Chapter Nineteen: Inner Beauty Exposed
Lord Zedd looked at the silver haired woman defiantly. Red Energy, the portion of the Emotional Spectrum connected to Rage, emanated from the possessed soldier. His eyes would've drilled holes into "Margaret", or Rita, if they could've.
How dare she mock my greatness!? He wondered in sincere confusion.
The man whose body the Dark Lord now inhabited, the real Zedd, who once was a commander in the Alliance, laughed. Maybe she doesn't find you attractive? Don't worry: you'll find your dream ghoul someday!
The valiant man, a prisoner in his own body, had found a way to keep himself sane: if he constantly mocked his parasite, he would be able to feel as if he were winning something. Although the Dark Lord consistently ignored him, the comments were starting to get on his nerves. Commander Zedd knew this, which gave him some solace in such an awful situation.
The girl who defied him, Rita (a mole inside the highest ranks of the United Alliance), looked again upon Sentinel Knight. She bent over and patted the being on the head once again, mockingly.
"You were right to stay cooped up all these years. The Corona Aurora is still highly sought after. It's okay... my father will give it a good home!" She cackled as she turned to face Zedd again.
He had preoccupied himself with a small feeding from the moon's almost nonexistent lifestream as Rita spoke to Sentinel Knight. Feeling a bit more fed, he turned to face his new rival.
"Hey, old guy!" Rita said, losing the composure she had for so long as a member of the Alliance.
Zedd lifted up his staff at the Witch. "You can have the small armored man. I am here for something else. Now leave me be!"
Zedd could feel an energy source nearby. Although he heard Rita's bantering, his mind was suddenly drawn to it. He wanted it. Heneeded it, but he knew it would be protected. He needed to feed a bit longer to be ready to fight for it.
Rita flashed a smile. "You're here for the Zeo Crystal! Come with me and we can get it together!"
The name rang through the shared mind of Zedd and the Dark Lord. Commander Zedd quickly blocked all he knew about the Zeo Crystal to the Dark Lord.
So this is where they decided to hide it. Interesting... Commander Zedd thought to himself.
He found it curious that it was that artifact that brought him to Earth's Moon. His prized discovery. The object he thought that would make him a renowned archaeologist. He wondered if the fates were playing a cruel joke on him.
Commander Zedd watched in wonder when the Dark Lord was able to recall information about the Zeo Crystal. He could see that the Dark Lord was recalling that information of himself, and not from Zedd's mind. He was baffled by the fact that the Dark Lord had such insight, when it should've been impossible from what little time he had in existence.
First Edenoi, now the Zeo Crystal... How does he have such information!? Zedd wondered to himself.
The images that flashed were static-like. Both Zedd and the Dark Lord were only able to make out small bits of the information the Dark Lord had on the Zeo Crystal: a cave under the Moon's Palace; a monstrous red being, whose characteristics couldn't be made out in the shadows. He sat on a throne in the palace; Rita bowing before him, kissing his feet. An ape-like creature stood next to her in gold armor; a fighter in white grabbing the crystal. It was blurry and his details could not be discerned; the final image was of five warriors, wearing colored outfits. They each had symbols on what could only be helmets-the one in pink had an oval; the yellow one's helmet had two longer, thinner, horizontal ovals; the one in blue had a triangle; the green one had a rectangle; the final scene in his "memory" was of the blurry man in white suddenly becoming the red warrior, a five point star being his symbol.
The Dark Lord looked around. He realized, somehow, that all around him would be his. He also knew there was one thing that would stand in his way: the White Warrior. Zedd knew he had to get the Zeo Crystal before the anonymous warrior did. He then looked at Rita, the woman he had seen bowing before him in his mind. He laughed and pointed his staff at her.
"I work alone." He focused his energy into his staff and blasted the silver haired witch. Laughing, he turned around and headed toward the palace.
Dulcea fought through crowds of goat-men and Tenga Warriors. Her stamina was at its peak. She felt as if she had never been stronger: she had recently used powers she hadn't tapped in quite some time. These were the powers of her ancestors, the Nathadians. With their power coursing through her, she was a force to be reckoned with.
She jumped into the air, planted one foot on the side of the palace's outer wall, and propelled herself into a mass of villains. She swung her staff, beating many enemies in one fell swoop.
"Now that's showy!" Captain Louse remarked, stopping mid-battle to admire Dulcea's abilities.
Marvin Louse used his sword to pin his opponent to a wall as he exerted pressure on the foe. Annoyed, the goat hybrid grunted as a complaint. Louse put his index finger to his lips, signifying he didn't want to hear from his opponent.
Curious, Luka walked through the battlefield, shooting and kicking opponents out of her way nonchalantly. She walked up to Louse, considered the monster he had pinned to the wall, and punched it, knocking it out cold.
She looked and Dulcea and nodded. "You're right. She is good! I guess that's why we aren't Masters!"
Louse winked at his friend. "Not yet, anyway!"
And with that, they began again fighting the hordes around them. Worried about the other Masters, Dulcea started back toward the palace. As she did, she felt something powerful hit her in the back. Unconscious, she took a hard fall to the ground beneath her, sand and rocks cutting into her skin.
Lord Zedd looked at the fallen warrior and smiled. "Another one down... This is like swatting flies!"
He proclaimed as he entered the palace from its entrance at its base level. As he did, one of the medics, Priscilla, saw the warrior who had fallen on the ground. Monsters were making their way toward her.
It's my turn to help you... She thought. She ran into the circle closing in on Dulcea, ready to fight.
Lord Zedd looked around as he found his way through the palace's basement. Suddenly, he was at the entrance of the Caves of Deception. Before he took his first step in, he spun around as he heard footsteps behind him.
Novact stood in front of him, blaster aimed and ready. "My boss is very upset with you. You see, that young lady you tried to destroy, Rita... well, that was his daughter..."
Commander Zedd beheld the scene in amazement: the man who he pitied and let onto his research team not too long ago had become one of the generals of one of the most evil empires in the universe. He was staring at him from his possessed body, as his parasite argued with the traitor for the artifact which he had discovered in the first place. Zedd knew not whether to laugh or curse his luck. The situation was far too surreal to make sense to him.
"This is why people should work alone: no attachments, no weaknesses." Lord Zedd retorted simply.
The words struck a cord deep in Novact's mind. It was a simple thought, but it made a lot of sense to him.
Novact nodded. "Though you may be right, nonetheless, you are in my way. I need to get to the Zeo Crystal."
Zedd looked at this man. He could feel great power... great confidence exuding from him. He wondered how much that confidence would carry him in life...
Is he the White Warrior? Deciding not to chance it, Lord Zedd attacked Novact.
The Magic Novact was given by Master Vile amplified his natural abilities to tap the Morphing Grid. He felt uninhibited in battle, and that battle was no different. He drew his blade and held a blaster in the opposite hand. His sword clinked on Zedd's staff.
Zedd was surprised at the man's abilities. Novact had so much pent up Rage in him, when he focused on it, he became a beast in battle.
Responding to the alarms going off from the intruders, Masters Gosei and Kamen made their way to the cave's entrance. They stopped as they watched the two former archaeologists battle it out, with powers rivaling the best among the ranks of the Morphing Masters.
Gosei's eyes became white as he focused on his connection to the Morphing Grid. Chunks of rock were ripped from the ground as he focused. He sent several toward the battle.
Sensing the attack from the third party, Zedd locked arms with Novact. Novact took the opportunity and stabbed Zedd in the ribs. Both inhabitants of the vessel mentally cringed in pain. The Dark Lord activated many inhibitory neurons in Zedd's body to stop feeling the pain. As he did, he also swung Novact in the direction of the Morphing Masters. Novact collided with Gosei's attack. Taking advantage of the situation, Lord Zedd quickly sprinted into the cave. Jumping over Novact, Gosei and Kamen took pursuit.
All the while, Master Vile, Rito, and Rita entered the same area. After having traversed the area a bit, they looked down at Novact's unconscious body and figured the battle must have intensified. At that, Vile ordered Rito to take Novact back to the Skull Ship. They, too, then entered the caves.
As Zedd made his way, he felt a curious Red Magic course through the walls. He felt it penetrate him and search his mind. Commander Zedd suddenly saw images of his worst fears: being stuck as "Lord" Zedd indefinitely; destroying everyone in the Alliance; seeing the Dark Lord obtain the Zeo Crystal. Unaffected by the powerful Red Magic, the Dark Lord directed Zedd's body deeper into the labyrinth. Zedd noticed the Dark Lord's immunity to the Magic, and repeated his thoughts from earlier: What are you?
Gosei and Kamen approached every corner cautiously. They feared behind one of them would be a villain, ready to attack. Although they had some confidence in Dulcea's Magic, it was only some.
Kamen looked down on his arm. He, Gosei, and Dulcea had been branded with a symbol. Dulcea had said the symbols would cause them to be impervious to the Magic of the caves.
I hope you're right... Kamen thought as he continued navigating.
Master Vile and Rita weren't faring as well as the others. Vile had so much impurity in him that his vision was simple: himself. His ego and evil were so large, the only thing he feared was himself. He began battling himself right as his doppelganger lunged forward. As he began to battle, he feared that this time he would not come out the victor.
Rita backed away confused, not knowing which Vile to attack. She decided to go ahead, to not lose their chance at the Zeo Crystal. As she turned the corner, she found two Humans standing with their backs turned to her.
She got into a Magic casting stance to warn the two. "You had better move if you know what's good for you!"
They turned, looking at her. They smiled. It was a man and a woman. The woman reached out her hand.
"Come with me. I will cleanse you."
Rita's head started throbbing. She fell to her knees. Suddenly, she saw a series of images: a little girl playing by a stream; people running and screaming; the woman and man who were currently before her, running in the vision to grab the girl; a shadow descending upon the girl; the girl screaming.
And with that, the pain faded. She looked up to see the two melting, covered in green and black flames. She then turned to see her father standing behind her, a look of pride on his face.
"There is but one Master Vile! No cheap parlor trick can mimic me! Let us go now, Rita. Destiny awaits!"
Meanwhile, Zedd found himself at the end of the cave, staring at the Zeo Crystal. Suddenly, the helmet of the Red Star Warrior floated back to the front of his mind.
"Zeo..." He grunted.
He then reached toward the artifact. Commander Zedd watched, knowing his fears were becoming a reality.
"Stop!" Kamen yelled rushing in with Gosei.
Zedd turned to face the two Masters. "Or what?"
Kamen shook his head. "It is a warning. You have no idea what kind of enchantment the crystal is under. Trust me... you don't want to do this!"
Zedd laughed. "Has that line actually ever worked for you, dear? Haha! This is the dawn of a new era! Witness the birth of pure evil!"
As Kamen predicted, the enchantment Sentinel Knight had recently put over the crystal took effect as Lord Zedd grabbed at the crystal: it read the Dark Lord's intent for the Zeo Crystal and began attacking him. Meanwhile, a second occurrence was ongoing that no one else saw: the Zeo Crystal read Commander Zedd's good heart, and embedded the body the two beings shared with a portion of Zeo Morphing Energy.
Unfortunately for both of them, the second side effect could not negate, or even numb, the spell's first consequence, targeted at the Dark Lord's evil ambitions. Zedd fell to the floor, howling in pain. Gosei and Kamen backed away in horror.
They couldn't help but watch the power before them, though: Zedd's skin tore at its cleavage lines. Kamen noted Lord Zedd had no blood: green light flowed out when his skin tore, returning to the environment around them from which it came.
Commander Zedd screamed in pain in his own mind. The stress was unbearable. The Dark Lord desperately attempted activating inhibitory neurons but to no avail.
After the skin lay on the ground, like a snake's leftover shedding, Zedd's muscles regressed into their respective body cavities. This continued until Zedd's bones were on the outside of his body. He had an exoskeleton.
The portion of the Zeo Crystal that corresponded to the silver wavelength of the Morphing Grid was the portion allotted to the mentally trapped Commander Zedd. It was just as powerful as the gold portion Tria had taken for herself. That portion of Morphing Energy activated in Zedd's body. The exoskeleton turned into a silver armor. His skull melted away into a grill, and what had been his septum floated upward, turning into a small "Z" as a symbol of his power.
The transformation was complete. Where there once had been a Human was a red being seemingly made only of muscle. His silver exoskeleton reflected what little light was in the small enclave. Gosei and Kamen could see the sinewy being before them laborously breathing. Exhausted from the energy transfer, as well as the destruction of their body, Lord Zedd lay unconscious on the floor of the Caves of Deception.