Well, here we are. On chapter 8. What do you know about that?

I, again, own mostly nothing.

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Chapter 8: Face Off

Diamond sighed and buried his face into his palm. He had known Clarity only a few weeks, and he already found her profoundly stupid.

Yeah, this guy was a jerk, and he was evil, and he put the serious hurt on Josephine, but leaping right into attack without the slightest hesitation and no actually logic, reason, or plan? Was she really that nuts? Did she really think that would works?

Apparently, yes. Diamond mentally quipped. And, apparently she's right. He couldn't suppress the slight bit of impressed-ness, as Clarity actually manage to get enough height in her leap to come to eye level with Schatten, and follow it up with a swift kick to his chest that sent him several feet backwards -- and several feet down.

Schatten smashed into the ground, but quickly recovered from the impact, and flipped backwards and back on to his feet. Clarity touch down lightly on to the ground and-stupid, reckless Clarity-lashed forward without hesitation.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid…. Really, really, really cool. Diamond stared in awe/annoyance. Clarity was officially both the stupidest, and the most skillful, person he knew. This was suicidal… but… well, this guy was serious asking for it…

Diamond glanced around at the others. Well, Ms. Responsible-leader-Josie is out cold… and bleeding. Guess someone's got do something.

"Willow, Arthur! Get Josie out of here! Aleena, Monica, Basil! Follow my lead." Diamond was glad Clarity and Schatten's fights had gradually moved to the other side of the lot. It gave him plenty of time to think -- something that was becoming very foreign among the group. He glanced around at the small trees, patches of grass, and vines that dotted the empty piece of land here and there. Well, if Josie can tear the earth right from the, well, earth…

As he neared the dueling magic-users, he slowed, but, instead of skidding to a halt, he leaped right forward at Schatten, hitting hard with both feet. As the black-furred wolf fell to the ground, Diamond flipped in midair, hand-springed off the ground, and squared a nice landing. He swiftly whipped back around, just in time to see Schatten get back on to his feet, and get a blast of ice in the face, courtesy of Aleena Hedgehog herself. Wow, Diamond mused. Go, 'Leena.

Turns out, with alternating blasts and kicks, Aleena and Basil made one dangerous tag-team. So, maybe Basil didn't have the whole power-shenanigans going on, but, hey, he wasn't captain of the basketball team for nothing.

My turn. Diamond closed his eyes, and raised his hands up in front of him. He really had no idea precisely what to be doing, but if this worked…

There was a massive grinding, crunching noise and a lot of quick footsteps, but he didn't open his eyes. Gotta stay focused. He reminded himself.

But then, an idea occurred to him… No way. Well… it's worth a shot…

Diamond squeezed his eyes, and, still trying to focus on what he hoped he had accomplished, he grounded his heel into the ground, and let his conscious focus on that.

It was impossible to describe. He could feel, like, vibration moving through the ground, and he, his eyes, his feeling, was within it, but he was also still there, standing beside a sapling tree. And he could feel other… well, vibration wasn't exactly the best word, but he could feel them coming from all around. Schatten, Clarity, Aleena, Basil, and even Willow, Arthur, and Josephine off in the distance. He could feel them through the earth.

Satisfied from what he had done, Diamond let his eyes open, and, just and he had hoped, the grasses, plants, trees, all of it, had come alive in a massive tangle. And, even as he let his mind drift through the earth, it had still acted as he had commanded. And the team had on less bad guy to deal with.

Monica snorted gleefully. "No so impressive now…" She taunted to the tangle up, and seething, Schatten. Basil rolled his eyes.

"Moni, don't mock the guardian-freak."

"Why? It's not like he can hurt me or anything, right?"

"No, it's just tacky."

"Well, don't call me Moni."

Aleena giggled, Clarity rolled her eyes, and Diamond couldn't suppress a smile. Basil and Monica had never got along, ever. The first time they met, Basil had tried to be all proper and "It is enchanting to make of you an acquaintance.", and Monica had asked where the French accent he was talking with was from, "The store on the corner?".

Some thing'll never change, I guess.

The five of them quickly moved over to where Josie was propped up against a tree. Willow had bandaged her and stopped her bleeding as best she could, and Arthur was trying not to hyperventilate.

Monica blinked. "Will… will she be okay?" Willow paused, and then nodded.

"She should, yes. Nothing seems to badly hurt. She'll be fine, yes."

Josephine mumble half-consciously, and quickly got everyone's attention. Clarity knelt down by her as her violet eyes fluttered open. "Clar?"

"The one and only." Josephine smiled, tried to stand up, then winced and fell back down.

"Ow." She blinked. "What-his-name gone?"

Clarity smirked. "Diamond took care of him." Josephine sighed.

"Good."

Clarity, quite out of nowhere, suddenly took Josie into a hug. "Geez, Jose, you idiot. I thought I lost you, there, for a minute." Josie smirked.

"Don't be so sappy."

"Make me."

Monica sighed and rolled her eyes. "As if Aleena and her sucrerie de sucre wasn't obnoxious enough…"

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"Grr… she is not going to like this…" Schatten scratched nervously at the back of his head and let his tail drag on the stone floor. "Not one bit…"

He came to a carved wooden door set into the stone at the end of the hall. Schatten sighed and gave it a gentle push. The door creaked open.

"You're late." Moira's voice snapped from within before Schatten could even step in. "And you bring me news of failure."

Schatten immediately fell onto one knee before his mistress and bowed his head. Moira, who was sitting cross-legged and levitating several inches from the floorm didn't even open her eyes.

"My greatest and most sincere apologies, m'lady. It seems we have underestimated them. The have bonded with there power much sooner than was seen." Another voice exploded from the other side of the room.

"Are you suggesting that my prediction was wrong?! That I was wrong?! The great Dorl sees all!"

"Silence, old bat." Moira snapped. "It appears that is untrue. You for saw a strain and turmoil, and that they would take little hold. It appears that they are progressing, quietly intensely.... I'd say your sight was completely wrong." She swept her piercing green eyes across the room.

"However, I have located another gate." Moira chuckled. "This fortune has put me in a good mood and I am willing to forgive both your failure. Secure the Gate of Time and all shall be forgotten."

Dorl and Schatten both nodded vigorously.

"Yes, m'lady. We shall not fail you again." They chorused. "We assure you."

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Well, a new character is introduced. Dorl's a baddie, obviously.

Okay, I've started a new fanfic called Passion of the Hedgehog. I originally planned to put this one hold to write that, but I had a sudden urge to finish this chapter, so instead I'll be alternating. I'll write the second chapter of Passion, then I'll write the ninth (!) chapter of this, then the third chapter of Passion, and so on.

-Flames-the-Rabbit344, a.k.a Flames, a.k.a Delaney, a.k.a Laney, a.k.a Heidi, a.k.a Spazz-girl.