I own nothing but the New Colossi, the People of the Colossi, Azgarot and the ghost of Erageo.

Dormin's Speech

Sound Effects

Thoughts/Celosia Speaking

Chapter 4

No Way Back

"I need to send a message to my father, and Eolly." Lexus said, sitting on the rubble of Runtus' statue. She got a sense of danger from sitting on it, as if the stone might piece back together into the Colossus. Azgarot regarded her coldly. "There is no way to send a message to thine homeland." he snapped. Lexus stood and walked over to Azgarot. "That's not funny, Azgarot! I want to send my family a message!" she shot back. The mortal Colossus snorted. "We know thou art stupid. Art thou deaf as well?" he asked, amused. Lexus drew the Ancient's Sword and held it to Azgarot's neck. "NOW, AZGAROT!" she screamed.

SHING

CLATA-CLATA

Lexus sat down hard, the Ancient Sword flying to the side and hitting a fox-shaped idol. Azgarot had a sword in his hand; its blade gleamed wickedly in the blue atmosphere, and it was pure black. Purple flame occasionally sparked along the edges of the metal. Lexus was aware of Celosia growling fiercely and remembered that the Colossus feared flames. But that wasn't her problem. The problem was that Azgarot's demon blade was touching her neck.

And cutting into it, he was pressing so hard.

"Do not order Us around, she-mortal." Azgarot snarled, his blue eyes shining. Lexus fought the urge to shiver. "We have told thou that there is no way to contact thine...ugh...family. Do not make Us say it again. Thou art important, girl, not irreplaceable." and with that, Azgarot's blade vanished. "Thou made the choice to venture into the Land of Forgotten Memories. Thou shalt stay here until thine quest is completed." and the boy gestured to the halls. "Hundreds of halls lay within this temple, girl. Each hall holds four or more idols. Thou shalt destroy them all, one by one, or be forever trapped here."

"But that's not fair!" Lexus whined. She was stunned at the effect; Azgarot's hands flew to his ears and he frowned, showing pointed teeth. His metal armbands jingled. "Quit that noise!" he commanded. Lexus stood, then she got an idea. Either it'll work and I can contact my family, or They'll erase me from the planet. she thought. Either way, her life would be hell. She'd give it a shot.

Stomping her foot, Lexus opened her mouth. She refrained from smiling when she saw Azgarot step back. "Azgaro~t!" she complained. "I wanna contact my family!!!" "BE SILENT!" the boy roared. Wind whistled around Lexus, catching her hair and pulling her every direction. "But I need to let them know I'm safe!" Lexus continued, her voice perfectly high-pitched and whiney. The wind increased in intensity. "DO! NOT! SPEAK!" Azgarot barked, shoving her in the chest with his hand. Lexus flew down the hall, skidding across the floor. "I'll scream!" the girl warned. Azgarot's mortal face paled. "No--!" he whispered. Lexus opened her mouth.

!!!!!!!!!

"GYAAAAARGH!!" Azgarot wailed, dropping to his knees. He was breathing heavily. Lexus stood and began to walk over, when Azgarot held out his palm to her. "Very...well..." he panted. "We shalt grant thy wish...but do not make that sound again!" and with that, he slapped the stone floor. Immediately, the rocky substance rippled, then softened into a pool. Lexus looked into it and saw Ombane on the altar of the Shrine of Worship. "Father!" she cried.

"Lexus." Ombane managed weakly. He stretched an arm above him, then it fell limp. Eolly sprang into view. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" he whispered. "Elder Agekale, we need--" then he fell silent as he saw Lexus. "Oh my Gods! You're alive!" he cheered. "I'm fine, Eolly, I'm here with Azgarot." she replied. Azgarot spat at her. "I mean Dormin."

"Be careful! The deceiver will trick you any way he can, just like in the legends!" Eolly declared. "I know that, Eolly, but be quiet! He's right next to me..." Lexus whispered urgently. "Now, I want you to tell my father--"

The connection was severed as Azgarot drove his blade into the pool; it reformed to stone, and Lexus stomped her foot. "Hey, I wasn't done!" she cried. Azgarot growled. "Yes, thou were. Thou art here to complete Our task, not to chat with thine allies!" "Friends!" Lexus corrected. Azgarot threw up his hands in agitation. "Fine! Friends!" he bellowed. "Complete Our task, or we shalt--" "Smite me?" Lexus suggested smugly.

This was clearly too much for Azgarot. He turned on his heel and stalked down a hall. "We shalt be back in one hour." he called over his shoulder. "Be prepared to train." And as he left, Lexus had a small smile on her face. She'd gotten a weapon to use against Dormin, more powerful than any blade.

When Azgarot returned, he found Lexus in a fighting stance, facing Celosia. Amused, he hid behind an enormous idol of some unknown creature. "Alright, Celosia, no holding back!" Lexus panted, drenched in sweat.

If I do not hold back, I will impale you.

"Oh, well then, just go easy." Lexus corrected herself, charging with the sword. Celosia stuck out its claw and batted the weapon out of her hands, then butted its head into her chest and sent her sprawling.

The Wanderer was a much better swordsman.

"I wasn't made for combat, you know!" Lexus snapped, retrieving her weapon and resuming her stance.

Neither was he.

"Stop." Azgarot commanded, stepping out from his hiding place. He smiled at the startled look on Lexus' face. "Thine stance is wrong, mortal fool." and with that, he kicked her shin. Lexus yelped and moved her leg away from Azgarot, spreading her stance in the process. "Now swing." Azgarot said. Lexus blinked, then swung. And swung again. "It doesn't feel any different." she said. "Try again." he sighed, sitting near one of the idols. Lexus charged Celosia, who braced itself, but then a change entered her blood.

She felt very warm, like her whole body was radiating heat. Her vision cleared, and she could see through the mist for several yards farther than usual. It must be the warrior's blood of my family. she thought. Celosia swung its head at her, but she ducked and slapped the flat of her blade onto its eye. It backed up.

Gods, immortals be damned!

Celosia's cry pounded into her mind as the Colossus winced. "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Lexus shouted, racing at the Colossus. Celosia was her only companion in this isolated land, she had to be nice to it. "I'm so sorry, Celosia!"

Not as sorry as I am.

But Celosia allowed its head to be rubbed by Lexus. Azgarot gagged. "What a worthless display of affection." he muttered. "Now continue your training." and so Lexus did, for the next three hours, she sparred with Celosia. Finally, the Colossus was reduced to a panting pile of fur.

Even Colossi don't have unlimited strength, girl. I need a rest.

"Right." Lexus nodded. She heard the sound of metal on stone and turned to see Azgarot sharpening his black blade on an idol. "Azgarot, do you want to spar?" she asked. Azgarot looked at her, surprised, then he chuckled. "Thou would not last an instant with Us." "So you're afraid?" Lexus taunted.

Azgarot's eyes flashed amber, and he stepped forward. He then took a stance, facing Lexus with his body turned at an angle and his feet wide apart. He held the black sword aloft. "Come, mortal. Let Us see how that holy blade protects thee." he snarled. Lexus barreled forward, raising the Ancient's Sword, and brought it down on Azgarot's head. The god parried with his own sword and grabbed her arm, twisting it. Lexus yelped in pain and dropped her sword.

"Pitiful." Azgarot commented. Lexus seized the ancient blade and sliced at the boy, but he merely parried and pushed her chest, sending her sprawling. "How pathetic. Thine ancestors would be ashamed." he added. Lexus grinded her teeth; why wasn't her warrior blood reacting to the battle? Again she charged at Azgarot; the boy sidestepped and kicked her legs out from under her. "We have been conscious for millennia, she-mortal." Azgarot said calmly. "There are no sword techniques that We do not know."

"How about this?!" Lexus cried, drawing her pistol and firing at Azgarot. The Colossus' eyes widened and he fell back as the bullet entered his shoulder. "C-cheat!" he coughed, holding the wound. "Thine ancestors--" "I do not care about my ancestors!" Lexus screamed. "Everyone has been comparing me to Wander, and my ancestors, and I've had JUST ABOUT ENOUGH!!" the ceiling shook.

"I don't give a damn about what you think of me! I shouldn't even be doing this stupid quest!" she ranted at Azgarot, who was watching her the same way she would watch a large spider. Infuriated, Lexus threw down her sword and stomped away. "I don't want to do this anymore!" she shouted over her shoulder, disappearing down the hall. Azgarot was silent for a long time, then he stood and his blade vanished. A growl caused him to turn to Celosia.

Mortals are simple-minded, Dormin, but upsetting your warrior isn't the best way to achieve your goals.

"Do not lecture Us, thou pile of discarded fur!" Azgarot shot back. Celosia snarled and raced down the hall after Lexus. Azgarot was left alone.

Lexus sat at the end of the bridge nearest to the temple, tossing stones over the edge. Celosia lay next to her, resting from the intense sparring. Hearing footsteps, Lexus turned to see Azgarot slowly approaching. He had a look of pain on his face as he carried the Ancient's Sword. "We believe this belongs to thee." he managed, trying to hand it to Lexus. She turned away from him, and heard the Colossus make a strangled sound in his throat.

"Take it from Us. The blade burns Our mortal body." Azgarot said, offering her the sword again. "Thou must have it if thou art to slay the Colossi--" "I told you, I'm not doing that." Lexus said quietly. Azgarot dropped the sword and shook his hand; the skin was scorched black. "Mortals are so irritating." he muttered. Lexus looked at him, tears in her eyes. Azgarot was dumbfounded; he knew that the girl was upset, but what had he done to make her cry?

"Stop crying." he commanded. "Thou art here to slay the Colossi, not depress Us." and Azgarot was very startled when Lexus threw her arms around him, sobbing. "I'm here, all alone, with Celosia and YOU of all people!" she cried. "We do not--" "And there's no way to get back! You won't even let me contact my family, they could think I'm DEAD!" "Now wait just a--" "And I'm SCARED, I want to go HOOOME!" she wailed. Azgarot grimaced as the girl slowly soaked the front of his cloak with her tears.

"That is enough." Azgarot snarled. Lexus looked up at him. "Thou art a warrior; act like it! Thou would not have received the ancient blade if it did not accept thee. And only the greatest warriors can successfully wield it." "Azgarot, are you trying to cheer me up?" Lexus sniffled. The boy looked like the very thought would make him vomit, but he swallowed. "Whatever it takes to get thee to stop crying." he muttered.

"Thanks." Lexus murmured, wiping her eyes on Azgarot's cloak. The boy rolled his eyes in disgust, pushing her away. "Thou must begin hunting the Colossi NOW, if thine land is to be saved. First, thou shalt battle..."

Read and review, please.