Wow, I must be really bored if I managed to type all this in two days. Huh. Well, most of it I attribute to the 'more-computer-time' factor, it's summer and there's no school, so evidently I have more time to type up this story. Unfortunately this story is almost over. However, (good for you) there is a sequel! (which will be much longer, there's a lot more going on in that one) So here's the next chapter, read it and you know to review!

If the name of the story and chapter title aren't centered, blame my screwy computer.

Summary: Kurt is a Fallen, an indescribably beautiful race of demon–angels. Kitty is a fledgling priestess with a hidden power. Kitty knows that Kurt isn't her enemy, but can she prove it?

Fallen Angel

21. Light and Spirit

Kitty lifted off from the tree, Kurt tailing her. Sparks had said she would be taking them (separately) to somewhere where she thought that they could have a better chance of connecting with the element.

Kitty tried hard to keep Sparks within her line of sight—the girl sure could move fast when she wanted to! And she was also much faster in the air without the hindrance of blindness. But after a few more twists and turns, they arrived at an old ruin, most likely a temple. Sparks explained that there were many ruins like this one, scattered throughout the Forest. Each one honored a separate element, and this was Light's temple.

"Here we are," announced Sparks, flying a little further into the ruins. "This is probably the best place around to attempt to connect to Light. Good luck!"

"Where are you going?" Kitty asked.

"I have to show Karma Spirit's temple."

Kurt looked a bit panicked. "What do I do?"

"You just wait. If she succeeds in connecting with Light, you'll know. That's when you may want to hold her hand." Sparks advised, and lifted off from the ground, wings whirring. "Good luck!" she called again, and was soon lost from sight, disappearing into the Forest.

Kitty swallowed. Did she really think she'd be able to accomplish this? She sat, cross-legged, on the stone ground, trying, almost desperately, to get some form of an answer.

Silence…

Then, abruptly, her world exploded into white.

Kitty opened her eyes. She was standing in a plane of immense white; she herself seemed to be the only true color within this strange place.

"Where am I?" she whispered to herself—but even a whisper seemed loud here, echoing across the blank space.

Why have you come, Fallen?

Kitty jumped at the sound of the voice and turned; an unusual sight greeted her.

The manifestation of Light looked rather strange—it was practically a silhouette of white, outlined in gold, but there still seemed to be a sort of substance to the ethereal element. Kitty could see the being had long, spiky hair, and cat's ears. Broad, feathered wings rose up behind it. When Light smiled, a sort of vicious smile, Kitty could make out fangs in its teeth.

Why are you here? it repeated, glowing white-gold eyes staring right at her.

Kitty finally found her voice, and managed to stammer out, "I-I need y-y-your help."

The fangs showed a little more. Why would you require my help? Light sounded almost skeptical, if the manifestation of an element could be so.

"I need to stop the Darkness." Kitty held its gaze, though she desperately wanted to look away from the fathomless, emotionless depths of gold-and-white.

Light's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, showing genuine surprise and then slight mocking. Oh really? Have you truly bungled badly enough to allow the Darkness full manifestation?

Kitty hung her head. "We didn't know it would happen…"

The element's eyes were impassive; Kitty didn't even know if she was getting through to it. After all, she wasn't even that old! And to think she'd been a human once, and would that make much of an impression on Light?

You assume much, Fallen.

Well, at least it wasn't an outright 'no'. "What do you mean by that?" Kitty asked, praying that she wasn't doing something wrong, or even offending Light.

We have fought the evil of the Darkness since the beginning of Time. And now you have allowed it to return? In as close to full form as it has ever been since its Creation? Foolish Fallen, you did not understand the consequences and thus you have doomed yourself and all those who inhabit your world.

Kitty's heart sank. Light wouldn't help her? "We're doomed, then?" she whispered, more to herself than to the manifestation of the element Light; the realization that her plea hadn't worked sent her into a state of shock. She had failed! Unable to stop them, tears welled in her eyes and she dropped to her knees. She didn't want everyone to die!

She noticed Light crouching beside her, and she realized that her tears were having more of an effect on the element then all her words thus far. She lifted her head slowly, looking into the depths of the element's glowing white eyes.

"I-I don't want everyone to die…" Kitty whispered, her own voice now sounding pitifully small.

There was silence as Light regarded her, expressionless. Then…

Fallen, do you truly wish to banish the Darkness?

Kitty nodded quickly; she didn't care what the price was, so long as the Darkness disappeared. It had done too much harm already, screwing with everyone's lives.

You are honest, Light stated, and that works in your favor. The element reached out, and the tip of one finger rested against Kitty's forehead. Light spoke several, trilling words that Kitty was unable to understand, and white light began swirling around them. Kitty felt as though she was shrinking; distantly, she vaguely felt a hand slip into hers, and she smiled.

Kurt hadn't forgotten.

And Kitty let herself be lost in the gold and white colors.

This was what she had to do.

Sparks led Karma and Fervior to a ruin similar to the one Kitty had gone to. In fact, they were all arranged in one huge circle within the Forest. She explained what they each had to do. "Karma, you try to bond with Spirit. Fervior, remember what I told you. Good luck!" Sparks flew off, presumably to go see if Kitty had succeeded.

Karma wondered, briefly, if Kitty had managed to commune with Light. She thought, No matter. Spirit's the one I have to concentrate on. She sat down, activating Spirit, letting her element wash over her.

She saw the world go white…

Karma opened her eyes. She was standing on an immense field of softly glowing white (in truth it was similar to Light's dimension)

"Hello?" Her voice echoed back to her, seeming loud in this seemingly soundless plane.

Why have you come here, Fallen?

Karma turned. A being stood there. Spirit. It had glowing eyes (identical to Light's, but did Karma know that?) Feathers seemed to be a part of its hair, practically interwoven, and wings like a huge eagle's rising up behind it. She could see fangs behind the emotionless smile.

"I require your help," said Karma, remembering that it had spoken to her.

How so?

"Darkness has fully manifested. We require the combined energy of Light and Spirit to drive it away."

And how did you let this happen?

"Well, I…" Karma paused, trying to think of a way to put it into words. Spirit regarded her silently; after a moment, it spoke.

Do you realize how many are gifted with my element?

"Er…" Karma thought. "I don't know." She could think of three off the top of her head, but she wasn't sure if there were any more.

Three.

Karma started to speak, but Spirit cut her off.

But you, and the former human, only received my element because you wielded all the elements, and thus received mine as well.

Karma did the math, and said quietly, "So there was only one, to begin with."

Yes. Only one.

Karma swallowed. "Would you rather he be here, in my stead?"

Spirit tilted its head slightly. Perhaps.

"Am I not worthy of your element as well? And what of Kitty?"

He was the first, and might have been the only one to know my element. But then you came. Spirit glanced at her. You, with your ability to control all elements. And then the former human…said to be the Chosen One.

"You mean…Kitty is…" Karma stared.

Perhaps. The elements are out of balance; the evil Darkness has returned. I would suggest you tend to that before the Prophecy.

"I understand, but…"

But? Spirit blinked slowly.

"Will you help me?"

Spirit was silent for a couple of heartbeats; Karma watched the element, swallowing in a futile attempt to calm her nerves. Would it agree? Or would her quest have been in vain?

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, the element spoke.

Possibly you may be better than my chosen. You have not been corrupted by the Darkness.

"That wasn't…my intention…" Karma trailed off.

I understand that. If it had, you would not be standing here now. The white eyes flashed.

"Then…?" Karma looked up at the ethereal being, hardly daring to hope.

Do not make me regret this.

Karma breathed a sigh of relief. Spirit would help her! The element placed the tip of one finger against Karma's forehead, saying a few words that Karma did not understand. White light flowed around them in a spiral.

Was the element growing bigger, or she growing smaller? Karma faintly felt a hand grasp hers. At least he had remembered.

Her world was fading into the spiraling white colors.

This was what needed to happen.

Yup. I'm sure you noticed that Karma's interaction with the element was longer then Kitty's. Sorry about that, it was just that Karma had more to tak about, although Kitty's was more emotional. This seems like a longer chapter then normal when I looked through it, but the word count's average. Oh well. We got some tidbits, though, that'll appear in the sequel. (Yay!)

IMPORTANT! READ THIS OR ELSE YOU WILL BE VERY CONFUSED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!

Since Kitty and Karma have been 'taken over' by Light and Spirit, that's what I'm going to refer to them as. I will put this notice at the top of the next chapter as well, but something tells me most of the reviewers don't read the top Author's Notes, for reasons I don't know.

Remember:

Kitty = Light

Karma = Spirit

~ Shadey