like a hobo. Davi's Michelangelo incarnated, indeed.

"I don't think you're daydreaming about the journey. Are you, Clarice?"

I immediately stopped my ruminations and stared him over. I really hoped my face didn't betray my inner thoughts.

"No, it's nothing important. It's just that…"

I felt a sickness arising in my stomach. The world was getting blurred and my head was so heavy. Dizziness was taking me over.

"I think someone messed with the lights. It's blinking… odd", I said disoriented.

It was but a second and everything went black.

Homunculus POV

"I don't think you're daydreaming about the journey. Are you, Clarice?", I asked.

"No, it's nothing important. It's just that…", she stopped suddenly. "I think someone messed with the lights. It's blinking…odd…

The girl made a strange walking movement to her left and quite clumsily went down. What is wrong this time? Clarice is a nervous one, isn't she? Always complaining…I don't even know why she agreed to help me in the first place. It's not like she'll benefit from this. It's very dangerous, after all. I wonder what stunt she's trying to pull now; I'm not that clueless, my darling. She wasn't moving. I approached her still form and I realized ashamed that the girl had passed out.

"My, my. Humans sure are weak", I tried shaking her but still got no response. "Here I was thinking you're kidding with me and then you faint. What should I do with you?"

I tried to wake her once more but she was unresponsive. Those fights took a great deal of energy of her. Fortunately, she's safe and sound. At least I won't have the trouble to revive her.

"Now you can't stay where you are. This isn't a safe place to take a nap."

I looked her over and it seemed she wasn't going to recover consciousness so soon. I must take her to a hidden place but how am I going to do this? Last time I carried someone it totally exhausted me and that's because it was a baby. I think an adult would be ten times more difficult to carry. I'm out of options.

What a predicament I had involved myself! I didn't think such a petite woman could cause this trouble. All the times she could have fainted she chose to do so now.

"So strong and so fragile at the same time. A walking contradiction it seems". I touched her forehead and the temperature looked normal. What a smooth skin she has. So pliant, so pleasant to touch, I thought. My hand went on their accord to her luscious lips and I traced her jaw line with my fingertips . I caught myself doing this often lately. I can't help but feel the irresistible pull to touch her anytime I have the chance. I wonder why that is happening. Never I had the opportunity to stay this close to a master. They always made their stupid wishes as fast as lightning and then all I did was wait for their demise to collect my reward. But this time it's been quite different. Well, I suppose I didn't wish to touch them anyway, either. Maybe her magic is drawing me to her. What else could it be? Or it's something quite different, altogether.

I stared her over and tried to find an answer. Well, she really is a master piece. I've never laid eyes on someone so beautiful. She's mesmerizing, no doubt about that. I recalled the strange incident with the food from earlier. That unnerved me very much. What she was trying to accomplish with that? It wasn't fascinating to see humans eating, really. But the way she ate that sandwich…I just couldn't take my eyes of her mouth and strangely enough it looked she was doing it on purpose. I felt an odd burning in myself and a strange impulse had surged on my system that moment. I can't describe what I felt exactly because it was a strange and unknown feeling to me; all I know is that I did a great effort to control myself. This is very confusing to me. With lucky I'll try to sort this out after my job here is complete. I can't hardly wait to put my hands on it. Invulnerability, at last.

That reminded me of my current situation and that I was in a tight spot. "Better try it now. Perhaps it won't be that tiresome, after all", I reassured myself.

I put my arms around her and lifted her off the ground. She wasn't heavy but I wasn't that strong, too. It took mere seconds before I had to give up and I sat down with her in my arms. She was sitting on my lap and I had my back to some kind of wall. I couldn't carry her like I originally planned so the best I could do was plant a barrier to protection around us. I don't think she would be happy to wake in this position and I was stuck since this futile attempt. She was resting her head against my chest and I noticed how soothing her breath was to me. I must be getting soft. Nevertheless, I was too tired to make any move.

End of Homunculus POV

It's so warm here. I don't to wake up now. When I opened my eyes I felt strange. It seemed I had the most pleasant dream ever and what a nice and warm pillow, too. Hold on a second. I don't remember fainting on pillows. That moment I noticed the pillow had beautiful red eyes and actually it wasn't a pi… It was just Homunculus chest and… I stood up in a hurry and the words got stuck on my mouth. Was I sitting on his lap? When did he…

"I'm sorry. I thought I was crushing you. Anyway…", I hesitated. "What happened and more importantly what you were doing to me?", I actually said that. I think I got braver since I saw the compromising position I awoke to.

"You passed out", he said calmly. "I tried to carry you to somewhere safer but… it seems I wasn't strong enough to do so. I had to give up my attempt. This really exhausted me and then I couldn't do anything. Unless you preferred I had left you on the stone cold floor…", he continued.

On a closer inspection it seemed he was somewhat in pain due to his effort. That must meant a herculean task for him, I thought.

"You didn't have to", I said apologetically. "You could get hurt you know… but I appreciate it anyway."

" No need to be gloomy now, Clarice. I need to rest for a while and then we are going to hurry up. I don't think we have much time left."

"What do you mean? I thought only a couple of hours had passed!"

"Time acts different inside this place. I believe we have more six hours left", he replied.

"This can't be! How do you know? I don't see any clock around and…"

He pointed his hand toward the ceiling and that instant I noticed the picture of the fading sun above me. Inscribed on it was the roman number VI; how didn't I see it before? This place had eluded me many times already.

"I will carry you if you can't walk. We must go right now. I don't know how far we are from the stone", I said.

"It won't do us any good to resume now. I must rest and who knows if my powers will be needed along the way? If something were to happen I can't do much in this state. We would be risking ourselves", he prompted.

I had no choice but wait for a quick recovery. I sat down Indian style and my sword chose that moment to vibrate. I unsheathed it and took a closer look; it appeared to be trying to convey some message to me. What could it be? I looked to the sword and then to Homunculus and a semblance of an idea started to form on my mind.

I stood up and caught the sword on both hands.

"Lend me your powers so I can keep going on this journey", I spoke aloud.

The tip of the blade gleamed and a faint glow poured out. A green ray enveloped him and faded seconds after. Homunculus stood up and looked at me with a stunned expression.

"Are you feeling better?", I asked expectantly.

"How did you… it's impressive. You can use magic like I thought", he spoke. "I feel like I had many centuries of vitality restored to me."

"That's new to me. Not comfortable doing this , though. I prefer the physical part of action. I leave the magic stuff to you."

"That's quite alright. I think we had few time than before to accomplish our task", he interrupted.

"Can you run? I think we should try a faster pace", I continued.

"Perhaps. But you should lead the way."

"I really feel things are getting better or it's only my optimism talking", I said.

I regretted speaking those words moments after I saw the surprise ahead.

"I take back what I said", I sighed.

Before us was the greatest river I've put my eyes on until now. This one resembled a colossus in its form when compared to the previous lake I'd swan. No. Correction, it looked more of a sea and my earlier adventure on the pond paled in comparison to this. Except this moment I had a major problem to deal with. The huge river wasn't filled with normal, clear blue and pretty water. Its component was far hotter. I was before a tank of scorching lava. I wouldn't be able to enter into this time. Things had had a turn for the worse.

"I don't think I could swim this time. We are trapped, I guess."

"Now, now where is the fierce determination from before. I think I've told that hesitation and indecision can get you killed in this place", he commented dryly.

"I don't know. I-It's practically impossible to reach the other side because of the fire", I said and approached the ledge which was the shore of this place. I gazed underneath and I could feel the immeasurable heat radiating of the flame sea. It couldn't be done. Seemed like a dead end to me. Unless I had wings to fly across it I didn't think we would get through this.

Do not let fear and despair overcome you, my liege. Thou must use my steel to grant thy passage through the sea of false flames. See what's beyond thee and the fire shall be shallow.

What was that? I peered at the sword and held it. It spoke to me. What am I supposed to do, then? Please show me the way once more.

The blade made a pierce sound and pulled me in the river's direction. I tried to resist it but it possessed far more strength than I'd imagined. The next sequence of events happened in a blink of an eye. A strange thought crossed my mind in a flash. Hit the river. And so I did. The blade made contact with the molten lava and instantly the river went hard. The sea of flames had become stone solid. The surface became an appallingly white color.

"It's ice", I remarked. I jumped onto the river's surface and immediately I thought I was going to lose my balance on its slippery ground. Thing is the surface wasn't slippery; it looked like ice and the same time it wasn't. I couldn't even feel cold emanating of it. The sword said it was false. Does it mean that was all a illusion? The fire seemed real enough, though.

"We can make it. We can cross the river now!", I exclaimed. "Unless, it breaks I think. It certainly doesn't look like ice, however." Illusion. "The river doesn't exist at all… I think I understand", I murmured.

"You lost me there for a second. Care to explain that, Clarice?", he asked.

"Well, first I don't think this river is real. It's in our minds only", I continued. He looked perplexed, although. "This place plays with our fears. It makes things out of our despair. I believe it can sense our limitations and explore our weaknesses. So the moment I thought of the river as an illusion it became one. I believed I could overpower it and then the ice appeared. However… I don't believe this is a general rule for this place. Only this time I think it planned to attack using a illusion. The other trials were real and everything from now on should be. I'm much sure", I answered.

"Such progress in such short time. I think the other alchemists would be awed. No wonder this place is restless with your presence", he added.

I blushed as always. I was going to retort his comment when I felt a warmth coming of the sword. I held it with both hands and the blade changed its color suddenly to a deep red. Smoke seeped from the sword but I could feel nothing but a dull heat. It wasn't going to burn. At least I don't think it's going to burn me. If something gets in the way, however…

There was this moment of silence and a strange clanking sound ruptured it abruptly. I looked at my surroundings only to discover the source of the eerie noise and when my eyes met its maker… All I could do was gape. There was a massive armor slowly making its way towards me. Upon a closer inspection I noticed there was a warrior wearing it. The huge armor seemed to be made of pure ice and it was radiating a chilling bone cold out of it. When the odd fighter was only six feet distant of me it came to a sudden stop and just then I could discern the huge ice sword it wielded.

"Golem, an artificial made form of life. It's quite dangerous", he teletransported to the ledge far back.

I sensed a cold air touch my shoulder only to turn and see that the enormous ice blade was descending onto me. I barely dodged it and the sword slashed the ground instead of myself. The hit made a crater appear on the floor where I was seconds before. However, the worst was that the hole had turned ice. I felt my arm getting colder and I realized it had a tiny speck of ice cover. I brushed off the ice but it was weird yet. That sword can freeze me. If he hits me with that thing I'm over. Got to made a plan and quick.

I slashed at its arm and surprisingly the thing had melted away. I never thought it would be so easy. The warrior looked at his melted arm confused. The fire of my sword had done a good job destroying the monster's arm. I'm going to win swiftly. He's no match for my sword, the ice cube. It's fire against ice and you have no chance.

My victory was short ended. There was a gurgling sound and something resembling an arm had reformed out of his torso. Its members regenerate themselves. It's like a bizarre kind of reptile.

He came like a blurring image on my direction. The only thing I could see was the faint line of a sword moving in a flash. Then a cold breeze swept through me and feet got stuck in something. The warrior was standing behind me and he made a strange noise that reminded of a chuckle. I glared at him and tried to stand but my feet didn't obey me. I looked it over and I noticed with growing horror my feet was wrapped in a thick cover made of ice. I was trapped. I couldn't use my blade to free me because I would risk losing my feet. I was the mouse and he the cat right now.

"Get away from it!", Homunculus shouted. "Move your sword".

"I can't and I'm not your digimon, you know", I retorted sarcastically.

I suppose sarcasm was the only thing left for me at the moment. I couldn't move. All I had to do was to wait for the final blow…

A beam of light passed above the creature's head and it came directly over my trapped feet. The ice covering it melted instantaneously and I could stand. I got in a upright position quickly and put some distance between me and the monster. I gazed at the ledge and mouthed a silent thank you to my savior. He seemed to have an unidentified emotion on his eyes; something akin to concern. I think he was mad because he couldn't help me directly. Did he care? The monster was fuming in anger to see his attempt thwarted. He came full force against me. I parried his blow with my sword at the last moment and the shock between our blades made the ground shake. I could feel the intense cold air trying to freeze me and it was getting worse by the moment. The creature's armor was melting in some places and it looked nearly like a water warrior. It couldn't continue. I was ice cold, my arms were numb from the cold and breathing was getting almost impossible. The monster wasn't going down, either. No matter how fierce the fire coming out from the sword; that thing couldn't possibly be melted. I wonder if he can be defeated. He is what… Now I remember Homunculus referred to him as a Golem. If I can recall correctly my grandfather told me a story about one, once. What was the story about? I remember it said something about how to destroy this thing…Why I can't remember?

I pulled my sword out of the creature's way and retreated many steps back. I did this so fast that the monster looked at me puzzled. I had to think and quickly. A robot, now I know. He is similar to a robot so he must have an on off button somewhere. But where?

The warrior seemed to be readying his sword for something and the atmosphere appeared to getting colder. I made my decision that moment and ran towards him. This was all done in a split second and it was so fast I don't think the monster had time to realize what was happening. I stood before him and he seemed to analyze me for a moment. I glanced at his arm and noticed a strange tattoo. I reached to the word inscribed at his arm and he made a sudden movement as if trying to stop me. I held his arm and my fingers brushed the tattoo on it. The word had a part of it vanished and as I pulled my hand away I could see a bit of melted ink on my head. The creature was becoming transparent and it did something that shocked me. It kneeled to me. I bow to your skills, warrior. Go ahead and take your prize.

His words seemed to echo inside my head. Then the skilled fighter disintegrated in a million pieces and only the melting armor remained. It's just like in the Golem's story. I can't help but feel sorry for him.

"Good job, Clarice."

"I thought I was done for. Thanks, Homunculus".

"Don't mention it. Now I believe you have a more urgent matter to attend to. The next chamber has the reason why you came all the way here", he gestured to the immense golden door near me. It wasn't there moments ago. This was the moment I've been waiting for, wasn't it? Then why did a feel a loss at words? That moment my eyes met his. Ice met fire. It dawned on me why I was here. It's for you. I went through all this because of you.

He approached myself and whispered to my ear.

"Let's go to fulfill your promise".

"When you get stronger maybe our roles will be reversed. You could be the knight in shining armor and I…", I stopped.

"You could be what you already are, a heroine", he passed ahead of me and touched the door. He couldn't move an inch of it, although.

I smiled inwardly and stared at his eyes and at that moment I felt perhaps he could be the fire to melt this ice inside of me. My purpose seemed to be clearer and something really melted inside of me; he was becoming my greatest weakness and also my best strength.