Rayders
Casiana1, did you read the last chapter? I ask because I only know that people read it if they review it. I don't expect a chapterly review, but I was just wondering. Sorry for not updating. I had a crisis of faith in this story.
Thanks, Anon, I wondered if NM was serious or just being a troll as usual. As for the rhyme scheme, I was just bored, so I put down something off the top of my head. It gets the point across, which is really all I want. I re-read the latest chapter and felt it a bit rushed... did it appear that way to anyone else? Trolling/flaming doesn't help. Oh, and NM, I know how 'Raiders' is actually spelled.
I felt inspiration for this story, so I decided to post this chapter. I may actually finish it myself, but I can't be sure.
S-C denotes a scene break, within the same scene. As in, it goes from Strife's part in the Rayder Base to Kirby's part in the Rayder Base, all in the same room.
Zyan District...
Strife was riding gently along in his Myst Cycle, tugging along a large sled which the others were currently sitting in.
"Rajiim, you must learn to calm yourself. If you do not do so, you will be nearly useless in battle. We will be forced to take action if you keep it up," Kirby said.
"Since when are you the leader of the group?" Rajiim demanded.
"He's the most powerful of us all. Kirby is also one of the wisest. That is why he's the leader," Meta Knight answered.
"I didn't ask you," Rajiim snapped.
"Kirby is a true leader in the fact that he doesn't know why he's the leader. I do know why, that's why I answered," Meta Knight replied, coolly.
"Fulla sh-"
"Shut up back there! It's hard enough driving without you morons bickering!" Strife shouted at them.
"We need help before attacking Dakron Shai. We need schematics of the base. We need soldiers to help us out," Meta Knight said.
"Exactly where can we get help? This place is screwed over," Rajiim asked.
"That Necrosi soldier mentioned someone called the Rayders. Maybe we could find them," Donokbe replied.
"Why should we assume they would help us?" Sword Knight asked.
"The enemy of our enemy is our friend, remember that?" Blade Knight replied.
"So... where are the Rayders... More specifically, who are they?" Strife yelled to the group.
That's when the Star Warrior in the brown cloak leap down on the sled. He was humanoid, like Rajiim, like all Dream Clanners.
"The Rayders are a resistance force. And I'm their leader, Lithrel. I'll take you to our base. Who are you?" he said.
Rayder's Underground...
"This is the Rayder Base. Our soldiers are in the West Wing. Our counsel and commanders are in the East Wing. Our Etheri and scientists are in the North Wing. If you would like to familiarize yourself with either, go to the appropiate wing. Now excuse me, I need to check the scientist's disection progress of the latest bit of stolen Necrosi tech," Lithrel said, walking off down the east hall.
"Did he say Etheri?" Strife asked.
"Yeah. Others like us. C'mon," Kirby said.
With that, Meta Knight, Strife, and Kirby walked down the north hall.
"While Etheri are all well and good, the soldiers are the building blocks of a good army. I say West Wing," Blade Knight said.
Donokbe, Blade Knight, and Sword Knight walked down the east hall.
"Hmmm... The commanders are likely to know what happened, what's going on now, and what the plan is for the future," Rajiim muttered to himself, walking down the north hall.
East Wing...
"Hello, fellow Etheri, how may I serve you?" a young female Star Warrior asked.
She wore light gray armor and a white belt which had a silver tube strapped to it.
"Who are you?" Strife asked.
"I am Kae, one of the Drakes, servants of the Etheri," the girl, Kae, answered.
"When were Drakes established?" Meta Knight asked.
"You should know. You had two with you," Kae replied, turning around, "Now, where would you like to go?"
"I already have a Gauge Gauntlet. However, I would like to get proper Etheri training. Where are the Etheri masters?" Strife asked.
"Right this way."
West Wing...
"Hello sirs! Who are you and what is your reason for coming here?" a young cadet demanded.
He wore basic armor and held a spear in one hand, while keeping his other hand at his side.
"I am Blade Knight and this is Sword Knight. We're new here. Sun Clanners, the both of us. We came to check out the soldiers," Blade Knight answered.
"I hope you will be pleased, sir!" the cadet shouted as the doors to the side of him opened.
"I'm sure we will if all the soldiers are as determined and focused as you," Sword Knight commented.
Donokbe jogged towards the opening, "I'm with them!"
The cadet nodded, stepping away from the door.
The walked in to see a large room filled with several hundred soldiers. If they were humans, it wouldn't have cut it, but as they were, it was perfectly spaced. Most had basic armor, like the cadet. A few had the expertise to weld better armor, but most had to do without. More had swords than better armor, but there were still few swords in comparison to the number of spears.
Sword Knight and Blade Knight walked in one direction, while Donokbe headed in another.
"Hey there. I'm Geth. You new recruits? You don't look like the usual Dream Clanner," one of the largest soldiers, Geth, asked.
"Sword Knight. He's Blade Knight. We're Sun Clanners. We're with a few Etheri, a Dream Clanner, and a Nightmare Clanner," Sword Knight answered.
"A Nightmare Clanner? Is he to be trusted?" Gath asked.
"Oh yeah. Black Kirby's been... Hey, where is Black Kirby?" Blade Knight wondered.
"Remember that inscription? One Sin still lives," Sword Knight.
"We have to tell Meta Knight!" they both shouted.
The Knights took off.
North Wing...
Rajiim knocked on the door in his way, and was well-received by the occupants as Lithrel opened the door.
"Ah, the fellow Dream Clanner. Rajiim, was it not?" Lithrel asked.
"Yes sir," Rajiim answered, with all the discipline of a trained soldier.
"No need for the soldier routine. You are one of us, the Generals. For now, though, I need to make a quick roundabout through the base. They will fill you in while I'm gone," Lithrel said.
"Thank you sir," Rajiim replied.
Lithrel nodded, then headed off, Rajiim headed in to find three Dream Clanners, all wearing decorated armor of varying colors.
"I am Yowtyl, that is Qwandry, and that is Cygor," said the general in yellow armor.
The other two nodded as they were pointed at. Qwandry was lean with more robes than actual armor, but all of it was gray. Cygor wore black armor, and he was incredibly buff.
"What's the situation, sir?" Rajiim asked.
"We have approximately 450 soldiers, 14 Etheri, 25 Drakes, 30 Biokin, and 1 Necrosi defect," Qwandry said.
"The Necrosi have, at best estimate, 140,000 soldiers, most of them well-versed in the Necrosi arts," Cygor added.
"We've held this fort for so long because it one to climb a hill before attacking it, allowing us to defend it easier. There have been a few sneak attacks, but relentless onslaughts from an Etheri Burst knocks them back to the Black Castle," Yowtyl said.
"Etheri Burst? Black Castle?" Rajiim asked.
"Etheri Burst is what we call it when the Etheri we have here release an explosion of the arts, causing as much elemental, light, and dark damage as possible. The only reason we've held out so long is because of the Etheri Bursts we've set off strategically around the base, forcing any advances away," Qwandry said.
"Qwandry is our Etheri leader, and he's the one who discovered the Etheri burst," Yowtyl noted.
Qwandry allowed himself a small smile of obvious pride.
"The Black Castle is the headquarters of the Necrosi. It swarms with the Corrupted Black Spirit, the one with which all Necrosi function upon. We believe that they possess some sort of crystal which fuels both the Castle and the soldiers, but we have yet to discover it. No other Dream Clanner has ever gone into that Castle and come out alive and on our side," Yowtyl said.
"Sir, Dream Clanner? You called me that and your fellow, but I am a Geo Storm Clanner, of the Storm Sect," Rajiim questioned.
"Ah, so you have not heard of the Grand Union. You see, the Storm and Geomin Sects came together as more than just sects. I was once a Storm Clanner, while Qwandry was a Geomin Clanner. Cygor was one of my fellows. However, because of the Necrosi Invasion, we have been forced to put aside our differences. With them being the Nightmares, what are we but their opposites? We are now the Dream Clanners. Remember that," Yowtyl explained.
Rajiim nodded, "There is much I can learn from you."
Yowtyl smirked for a moment, "Oh you will, Rajiim. Your training begins now."
"You will first begin with basic battle strategy, for when you're actually running and gunning," Cygor said.
"Then we'll help you with overall battle strategy, the actual strategy that the battle is supposed to run through," Qwandry added.
Black Castle...
The silhouette sat in his throne, watching the doors open. This was interesting.
"I already killed all the guards. If it'd appease you, I can bring in the corpses for you to snack on," the new figure said.
"Business before pleasure, Nightmare Clanner. Talk fast before I get too hungry."
"Fine. I'm here because of my gut instinct. I don't feel like I can serve with those Etheri. I'm here to join you."
"Why should I accept the help of a traitor?"
"Because I'm a Nightmare Clanner. We're quite well-know for serving the one with the most Darkness. Nightmare is gone, which means you are the highest bidder. It's only natural for Nightmare Clanners to flock to you."
Dark Kirby left out the important detail that Nightmare was ever-reforming, and thus would probably be reborn soon considering the explosion of Dark Energy throughout the cosmos.
"You would serve me no purpose."
"I have information on the Etheri here, along with the Drakes and the Dream Clanner."
"Hmmm... maybe you do have uses beyond a snack. I think I'll keep you. Now, if you would, fetch my dinner."
Black Kirby walked through the doors to bring in the corpses. Immediately, a different figure flew into the room. A demi-ship revved at top speed, Bloodbath zoomed to his master.
"You let him through?" Dakron Shai asked.
There was a hint of danger that the final Sin recognized. He stammered as he spoke for a few moments, before he finally got himself together.
"He's part of the Prophecy I told you about, Lord Dakron. I knew he would bring no harm to you," Bloodbath said.
The king of Necrosi laughed, sending chills down Bloodbath's spine. The connotations of the laugh registered with the Sin, and he turned to zoom off, only to find that the doors had been shut.
"Lord Dakron, what are you doing!?" Bloodbath demanded.
"You are of no use to me. You have already told me all you know, and I know that you can't fight the Star Warriors. So... with that screw-up of yours, I label you a nuisance. A tasty one, I hope."
"YOU BASTARD!"
Bloodbath's lance shone with immense power as he jetted towards Dakron Shai, who didn't move from his throne. He lazily flicked one finger up, and a spear of Darkness arose from the ground, impaling Bloodbath.
"You're stuck, painfully. You can't move, and you won't die for several hours. The Nightmare Clanner will get a demonstration of what happens to those who do not serve me properly in a few moments," Dakron Shai hissed, walking down to Bloodbath's level.
The Sin tried to protest, fight, or anything, but he was too badly hurt. He only gurgled lightly as his robotic systems shut down, leaving the organic half of him to fend for itself.
It wouldn't end well for the final, dying Sin.
East Wing
Strife sat with a young girl who was struggling to meditate.
"You must listen to your familiar. Rubia can help you, Crystine. I never would have attained my Knight status without Ber'l," Strife said, out of the corner of his mouth.
Crystine sighed, "I know, but she's so boring..."
Strife chuckled for a moment, then made a shushing noise. Crystine complied, if reluctantly.
S-C
Meta Knight sparred with an Etheri Knight, whirling in a dance of expert sword-play. They clashed again and again, never slowing, never faltering. Finally, they stopped, and bowed, or close enough to it.
"You are a good match, Gerod," Meta Knight said.
"As are you, Meta Knight, wielder of Galaxia," Gerod replied.
"Now, how is your Keryuka Style?" Meta Knight asked.
"I'm not too horrid at it. How are you?" Gerod asked.
"Let's find out," Meta Knight said.
Gerod activated his Gauntlet and they charged at one another.
S-C
Kirby sat in a far-off corner, seemingly asleep. However, he had actually achieved what some might call Nirvana. He felt everything around him. He felt the energy of Meta Knight and Gerod. He sensed the odd friendship forming beween Crystine and Strife. He felt the planet's desolation. It was a part of him, just as the despair of the Rayders' and the warmongering of the Necrosi was.
He felt the Knights running into the room, but he sensed something far more deadly. The wall crashed inwards, sending rubble everywhere. Lithrel, Meta Knight, Strife, and Kirby were the quickest to react. A whole squadron of soldiers burst through the hole, shooting everything possible.
Kirby looked within himself, at the inner peace he had achieved, and pulled out its power. He turned into what could be described as pure energy. He retained his form, barely, but he was fierce in appearance. Ethereal Kirby was ready to play.
However, what he saw appeared to shock him. Black Kirby rode in on Dark Matter, with a Nightmare Scythe in hand. Kirby reacted quickly, sending off gusts of wind mixed with flame at the approaching Necrosi.
Meta Knight tapped into the power of the eternaly full moon of Dream Star, becoming Artemis Meta Knight. His cape became the angelic wings and he flew high into the air, pointing Galaxia at the Necrosi. Artermis' Arrow shot through them, decimating their ranks.
That's when the wave of Darkness burst through, knocking everyone away. Or, at least, almost everyone. Lithrel Sunai stood his ground, a field of Light around him. Dakron Shai leapt through it, knocking Lithrel to the ground.
An explosion of energy occured as the untamed energies smashed into one another. Almost everyone who had been conscious then slipped into the darkness. Only Kirby, Lithrel, and Dakron remained awake. A field of energy surrounded the two leaders, keeping Kirby out, despite his furious lashings at it. He heard the door rumble as the soldiers tried desperately to break through it, to no avail.
The two opposing forces clashed again and again, sword to sword, then staff to staff. Finally, they were at hand to hand when the winner came forward. Lithrel made a misstep, allowing Dakron to push his claw completely through Lithrel's heart. The leader of the Rayders gasped as the pain shot through him. Kirby exploded with energy and channelled in a burst of rage, decimating the shield and sending Dakron flying.
The cannibalistic leader of the Corrupt Necrosi smirked, showing one of his fangs, red as the blood he relished so, turned, and bolted. He warped a few seconds later. He may have lost a few hundred soldiers, but the Rayders had lost their leader. They would crumple in days, if not hours.
Ethereal Kirby swarmed into Lithrel, willing life into him, desperately trying to save him.
"Futility, Kirby. I should... have died... centuries... ago. Take... my Light. The... Soul of Light... is within... me. Take it."
Ethereal Kirby tried ever more desperately to save him, if only to ignore his own pain, emotional and physical. He felt the surge of power rush through him, and he expressed shock, but remained within Lithrel.
"TAKE IT!"
Lithrel went into a coughing fit, breathed a few more ragged breaths, then died. Kirby left him, shining with the power of the Soul of Light for a moment, then returned to his normal form.
"Sorry," Black Kirby said.
Kirby nodded sadly as Black Kirby took off within the Dark Matter. The war against the Necrosi just got a whole lot tougher.
Center of the Rayder Base...
Lithrel's body slowly disintergrated in a vat of acid, along with his sword. It was a custom for Storm Clanners, now Dream Clanners, to be sent into the afterlife with their sword. It was a sign of honor for any soldier to go with the weapon that had saved their life so many times.
The soldiers marched through the area, each bowing in respect to their leader. The last to come through were the the central heroes.
"We will have to attack the Necrosi soon, or we will be put on the defensive for months on end, which will essentially wear us down to nothingness," Meta Knight said.
"I agree. However, we need one week to get acquainted with our surroundings. Kirby's got the Soul of Light. He needs time to adapt. The Generals and I have to work in a strategy without Lithrel's guidance," Rajiim replied.
"What about that vault that's under the ground?" Donokbe asked.
Rajiim glared, "How do you know of it? Yowtyl told me it was secret."
"I didn't. It guessed that there was a vault because I could hear wind blow beneath us when I listened really hard. Thanks for telling me. What's in it?" Donokbe replied.
"Ass."
"I try."
"What's in the vault?" Meta Knight demanded.
"Weapons of Lore," Rajiim admitted.
"Are you serious?" Meta Knight asked.
"Yes. Lithrel was a collector of rare items for a period of several centuries. He has the Star-Dust Ray, Golden Tunics, Cirrus Surcoats, Elemental Staves, Storm Rifles, a Seven Chrome Helmet, a pair of Ethereal Robes, and even the Dragos Star," Rajiim said.
"You're kidding. A Cirrus Surcoat?" Strife asked.
Crystine looked throughful for a moment, then asked, "He has the Lucos there, doesn't he?"
Rajiim nodded, then pulled out a white Gauntlet and handed it to Kirby.
"It was of no use to him, not being an Etheri, but it is of no use to any of the other Etheri, because they lack the Soul of Light," Rajiim said.
Kirby slipped the Gauntlet on, and it immediately reformatted to his exact arm size, shape, etc. It appeared as no more than a single white jewel embedded at the tip of his arm. Rajiim thrust a sheet of what seemed to be air onto Kirby as well, and it wrapped around him, becoming invisible as well.
"The Ethereal Robes are yours as well. Now, I must go to my training. We will end the Necrosi soon," Rajiim finished, walking away.
The heroes looked at one another, bowed one final time to the deceased leader, then left. They had a war to train for.
TOMB