Chapter Eleven: Guardian Rescue: Water and Fire
Part 1
The Irma rescue party arrived teleported onto a beach area, who's sky was darkened by dark clouds. Nerissa then put the locator gem away in one of her side pouches. As they looked around the area, they instantly knew where they were, when they saw giant stone heads all around the area.
"We're on Easter Island!", Eric said looking around. "This job never gets boring."
"You can say that again!", Cassdiy said pointing towards something that caught her attention. "Look!"
The others turned to see that the crystal, holding Irma, was only about a hundred yards away from them, with a beam of energy shooting out from it, making more dark clouds. And as always, there were, Shadow Minions standing between them.
"Time to get to work, gang!", Eric said. "Star Shield!"
Eric's Star Shield appeared on in his right hand. He then tossed it at the Shadow Minions, taking out as many as he could.
"So we just call out our Star Weapons, and they appear?", Nerissa asked.
"That's about it!", Eric said as he caught his Star Shield as it came back to him. "Star Shield Wind Cutter!"
When he tossed it this time, a thing of wind surrounded it taking more minions out. Phobos took to the air, firing energy blast at the Shadow Minions, taking down rows of them. Mr. Huggles charged at the enemy, taking down as many as he could.
"It seems they are weakest against light energy!", Phobos confirmed firing some more energy blast. "We just may win this battle!"
"We have to win!", Eric said catching his weapon. "Or this whole area is done for!"
"Then let us press forward!", Phobos said taking out some more minions.
"Let's get in there, Rissa!", Cassidy said. "Star Trident!"
"Right behind you!", Nerissa said. "Star Whip-Blade!"
Cassidy then charged forward taking down as many Shadow Minions as she could thanks to all the training she had with the Bo staff, thanks to Joe and his father, forty years ago. Nerissa then whipped her Star Whip-Blade, making it extend, striking down many Shadow Minions. The more Shadow Minions they defeated, the closer they got to Irma. Soon, they were at the crystal, Irma was in. Eric was about to throw his Star Shield at it, when an arrow landed in the ground in front of him.
"What the.............", Eric said looking down at the arrow.
Everyone looked up in the direction where the arrow came from. They saw a woman, clad in dark armour, standing on top of one of the stone heads. She was a brunette with hazel eyes, with bow and arrows. She had a sinister grin on her face. As she pulled out another arrow from her quiver.
"I am Shade!", the woman said. "I am one of Shadon's Shadow Generals. You shall not take the Water Guardian!"
"We've heard that song and dance before!", Eric said. "And, we still were able to save two of the Guardians!"
"Maybe so.", Shade said. "But you've never faced a Shadow General like me!"
"Or me!", a voice from the left said.
Eric and the others turn to the left to see another Shade standing on another stone head.
"Twins?!", Cassidy questioned.
"I don't think so!", Phobos said as more showed up from all kinds of places. "I think she made copies of herself!"
"It seems that one of you as a good head on their shoulder.", Shade said as prepared to fire another arrow. "To bad, you all shall perish at my hands! So, let's start with you, Water Dragon Knight!"
Shade then fired her arrow at Cassidy. Phobos then blasted the arrow, destroying it.
"Thanks, Phobos.", Cassidy said gratefully.
"It was my pleasure, my lady.", Phobos said as he bowed towards her, floating in the air.
"So, you're Prince Phobos.", Shade said with a smirk. "So, the Shadow Specter was removed from you."
"From both us!", Nerissa yelled as she whipped her Star Whip-Blade at Shade, making it extend toward her.
Shade jumped off of the stone head before the extended blade could hit her.
"And you must be Nerissa.", Shade grinned as she landed in front of the crystal Irma wa trapped in. "Well, this is bad. For Meridian."
Minutes earlier................
The Taranee rescue party soon arrived in one of the caverns of Mount Etna. Luckily, there were only a few patches of lava pools in the area. Matt saw that he had enough room to fly around, which he was glad for. They then saw the the crystal shell Taranee was in. And as the norm, it was guarded by Shadow Minions.
"I take it those are the Shadow Minions.", Caleb said as he unsheathed his sword.
"Oh yeah.", Nigel said. "But that's not!"
The four warriors looked beyond the Shadow Minions to see a large muscular man with red hair, brown eyes, darkened skin, and metal gloves came walking up behind the Shadow Minions.
"Who the heck is that?!", Matt asked as he looked upon the large warrior.
"I am Shadow General Shada!", the General introduced himself. "And I shall be your destruction!"
"Blah, blah, blah! We've heard it all from your other two buddies.", Angelo said. "Star Blade!"
"And we've beaten them too!", Nigel added. "Star Fist!"
Both Dragon Knights, summoned their Star Weapons, ready for battle.
"Nice gear, man.", Matt said as he took to the air.
"You ain't seen nothing yet!", Nigel grinned as he jumped up towards the Shadow Minions. "Star Fist Buster!"
Nigel then came back to the ground, in the middle of the Shadow Minions, slamming his Star Fist into the ground.
"What the heck?!", Caleb and Matt questioned.
"Wait for it!", Angelo said with a smirk.
Once the Star Fist hit the ground, a shock wave of energy sent a good number of Shadow Minions flying in all kinds of directions! Most of them fell into the lava pool, while others hit the walls of the cavern.
"Nice!", Matt said as he blasted a group of them with his eye beams.
Angelo and Caleb jumped into battle slashing at the charging Shadow Minions. Nigel went smashing away at them with the intent of getting to Taranee as fast as he could. Seeing his chance, Shada tried to hit Nigel from behind with his right hand. Sensing the attack, Nigel turned and struck Shada's metal fist with his Star Fist. A shock wave was sent out upon the impact of the two's weapons.
"Not bad.", Shada said to Nigel with a smirk.
"Same to you.", Nigel said to Shada with a smirk of his own.
"But, unlike you, I have two metal fist!", Shada said as he swung his left fist towards Nigel's side.
But before the attack struck, it was block by Caleb when he jumped in the way, blocking it with his sword.
"Can't let you have all the fun.", Caleb said with a smirk while holding his ground.
"Hey, always willing to share.", Nigel grinned.
Shada then jumped back from the two warriors, landing in front of the crystal shell. He then clapped his hands together, getting everyone's attention. He then held out his hands, spreading out his fingers as they began to glow at the tips.
"Shadow Beam Strike!", Shada yelled as dark purple beam of energy fired from all ten of his fingers.
Nigel, Angelo, Matt, and Caleb dodged the beams as they came at them. But the Shadow Minions weren't so lucky as the beams went straight through them, destroying them.
"He's taking out his own forces, just to take us out!", Caleb said as he duck from a beam.
"This guys is nuts!", Matt yelled as he flew past some of the beams.
And to make matters worse, the beams began to ricochet off the walls.
"Heads up!", Angelo yelled as he dodged a beam.
"Whoa!", Caleb yelled dodging another beam.
Matt and Nigel dodged a beam each, as they continued to ricochet off the walls.
"Nice moves.", Shada said. "See if you can dodge this!"
Shada then clapped his hands together again. Once he did, the beams then came together in the center of the area, making a powerful blast, that knocked the others back in different directions. Shada then saw his chance as he jumped towards Angelo. Once he landed, he grabbed Angelo and held him up in the air.
"You Dragon Knights aren't so tough!", Shada laughed as he held Angelo in the air. "How you and your friends were able to beat two of my fellow Shadow Generals and free two of the Guardians is nothing short of a miracle!"
"We did it by using our heads.", Angelo grinned. "And waiting for our chance to strike! Go for it Nigel!"
Shada turned his head to see Nigel running towards the crystal shell.
"No!", Shada yelled as Nigel prepared his attack.
"Star Fist Buster!", Nigel yelled as his Star Fist glowed with energy striking the crystal shell.
Upon impact, a crack started to form in the crystal shell, just like with the other crystal shells. Seeing his chance, Angelo slashed at Shada's armour, cutting a deep slash in it.
"How, dare you!", Shada snapped as he threw Angelo against the wall. "I will not be defeated by a group of weak humans!"
"For a couple of weak humans, we've been doing well against you and your little Shadow Horde!", Nigel snapped as he jumped towards Shada ready to strike.
Shada then jumped out of the way of Nigel's attack, only to be blasted by one of Matt's eye beam attacks. Caleb, with his sword glowing with energy, pierced the crack in the crystal, made by Nigel. Shada then got to his feet and jumped in front of the crystal taking a fighting stance.
"You'll have to get past me if you want to free the Fire Guardian!", Shada declared.
"If you say so!", Angelo said as he charged at Shada. "I'll beat you and shatter that crystal!"
"Come then boy!", Shada sneered as Angelo was getting closer. "Show me your power!"
Once close enough, Angelo, with as much power as he could put in it, did a flaming double back flip kick, sending Shada into the air. Angelo then jumped up towards Shada as his Star Blade began to glow with power.
"You want to see my power?!", Angelo snapped at the Shadow General. "Well here it is! Star Blade Slash Assult!"
Angelo then began to slash at Shada's armour in fury. Try as we may, Shada couldn't do anything to stop the assault. Once they were near the ceiling of the cavern, Angelo grabbed Shada, flipped him over and kicked him towards one of the lava pools, before landing on the ground. Once on the ground, Angelo ran towards the area Shada was about to land. He then jumped up towards Shada and did a back-flip kick sending him crashing into the lava pool. Before he landed, Angelo threw his, still glowing, Star Blade at the crystal shell Taranee was in. It made contact and stuck itself in the crystal shell.
"Now that....... was....... cool!", Matt said as he landed next to Nigel.
"What happens now?", Caleb asked as Angelo walked towards the crystal shell.
"This.", Angelo said as he pulled his Star Blade out of the crystal shell.
Suddenly, just like the others, the crystal shell began to crack more and fall apart. It then shattered freeing Taranee. Nigel, followed by Matt and Caleb, came running up Angelo and the still unconscious Taranee. The beam of energy vanished as well as stopping the spread of the dark cloud in the area.
"Taranee!", Nigel said softly as he scooped his girlfriend up in his arms. "Your safe now, Taranee."
Suddenly, Shada jumped out of the lava pool, surprising the others.
"Oh crap!", Angelo said as he, Caleb and Matt took their fighting stances.
A/N: What's bad for Meridian?! Which Shade is the real one?! And what the heck does it take to beat Shada?! I mean he was knocked into a thing of lava, for goodness sake! I love this story!
Please review.