Chapter 21: End War Part 2
Colossal. That was the only word capable of describing the size of the dragon Pride had become. Coal black, armor like scales ran down the length of its neck, back, limbs and tail and its underbelly was shining silver. Two rows of spines ran down its back from the tip of its tail to the connection of its head and neck. Its massive wings were muscular, coal black with silver skin membranes stretched from the tip of the wing to its back. The skin on its head seemed to be thick like armor, jutting out into three spines in the back and a small (in proportion to itself) horn above its nostrils. Its hideous yellow eyes still used the Sins insignia, the seven pointed star, as pupils. And, to top things off, seven shining red orbs were embedded into its head in a vertical row between its eyes… It was the Sin Dragon.
"Rai…" Kimiko choked, snapping the Brazilian boy who was cradling her in his arms out of his trance.
"Kimiko… are you all right?" Rai asked, kneeling down and setting her on the ground.
"I told you her internal injuries were severe." Wuya reiterated. "She probably won't last much longer."
"Don't talk like that!" Julia snapped, smacking her on the back of her head.
"Why bother avoiding the truth?" Wuya questioned nonchalantly. "In all honesty, she only made things worse for us. Look at what we have to face now. Any idea on how to kill this thing when all seven Virtues couldn't do it?"
"She said shut it!" Elena snapped, mimicking her girlfriend's earlier action.
Kimiko smiled weakly as Rai gently placed his hand on her cheek. "Jess told me… about what she did." She said
"Kim, I…" he stopped when he saw the look in her eyes.
"We're going to… have a long talk about that… the next time I see you." She said.
Rai knew what she meant. "Kim, don't talk like that!" he pleaded. "You're going to be fine! I'll make sure of it."
Kimiko giggled weakly and shook her head as best she could. "Same old Rai… you don't… listen…" She fell limp, her breathing faint but still there.
"Kimiko! Kimiko, no!" Rai pleaded, tears running down his cheeks as he watched the color fade from her face. Rai lowered his head and, for the first time in as long as he could remember, started to sob. "No, damn it! This can't be happening!"
Everyone watched as Rai cried for his lost love, each reacting differently. Omi and Mimi clutched each others hands and squeeze tightly. Clay, still cradling the injured Saya in his arms, hugged her as tightly as he could without hurting her broken ribs. Saya just started to cry. Julia and Elena knelt down next to Rai and tried to comfort him, but to no avail. Jack and Nina just watched, knowing, or at least almost knowing, how he felt. Dojo wiped the tears out of his eyes. Even the three villains, Chase, Hannibal, and Wuya, felt some sympathy for Rai then.
"I thought yer ribs were broken, Saya." Clay said. "Doesn't it hurt to cry like that?"
"It's nothing compared to what he's going through right now." Saya said.
It will be all right…
Rai lifted his head and looked over his shoulder after hearing Rush's voice again. They stood just on the other side of the land fragment, just as they'd been before they died only shining with golden skin, clothes and hair. Rush and Raven's spirits made their way over to Rai. Raven moved her hand over Saya's stomach as she passed her, magically healing the blond girl's ribs. She then knelt down on the other side of Kimiko and placed her hand on the Japanese girl's forehead, looking at Rai.
Go. She'll be fine.
Against his better judgment, Rai stood and turned to face Rush who was staring at him with a mischievous smirk. Ready to end this once and for all? Rush's spirit asked. It was all Rai could do to nod. Rush's spirit laughed and nodded back extending one hand. Hovering just above his palm was a shining purple seal. The outline of a diamond with the top cut off, a dot in the center, and two lines jutting out from the top sides.
"No." Wuya said softly. "He's not thinking…"
Without a second thought Rai took the seal from Rush, clenching it in his fist. Instantly the identical seal burning into his back began to shine and he was lifted into the air. He body began to glow bright white and he absorbed Rush's part of the seal into him.
"This is not good." Wuya said.
"How so?" Hannibal asked.
"The Seal of Thanatos was split for a reason. Pride himself couldn't even bring himself to wield it as a whole. There are no limitations to what could happen if this screws up even slightly."
Chance just chuckled. "Then let us pray that the boy knows what he's doing."
With another blinding white flash Rai's transformation was complete. It was similar to his previous uses of the seal, only now his wings were snow white, his sword was solid gold with glowing white etchings in it, and his eyes now glowed bright white. He slowly fell back to the ground, landing softly next to Kimiko and kneeling down next to her. "Don't you die on me." he said, kissing her forehead before turning back to Rush. "If this doesn't work… I'm kicking your ass in the after life." He joked.
Rush just laughed. We'll see about that. He said. Now go get him.
Rai turned to the others. "Enjoy the show!" he laughed before flapping his wings and taking off to battle the dragon.
"Do not fail us, Raimundo." Omi said quietly.
Rai flew out to battle the dragon with amazing speed, slashing through oncoming land fragments with his sword and easily avoiding oncoming jets of black fire from the beast. At the last second, a land fragment moved in front of the Sin Dragon, but Rai easily hacked it in half and then landed on the beasts head, digging his fingers into its head around the first of the red orbs quickly and plucking it from the dragons head. He took off again, flying straight back behind it before tossing the orb into the air and shattering it with his sword. "One down… six to go." He said.
At that moment the dragon's tail swung up, slamming directly into Rai and knocking him out of flight, the spines digging into his skin. Rai plummeted for only a few seconds before his wings took to the air again and he went back for more. The Sin Dragon swung around and slashed at him with one of its claws. Rai maneuvered around it and flew up to its neck, dragging his sword across the underside, leaving a ridiculously long though superficial cut. As he flew in front of its face the dragon let out a jet of flames. Rai flapped his wings to postpone them long enough to get out of the way and then went for the orbs again. This time he didn't bother grabbing one, instead just jabbing his blade at one, shattering it while still in the monsters head. The dragon roared and flung its head up, knocking Rai away again. This time Rai couldn't take flight fast enough to react and the tail hit him again, launching him back towards the head.
As Rai plummeted before the Sin dragon it caught him in one claw, bringing him close to its face as it took in a deep breath, preparing for another blast of fire. Rai broke free at the last second, hacking off the claw and flying for the head again. He took out another one of the orbs and managed to avoid falling into the same trap as last time.
Rai could tell that the Sin dragon was weakening. With each orb he destroyed its attacks got weaker. Once he got rid of the first six the last wouldn't be a challenge at all!
Rai avoided the dragons snapping jaw and went to destroy another orb. This time he landed and pulled it from the head, shattering it after tossing it into the air again. He remained on the beast and slid down its back while standing. As he reached the wings he took flight again, planning to do some damage to the membranes that kept the monster aloft. But before he could it swung around again, snapping its jaw at him. It then flapped its wings powerfully, sending a gust of wind that caused Rai to fly back half way between the dragon and the land fragment where the others stood. He landed on a small rock and jumped off it, launching himself at the dragon with amazing speed. It tried blasting him with fire, but Rai simply slashed through them with his sword. He landed on its head again, stabbing at one orb while he shattered another with his fist.
The Sin Dragon knew it was losing this battle, but planned to go down fighting. It tossed its head around, throwing Rai off of it and then snatched him up in its remaining front claw, tightening its grip so that he couldn't use his sword this time. This time Rai didn't know how to escape. His wings were being crushed, his sword was all but useless at the moment, and the beast was determined to crush the breath out of him.
The next thing he knew, just as the dragon was about to incinerate him with a breath of black flames, Hannibal appeared out of nowhere in his suit of armor and caught the dragon with an uppercut. Then Wuya appeared nearby and used her magic to catch the dragon's eyes in green flames, hopefully blinding it. And last, Chase appeared in his reptilian form and used his talons to hack the its claw off, freeing Rai. "Go! There are only two left!" Chase urged.
Rai quickly took flight again, going straight for the beast's head as the other three distracted it. He shattered one with his golden sword as he flew over top and then went back and landed on it, shouting as he stabbed his blade into the final orb.
The Sin Dragon roared as its body erupted in a black light. Wuya grabbed Rai's arm and they, along with Hannibal and Chase, teleported back to the others as its body was destroyed, vanishing in a flash of darkness.
Back on the land fragment where the others waited, they watched as the dragon was destroyed. As Raven's spirit finished healing Kim, she and Rush vanished and at the last second Kimiko's eyes snapped open and she gasped, sitting up as it disappeared into chaos. "Is it over?" she gasped.
"Looks like it." Clay said.
Rai, Chase, Hannibal, and Wuya reappeared. "Let's hear it for the big hero." Wuya said sarcastically.
Rai immediately rushed over to Kimiko and pulled her into a tight hug, unaware that he'd reverted to normal and the seal on his back had faded away. "Kimiko! Thank god you're all right!" he said.
Kimiko just laughed as she started to cry. "I'm sure you had something to do with it too, sweetie."
As everyone gathered to celebrate their victory, they were completely unaware that they were being watched. Two figures stood at the far end of the land fragment, no more than shadows but still there, still watching… the Seal of Thanatos appeared on one of their foreheads.
So, with the death of one monster comes with birth of many more. The first figure said to the other. Count yourself luck I need you for my plans… no go wait for my call… I shall finish here.
As you wish. Said the one with the seal on its forehead, vanishing as it spoke. With that, the first figure opened a portal and vanished.
"Hey, look!" Julia said. "A portal opened! Looks like we did it!"
"Yeah." Omi agreed. "Let's head home."
Chase was the first to pass through, not wanting to remain in this realm any longer. He was quickly followed by Hannibal and Wuya. Dojo grew to his flying size, having Nina, Julia, and Elena help Jack onto his back and then he flew the four of them through the portal as well. Omi and Mimi both dashed for the portal with Clay, Saya, Rai, and Kim following after quickly. Mimi passed through without a problem…
And then it vanished before the last five could make it through.
"None of you are leaving until my brother is truly gone."
A purple haze suddenly materialized on the ground around the five dragons and a woman rose from it where the portal had been. She was tall, slender, and curvy with long flowing blond hair. She wore a long purple skirt with a golden hem, slit along one side to expose one leg, and what looked like a purple poncho with a golden dragon design, which hung off of one shoulder, exposing some of the opposite arm and some cleavage. She also wore a blindfold, like Pride used to. "You may have destroyed the Seven Deadly Sins, but the body they once inhabited still lives."
"Purple and gold." Saya said softly. "The colors of royalty."
"What do you mean?" Kimiko demanded. "Pride's body fell into the abyss. I made sure of it!"
The woman simply chuckled. "Foolish girl. You caused more harm than good when you did that. The Sins' acted as an anchor; preventing my brother from unleashing his true potential… you're in for one wild ride."
"And who are you to say that?" Clay questioned.
The woman chuckled again. "I've had many names over the ages… the Alchemist, the Black Mage, the Succubus… But I've grown accustomed to one title in particular." As she spoke her body began to fade into the haze around her feet. "They call me… Lilith." And she faded away, and all was quiet.
"What do we do now?" Omi questioned.
"NOW ALL YOU DIE!"
A ring of fire blazed up around the edges of the land fragment, trapping them there at Pride slowly phased into view on the other side. His eyes glowed blood red, his hair seemed wet and matted against his face, his shirt and sash were gone and his pants were torn and tattered, and his body was surrounded by a pulsing black aura. "I thank you for relieving me from my restraints, but you have caused me enough annoyance. I believe that you're usefulness is long passed due."
"We'll see about that." Rai said.
Omi was the first to move. He waved one hand before him and a path of ice appeared between him and Pride. He started racing at him, waiting until the last second to wave his other hand, sending a barrage of ice spears at him. A wall of energy appeared before the demonic man which absorbed Omi's attack, sending it back at him. Kimiko and Saya jumped in front of Omi, Kimiko blocking the ice spears with a wall of fire and Saya sending bolts of Lightning at Pride, all three jumping back as Pride caught the lightning in his hand. He threw the bolts back at them, but Clay got in the way and pulled a wall of rock out of the ground, blocking the lightning and then kicking it, sending it skidding across the ground straight at Pride. Pride simply knocked the wall away and then charged at them, gliding over the ground. But before he had moved much at all Rai got in his way, planning to blast him with and intense gust of wind. Before he could, though, Pride punched him across the face and then knocked him away. Rai landed on his hands and then flipped onto his feet, sending waves of intense wind at him. Kim ran to his side and added her fire to his attack.
Pride took the attack head on but emerged unharmed, other than some singed arm hair. "My turn." He muttered, clapping his hands together in their direction. A ring of fire appeared around them and scattered out in all directions. Omi quickly circled around it, a wall of water emerging in his whack which extinguished the flames. The short monk skidded to a halt and sent more ice at Pride. This time he managed to deflect most of them, but a couple caught his arm, causing superficial scratches. Before he could retaliate walls of rock and earth rose up around him, leaving only one opening at the top. Saya and Clay stood atop. Clay only tipped his hat as Saya send powerful lightning bolts down into the rock walls. The walls shattered at the attack struck Pride, causing a cloud of dust to rise up.
They all waited for the dust to clear, watching as Pride became visible through the smog, standing in a wide circle around him. Pride still stood, weakened by the attack and barely able to move at the moment, but still alive. "Foolish children." Pride laughed. "I am immortal!"
"We'll see about that." Omi growled. "Let's end this, everyone! Water Style: Waves of Sono Mizu Kami!" Chi energy went pulsing through his body, surging out of him and forming a tidal wave of energy which went crashing towards Pride.
"Fire Style: Flames of Sono Kasai Nisou!" Kimiko shouted, releasing blast of energy like a flame thrower at Pride.
"Earth Style: Stones of Sono Tsuchi Rurousha!" Clay shouted, unleashing his energy like a rock slide.
"Wind Style: Gale of Sono Kaze Touzuko!" Rai shouted, unleashing gales of energy.
"Lightning Style: Bolts of Sono Denkou Kisaki!" Saya shouted, sending bolts of energy at Pride.
The demonic man took each attack one after another, each chipping away at this power until it was gone. As the last of the attacks faded, Pride's body erupted in a blinding white light as he roared in rage and defeat. One moment he was there, and the next everything had disappeared into the light.
~LATER~
"Omi… wake up, Shorty."
Omi groaned as he forced his eyes open, pleased to see his favorite French red head kneeling over him. "Mimi…" he said, sitting up. "Did we do it? Is everything back to normal?"
Mimi smiled and kissed his forehead. "Yeah. Everything's fine now." she said. "Other than that gigantic pimple on your neck."
"What?" Omi demanded.
"Kidding, kidding!" Mimi laughed. "It's just your head."
"Not… funny…" Omi grumbled.
It wasn't long after that when Rai, Kim, Clay, and Saya were awake as well. They were at the temple ruins again. Jack, Nina, Chase, Wuya, Hannibal, Julia, Elena and Dojo were there as well. The sun was just starting to rise. "And so begins a brand new day." Chase said, turning to the others. "I leave you with my word, monks. The world has seen enough chaos as of late. I give my word that for five years time, I will not show my face again. But the second those five years are up… expect to be in for the fight of your lives."
"Bring it." Rai said. "Nothing could be worse than what we just went through." Chase nodded and backed away, disappearing into the jungle.
"I make no vow of peace." Hannibal said. "But I need time to recuperate… you will see me again as well." With that the Yin-Yang bird swooped down and grabbed Hannibal with its talons, taking him back into the Yin-Yang World.
"And what about you, Wuya?" Clay asked.
Wuya just stood there, watching the sun rise for a moment before giving a half-assed waved and disappearing into a blaze of green fire.
Jack and Nina were next to leave, Jack summoning his jet with a remote control. They climbed into the cockpit and, due to jack's weakened condition, Nina took the controls as they flew off.
"So… what now?" Elena asked.
"The temple's still burned down… Master Fung is gone… there's really nothing we can do." Julia said.
"Not necessarily." Omi said.
"What do you mean?" Dojo questioned.
Omi paused, trying to choose the best possible words for what he was about to say. "We've been the guardians of this world for who knows how long, and we've just saved it from certain doom… again. I say we deserve a vacation… and a long one at that."
"What are you saying, Omi?" Kimiko asked.
"Raimundo, Kimiko, Clay, Mimi, Julia, Elena… I want you to go back you your homes… go have a normal life for as long as you can." To his surprise, no one argued, but there was an awkward silence.
"You know what, Omi's right." Rai agreed. "Let's go home, see our families… be normal for the first time in a couple years."
"But what about Omi and Saya?" Julia asked. "They've got nowhere to go."
"Hey, I survived as a drifter for more than seven years before any of you even knew I existed." Saya said. "And Omi's not wimp. I'm sure we can survive on our own for a while."
"Well, it's settled then." Omi said. "Dojo, take them home."
"Whatever you say, kids." The dragon agreed, growing to his flying size. Clay and Saya kissed one last time before Clay jumped onto Dojo's back, as did Mimi and Omi. Julia, Elena, Rai and Kim climbed on after them.
"Let's just promise that we'll keep in contact." Mimi suggested. Everyone happily agreed.
Omi and Saya waved goodbye as Dojo took off. "First stop, Sydney, Australia!" the dragon announced.
"Actually, no." Julia corrected. "My family lives in Barcelona now, remember. Dojo just shrugged and changed course, heading for Tokyo first instead.
"So, what do we do now?" Omi asked his older sister.
Saya thought about it for a moment, running her fingers through her hair. "Wanna go to Tibet?" she asked. "The monks around there know how to throw one wild party… trust me, I spend a lot of time where on my travels."
"Sounds like a plan." Omi agreed, bumping fists with his sister before they ran off into the jungle. "Slow down!" Omi shouted. "Your legs are longer than mine!"
(a/n) there you have it. that's the end... other than the two epilogue chapters I have planned, coming soon. now, as you may have noticed, I have set this up for a fourth installment. however, I cant decide if i want to do a fourth or now, so heres the deal: I have a pole about this on my profile. go there and vote if you want a 4th installent of this series or not. its up to you, but either way it will be quite a while before I even start. also, for those of you who dont remember, the attacks that the monks used to kill Pride where from the scrolls Omi found in the temple library in Seven Sins. well, thats it. I hope you look forward to the epilogue.