Happening Elsewhere…
The afternoon sun beamed down on everything down below it, heating up Earthland with the hours passing. Drying up the forest from its recent rain, puddles were slowly starting to vanish, animals who were once wet were now being dried and the smell of a rain storm filled the air. On their way to a job, two of Sabertooth's mages, Orga Nanagear and Rufus Lore, came out of the forest that protected them from the sun's rays. Shielding their eyes as they entered its rays, they gave their eyes a few minutes to adjust to the sun.
"How long were we even in that forest?" Orga asked as he turned around towards the forest, seeing how close the leaves were to shield them from the light.
"I don't recall, but I would have to say at least an hour or two. Maybe even more." Rufus said as he looked up from a map.
"Well however long, it felt like forever." Orga groaned. "Oi so where to next?"
"Hmm… I'm looking. This isn't the best map I guarantee you that. It's hard to read it." Rufus explained as Orga groaned and sat down leaning against a tree.
"So in other words, there's a chance we might have to say 'Hey sorry buster, send a better map next time!'?" Orga asked as Rufus shook his head.
"Of course not. Sabertooth doesn't give up on a job just because of this kind of setback. Plus Sting would not be happy. I'm trying to remember if there's a similar map." Rufus started to say out loud but half way through, it turned into mumbles. Orga rolled his eyes and put his arms behind his head.
"Well when you remember, wake me up." The Lighting God Slayer said as Rufus stopped and glared at the now sleeping mage. Rufus rolled his eyes and continued to view the map.
"So…we came from here, and now we're here…where do we go from here?" Rufus mumbled to himself as he retracted their steps. "Orga."
"Hmm?"
"Do you have the request flyer?"
"Yeah why?" Orga asked as he opened one eye.
"Let me look at it." Rufus simply said as Orga stood up and reached into his back pocket, handing the flyer to the Memory Mage who took it. Rufus read over it quickly before looking back at the map. Orga sat back down as Rufus looked at the flyer, but unknown to the two mages…someone was watching them. Watching them carefully.
A mage warring a black cloak hide in the trees, being careful not to be spotted by the two mages. He studied them for a few more minutes before nodding to himself. He jumped out of the tree and landed silently, beginning to walk away from where the two mages stood. He walked for a few minutes before walking upon a group of five that waited for the spy to return. Four out of the five wore the same cloaks that the spy did while the other didn't. The figure bowed.
"General Thorn, I have returned with the report." The mage said as Thorn turned around from skinning an apple and smirked.
"Good, has this Rufus we're looking for appeared?" Thorn asked as he tossed the apple in his hand. The Viper Bite mage gave a nodded.
"Yes. But he appears to be with someone else. A green haired man by the name of Orga. What shall we do with him?" The mage asked as Thorn shrugged.
"Hell if I know." Thorn answered as he kept tossing the apple. "If anything, those two are from the same guild and decided to go on a job together. And from what Master Jiemma has told me about how his former guild works now...if one is in danger, the other will stop at nothing to get them out of hard way. So in other words, that Orga will try to stop us from taking Rufus." Thorn said with a chuckle. "But then…that's where you all come in."
"Ohhh what do we get to do?"
"Use your Ani-Magic on him. Just Orga. I want to see how well this Rufus can fight. I'd love to see him use his memory magic." Thorn chuckled as he licked his knife. The mages all smirked and all let out a giggle, VERY excited to finally be able to use their magic.
"Very well, General. Shall we move out now?" One of the mages asked as Thorn gave a nod.
"Of course." Thorn chuckled as he tossed the apple over his shoulder as they started to head in that direction. "Though do remember the plan. Master Jiemma only wants Rufus so we need to quickly drain all of Orga's magic so we can…play with Rufus for a bit."
"Yes sir!" The mages said as they followed Thorn into the forest and toward their prey.
"So the job is in Perchy Town and if my memory serves me correctly…we should head west." Rufus said as he opened his eyes. The blond raised the map towards the sun to see if there was any fated print. Pointing to the west, Perchy Town. "Wonderful! Orga."
"Huh?" Orga yawned.
"We're heading west now." Rufus informed him as The God Slayer opened his eyes before getting up.
"Alright." The other stretched while giving a yawn. "Let's head that-" They were cut off when something suddenly flew past them both. Both blinked and Rufus noticed right away, the map was gone.
"What just happened?" Rufus asked as he looked around. "Where's the map?!" Orga looked around and saw the map.
"Oi it's over…here." Orga started but stopped when he saw the map was pinned against a tree by a knife. "What the hell?"
"Is that…a knife?" Rufus asked as he walked over. Orga just nodded.
SNAP
Both mages snapped their heads over when they heard someone step on a twig. Walking out of the forest was a group of six. Five warring black cloaks and one wasn't, but his features were visible. Fair skin, black hair and red eyes with a smirk on his face.
"I'd say that was a bullseye, wouldn't you agree?" The man asked as he stopped. Orga and Rufus growled at him. "I mean I did hit it right through the middle on both the map and the tree."
"Who the hell are you and what do you want?!" Orga barked as the man chuckled.
"Oh little ole me? I am Thorn. Just one of two Generals of the dark guild Viper Bite. And I am here to see the lovely Mr. Rufus Lore." Thorn introduced himself as he gave a smirk.
'Viper Bite? I don't seem to recall hearing such thing about this guild, let alone a dark guild.' Rufus thought to himself.
"Well if you're here to see him then you're here to see me!" Orga growled, not happy that Thorn just called Rufus lovely. Thorn chuckled.
"Sorry Orga, but I have business with Rufus. Our Master is waiting for you so if you would be so kind to come along with us." Thorn chuckled again.
"I do apologize but I am going to have to refuse. I don't go along with strangers from a dark guild." Rufus informed him. Thorn sighed.
"Oh I wonder if Nightshade is having any troubles with the other mage."
"What other mage?!" Orga barked.
"Oh no one of your concern, Orga. So…buzz off." Orga growled at the other man. "We can do this one of two ways, Rufus. The easy way where you can just give yourself up and no one gets hurt. OR, the way it'll most likely happen…the hard way where we'll force you to come with us whether you like it or not!"
"Neither, I am currently on a job and would like to finish it." Rufus said as Thorn shrugged.
"Oh well…hard way it is. Remember the plan!" Thorn ordered as the mages nodded and they vanished. Orga and Rufus noticed and began to look around.
"OI! Where'd the hell did they go!"
"I have a very bad feeling about this." Rufus said as Thorn chuckled. Orga looked over at the black hair man and growled.
"Where'd they go?!" Orga demanded as Thorn shrugged.
"Who knows." Thorn snickered. Rufus narrowed his eyes.
'He's planning something alright and I do like it.' "Memory Make…" Rufus called as he placed his fingers on the sides of his temples. The surrounding area grew dark. Orga smirked while Thorn looked around.
"What in the world?" Thorn whispered to himself as he looked over to Rufus. "What the hell is he doing?!" Orga laughed as he took one step forward.
"He's looking for those black cloaks of yours through their memorizes." Orga snickered as Thorn blinked. But then…smirked and then laughed. Orga growled as the night like darkness vanished, brightness returning.
"I-I… I can't locate them." Rufus said in shock. He's always been able to find at least a few. But he can't find them at all. Thorn let out another laugh and smirked at Rufus.
"Whoops. Looks like someone's little tracker is broken. But enough talk. Why don't we have a little fun now?" Thorn snickered as Orga snarled at him.
"I'm down for that!" Orga smirked as he started his spell. "Charged Particle Cannon of-" Orga let out a sharp gasped. Rufus snapped his head over to Orga.
"Orga!"
"M-My magic….is gone." Orga said as he felt everything leave him. His energy, his strength and his magic. Rufus' eyes widen as he heard snickers in the back. He turned around and saw the five mages behind them. All five had huge smirks on their faces.
"Ani-Magic…ORGA!" Rufus shouted as he heard Orga fall to the ground. The Memory Mage rushed to his side as the Lighting God Slayer tried to get up, but couldn't.
"I-I can't move! You Ani-Magic cheating bastards!" Orga growled as the mages just smirked at them. "Why…when I get my hands on you I'll strangle every single one of you!"
"Well…you'll be a bit busy with something else. Butthatisgoingtohavetowaitawhile." Thorn quickly said with a laugh. Rufus growled and put his hands up to Orga.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"I remembered I had just recently memorized some healing spells so I- ARG!" Rufus was just about to start the healing spell when Thorn rushed over and kicked him square in the jaw, sending him flying and hitting a tree.
"RUFUS!"
"I don't think so, Mr. Rufus." Thorn chuckled as he shook his finger. Rufus looked up, his body screaming in pain from the sudden impact. He shot a glare at Thorn as he walked up. "Let's be nice and play fair. One on one. Just the two of us."
"I highly doubt someone like you would play fair by the rules from the start. It was two against six and now you want to make it one against one? What are you planning?" Rufus questioned as Thorn chuckled.
"Simple. To defeat you and bring you back to our Master. He has plans for you and your new friend." Thorn smirked as Rufus growled as he started to get up.
"Well I don't like the sound of that plan so I will have to defeat you myself." Rufus said as he rubbed his jaw.
"Either way, if you defeat me or not, you're still coming with us. Even if you somehow manage to kill me, Master will send someone else out and personally kidnap you. Oh the plans we came up with that were just far too simple to our Master."
"Why do I have a feeling they had to do with taking him while he was asleep?" Orga questioned as Thorn shrugged.
"That was the original plan but Master thought that as far too easy." The dark mage explained.
"That explains it."
"Either way, I will not step foot into your guild at all. I am a Sabertooth mage and that's how it will stay. Memory Make! Frozen Black Lighting Sword!" Rufus shouted as ice appeared and headed toward Thorn, black lighting came out of the ice. Thorn smirked and jumped out of the way as he formed a ball in his hand and sent it flying toward Rufus directly.
"RUFUS! MOVE!" Rufus heard Orga shout, just in time, Rufus stopped the spell and jumped out of the way. Rufus landed on a tree branch and glared at Thorn who leaned against a tree.
"Not bad, Rufus. I did want to see your magic and I must say, not bad. Though I do think you could use a little work." Thorn said as Rufus glared at him. Thorn chuckled as a ball of dark magic formed around his hand. "You're coming with us!" The dark hair man threw the ball of darkness at Rufus…or so he thought. He went through the memory mage and Orga smirked.
"That's the Rufus I know!"
"What in the world?!" Thorn growled but was hit from behind, sending him flying to the ground but he caught himself. He looked up to his spot and saw Rufus standing there. "HUH?!"
"That's your memory of where I was standing." Rufus explained as the dark mage blinked. "Now, if I do recall, you said I could use a little work. Hmm?"
"Well you got me there but still… I've seen better." Thorn smirked as Rufus jumped down and landed back on the ground. "Okay look Rufus, we don't have much time. The Master is waiting for you so we might as well not fight anymore. Seriously though, I can hear your body screaming in pain from the impact of the tree. You're obviously hurt and your body is telling you that you're at your limit."
"That might be true, but I will not allow you to take me to a dark guild! Memory Make." Rufus said as he glared at Thorn who just smirked as the temperature started to rise. The two just starred at each other when the earth around Thorn suddenly came up. It was not just any ordinary earth, but lava type rocks.
"Oh so we're gonna play with fire, ay?"
"Rage of the Burning Earth!" Rufus called out, the rocks exploiting around the dark haired mage.
"I don't think so! Protection! Dark shield!" Thorn called out as a shield appeared and protected himself from the attack. Rufus and Orga's eyes widen as the dark mage landed after the attack and the shield disappeared. Not a single scratch was on his body.
"How'd the hell did you do that?!" Orga barked as Rufus just stood in shock. Thorn laughed as he cracked his knuckles.
"It comes with being a mage of Viper Bite. But there's more. Oh yes there is more." Thorn smirked as Rufus prepared himself for whatever was coming next. "I'm sure you've memorized all of these, but just wait till you see this one. Absorbed Power Release! Memory Make! Rage of the Burning Earth!"
"WHAT!" Orga called out as he watched Rufus' own attack be used against him, but Rufus managed to jump out of the way quickly before he could be hit.
"H-How is this possible? Is this a dark form of Memory Magic?!" Rufus asked as he stood in pure shock.
"Nah, a dark spell that allows me absorbed anything that comes my way. Absorbed Power Release! Memory Make! Rage of the Burning Earth!" Thorn released again.
"Memory Make! Protection! Dark shield!" Rufus called out as a dark shield formed over him and Orga.
"Man this guy is crazy as hell! UGH! Why the hell did my magic have to get drained!" Orga complained, wishing he could help the blond.
"I do not know, but he is a tough opponent. I will do everything in my power not too-"
"Knock knock!" A hand came through the shield, grabbing Rufus by his throat and threw him out of the shield. Orga watched in horror as Rufus flew into another tree, hearing him scream as he came into contact with the tree. With a blink of an eye, Thorn was already walking up to Rufus.
"RUFUS! OI! LEAVE HIM THE FUCK ALONE! FIGHT ME!" Orga screamed, beyond angry now, no. He was furious! Thorn just smirked as he ignored Orga and grabbed Rufus by the neck again, lifting him and squeezing his neck. Rufus gasped and with little strength he had left now, tried to peel away the other man's hands. Thorn chuckled as he watched the Memory Mage struggle.
"Should have gone the easy way Rufus. You could have easily just come along with us and none of this would have happened."
"Oi! General! The Master wants him alive, don't strangle him!" One of the mages reminded Thorn who pouted.
"Oh yeah. So used to just killing, it's so strange to let them live. Oh well." Thorn said as he threw Rufus onto the ground. The blond coughed before he looked up to Thorn who was walking over to him.
"RUFUS! USE YOUR AFTERIMAGE!" Orga shouted as Rufus tried but he couldn't move. It was as if…he was paralyzed. Thorn had a smirk on his face and Orga had a feeling it was him that was doing this.
"OI! What the hell are you doing to him!" Orga barked as Thorn chuckled.
"Oh me? Well I guess you aren't as dumb as you seem. I'm just simply looking for a weak spot. And I think I've found it." Thorn smirked as Rufus' eyes widen. Orga blinked, Rufus had a weak spot? Orga REALLY wished his magic hadn't drained so he could help Rufus and beat the living hell out of this Thorn guy. Rufus looked seriously hurt and if at any minute he could pass out. "Absorbed Power Release! Memory Make! Rage of the Burning Earth!"
Rufus was surrounded by the lava rocks this time and was hit by the exploring rocks. "Now for that weak spot! Dark Fire Ball!" Thorn shouted as he threw a ball of dark fire at his weak spot. Rufus screamed as he was hit and then hit again. Orga felt a little of his strength return, but not enough for him to get up and catch Rufus. So he tried to crawl over there but it wasn't enough. Rufus hit the ground, holding, no, barely holding onto his left knee. Orga was in shock, not only by Rufus' weak spot was his left knee, his clothes were burnt and how…how weak Rufus looked. Thorn walked over and kicked the blond in the gut.
"OI! LEAVE HIM ALONE! HE CAN'T FIGHT ANYMORE! FIGHT ME!" Orga screamed as Thorn turned to down God Slayer, hearing Rufus cough. The dark mage chuckled and bent down to Rufus' level. Rufus glared at him.
"Well… Viper Bite-1 and Sabertooth- 0. And here I thought it'd be a challenge." Thorn chuckled as Rufus gave a weak growl and then spit in Thorn's face. "Ewww! I think I saw some blood." Thorn said in disgust. Rufus smirked but was slapped across the face.
"And here I thought you were a gentleman. Guess I was wrong." Thorn growled as Rufus moved his head toward the dark-haired mage. "But let's get this straight now, Lore…you have lost. So now, time for you to get some sleep." Thorn smirked as Rufus narrowed his eyes as the other placed his hand in front of his face.
"Sa-Sabertooth will defeat…Vip-per-" Rufus said as the sleep spell took over him, falling asleep. Thorn laughed as he stood up and picked Rufus up.
"Okay, we're done. Let's go. Open the portal." Thorn said as a dark portal opened.
"OI! I SAID TO FUCKING FIGHT ME YOU FUCKING COWARD!" Orga snarled as the dark mage turned around and smirked at Orga who was crawling toward them.
"Eh nah. But I'll be nice. Give him everything back." Thorn said as one of the mages nodded. Suddenly, Orga felt everything come back. Sparks suddenly burst as Orga screamed, running at full speed toward the mage that held onto Rufus.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Orga screamed as Thorn stepped into the portal.
"Bye bye!" Orga jumped, but the portal vanished. Orga looked behind him.
Rufus was gone and Orga couldn't help him.
The sparks that were already coming off him grew and grew as his anger built.
Orga screamed at the top of his lungs.
Something caught his attention. He turned around and saw it on the ground, Rufus' hat. Walking over, Orga bent down and gently picked it off. Gently running his hand over the damaged hat and feathers. He needed to get to Sabertooth and start a search and rescue, get other guilds to help. Rufus meant everything to him. He growled to himself as he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"VIPER BITE! YOU WILL PAY!"
Thank you for reading the first four chapters of Memorize the Darkness! If you've read it on AO3 or Tumblr, don't worry I am TokiKurp. I'm just putting the first four chapters here to see it does before putting up the next few.