Author's Notes: I apologize for the delay, but I've been very busy. Finally, I got the chance to type this. I hope it's decent enough.
Chapter 3: Run-In
Kevin slowly got up from the ground. A quick wipe of his face revealed just how hurt he was. A bit of a scratch and a bit of blood, but nothing more.
That wasn't to say the least for the damage he did to the truck. The back had been given a big dent to the back, and a horrid scratch had been left in the bottom. A tire was torn open by a sharp, broken spoke on Kevin's totaled bike, causing the truck to tilt a bit.
"Uh oh…" Kevin said, terrified for how he'd be dealt with. Ditching the useless bike, he got to his feet.
"Maybe if I leave right now he-"
That's when Kevin found himself looking up to a very tall adult, possibly in their early-twenties. He had on a huge trench coat because of the storm, and a monocle helmet over his head concealed his identity.
"I can explain!" Kevin shouted on the spot. "I swear, I was just-"
The man held up a hand, telling him to silence himself.
Kevin gulped and merely starred, shaking a bit from both fear and the cold storm. For an instant, there was only the sound of the rain beating the Earth.
The man then reached into one his many pockets, and revealed a towel, which he shielded from the rain with an umbrella. He took them both and held them in front of Kevin.
"Here, kid." the man said. "Make sure you wash that banged-up face of yours and get on home."
Kevin was shocked. "…dude, aren't you mad?"
"…don't worry about that kid. Just make sure ya clean off that face of yours. Besides, I lost my truck, you lost your bike, we're even."
Kevin was still a bit mystified by this man, though he took both the umbrella and cloth. As he whipped his face, he kept an eye on this man. "I don't have a key to get back, dude."
"Kid…" the man said, placing a hand over the helmet in frustration. "Fine then, come on in." he said, pointing to Eddy's house.
Kevin looked back at him for a moment. "Didn't think you'd come back." Kevin said.
"Things change, kid." the man said. "Come on, stop talkin' already."
With that, the man took Kevin to Eddy's front door.
Just across the street, another door burst open, revealing artificial light behind it. Double D came from this light, running into the dark atmosphere outside.
The rain and wind instantly began to beat on him. This time, he had left his house with a heavy rain coat on. Thunder roared in the distance, and lighting lit up the skies in a dramatic burst.
Though Double D didn't care. The only thought that ran through his mind was the thought of seeing his other friends very soon. That night would be the night he would see them once more. No storm would prevent this.
His trip brought him down the street. As he raced down the soaking road, be spotted Rolf's house. All of the inside lights where off, though he could see someone in the yard.
Double D was longing to go see his other friends, but still, he couldn't help but wonder why in the world Rolf would be outside at a time like this.
He slowed to a stop before Rolf's house and cup his hands on his mouth.
"Rolf!"
"Edd-boy!" Rolf shouted back.
"Are you okay?" Double D asked.
"All is well!" Rolf shouted over the storm. "Rolf is merely checking to see if his livestock is well protected against the storm of the eras! One cannot be to sure."
"Well put!" Double D said.
"…what brings a safety-obsessed boy such as yourself out here?" Rolf asked.
"There is something that must be done. I will explain later." Double D said, before continuing his run.
Rolf suddenly gave a look of suspicion. "Rolf must see what Double D-Ed Boy is up to."
The blue-haired foreign boy glanced back to the shed where his livestock was housed, making sure they where safe. Then, he ran toward the fence of his yard, jumped over the side, then followed after Double D.
It was about then that he reached the edge of the road, where the cul-de-sac ended. Before him, beyond the lane was the edge of a set of woods. Without giving it a second thought, he jumped over the fence and rushed into the darkness of the woods. All the while, he was unaware of Rolf whom had decided to follow behind him.
The further he ran into the woods, the more and more his boots began to sink into the mud. Giving a slight grimace as the thoughts of the thorough cleaning procedures that had to be done, he kept on running. The trees that towered above him shielded him from the rain, to an extent. Thunder roared a little louder now, with the winds intensifying in their strength, as he struggled to keep a hold on his trademark hat.
It took him a while, but at long last, Double D managed to reach the spot he was come for. It was a large clearing, broken only by a single tree stump in the very middle of the clearing.
He gave a smile, upon seeing the tree stump. "There it is."
"Something to hide?" a familiar voice asked.
Double D shifted himself around and looked right into the face of the local farm boy, breathing a bit heavily from the run, with his soaking blue hair drooping in front of his face, covering both eyes.
Double D was surprised to see he had followed behind. "Rolf. I-"
"Rolf is not aware of what you are doing out here alone. Double D-Edd boy must be crazy."
"I promise you, I have a very good reason." the sock hat boy said in defense.
Rolf folded up his arms. "I'm listening."
"You're explanation will have to come to an end, for the moment." a new voice said.
Double D and Rolf both looked up and starred at the end of the pathway. In the shadow of the trees, but lit up by the lightning that struck was a dark figure in a cloak that concealed most of her. A bit of long blonde hair stuck from the hood, and her mouth we visible, with two shiny white fangs.
She looked back at them, or at least turned her head toward them, and gave an evil chuckle.
Double D and Rolf gasped.
"What… kind of darkness is this?" he thought, shaking for a bit. "Rolf… has not felt such an evil presence since his childhood… …though this being."
His eyes continued to widen as his thoughts continued. "…this is no ordinary person. I can sense… a soul, a dark soul… of pure wickedness."
The dark figure's smile widened, revealing her joy in seeing Rolf look so worried.
"You… both of you… you're heroes, are you not?" she asked.
"What does that matter to you?" Double D asked.
The demonic smile shrunk to a normal expression. "…all of this matters to me. For you see, you young fools… I have known of you both for a long time."
Double D looked at the fanged mystery in a bit of nervousness now. "I…"
"So much for the heroes that saved a world. Here they are, cowering before me, like the fools I know they are." she said, with her wicked smile appearing again.
"I don't fear you." Double D said, closing his eyes. "I have gone through terrible situations, and taken great risks. This is no difference."
"Oh, but this is!" The girl said, opening her mouth wider, to reveal her fangs more.
Double D knew he had walked right into this trap, and had to get himself out of it.
"Rolf." he said, without turning toward him. "I will fend her off. You must excavate underneath the tree stump."
"What? Why?" Rolf asked.
"I will explain later." he said. "Hurry!"
Eddy looked up slowly from his magazines. From what he could see, Ed was sitting at the dinner table next to him as he scarfed down a bag of chips. At the end of the table, Jimmy was hard at work, sketching a picture. Sarah had kicked back in a chair to watch a soap opera of sorts. In the end of the room, Jonny was sitting in a wooden chair, reading a book to Plank.
Eddy cocked an eyebrow. "You guys mind? I'm trying to read this."
"Since when do you read?" Sarah asked, keeping her eyes glued to the television.
Eddy growled. "Just be happy I didn't say now, you free-loaders!"
"That's not nice, Eddy." Ed said, waving an index finger, trying to mock the way Double D would act.
"Ha, ha, funny." Eddy replied with a dead-pan voice. "Where is that guy anyway? If he going to make me do work?"
"Do it, it might do you some good." Sarah said.
"Do you have to watch that, it's giving me a headache!" Eddy shouted.
"You give me one everyday of my life." Sarah said. "It's your turn."
"Please, both of you stop bickering." Jimmy said. "It won't solve anything."
Eddy sat back in his chair. "Whatever…"
It was about then that the doorbell gave a ring.
"It's about time!" Eddy shouted, running toward the door. Ed happily followed in trail. The others also decided to see what was going on.
Eddy came to a screech at the front door. He grabbed the handle and tugged at it with a strong force.
"Took ya long enough, Double D!" Eddy shouted, expecting to see the third Ed. The door flung open, revealing two figures. One was recognized immediately as Kevin.
"What the…" Eddy asked. "Kevin, why are-"
He stopped himself as he took a look at the second visitor. The man, lifted his arm and flipped the front from his motorcycle helmet.
Eddy stopped, as if he was frozen. "…no way."
"Hey Eddy. Long time, no see." the man said.
This man looked almost exactly like Eddy, only with a little amount of a beard, and a more content expression.
"...Bro?" Eddy rolled his eyes back, gave a sigh, and slowly fell to the floor, collapsing into a complete faint.
Double D sighed. "I have not fought like this for a long time. I wished this would never come again."
With that, he looked at the mystery girl and awaited her response.
"Gallant and heroic. I suppose you may not have changed much since you gained your reputation." She held up her arms, allowing two long katana blades to unsheathe themselves from her dark robes.
Double D's eyes widened. "She isn't playing games anymore." he thought. His eyes suddenly narrowed.
"I didn't come this far to die. I made a promise, and I will to whatever is needed to fulfill that promise." he thought.
With that, it began. Taking a loud crash of thunder as a cue, the fanged one rushed him with both swords.
Double D stood, ready to defend himself. With no allies or weapons, he would have to take this hand-to-hand.
The right blade swung first in mid-run. Double D kept his wits about him and dodged the swing with a simple dodge. The left blade flew in the air next, and Double D dodged the swing once more, though she managed to nick a part of his coat, allowing small fragments of fabric to fly in the air.
Double D gave a smile and kicked up in the air quickly, hitting the flat end of the sword. The force was enough to make the woman's sword rip from her grasp, causing it soar through the air.
"What? He managed to counter attack my very first strike? …he still fights with the heart of a hero. Just as I knew it, this is no ordinary enemy."
Double D reached into the air and caught the katana in his right arm. Now, they both held a blade, standing a few feet from each other.
Lighting flashed in the air, as thunder roared. The wind brushed against their hair, as the rain continued to pour down from the dark skies.
All of the while, Rolf was still digging where the stump was, vigorously slashing at the dirt with his own bare hands.
"I must say, your skills are those of an elite fighter." the fanged one said, with the same dark smile. "I commend your bravery and cunning."
"I don't want to fight." Double D said.
"But…?" she fiendishly said slowly.
"…but I will is I must." Double D said.
"Ah, I see." the devilish one said. She slowly raised her katana to stare into her reflection. "You may not realize it now… but you have been hoping for this."
As a large flash of lightning flashed in the gloomy skies above, the mystery girl turned her blade to alter the reflection, to show Double D's face on it. "You have longed for the battle. You have wanted to feel the adrenaline of the fight. You don't want to admit it…" thunder rolled in her pause. "…but when you battle, you always feel the thrill. You found this thrilling, huh?"
"No." Double D said, without any emotion. "I find myself starring into a bad part of my past."
"Then if that's the case, then come. Take all of your fears, all of your thrill-seeking… and unleash it upon me. If you are so intent on forgetting battle, then defeat me, and defeat the will for battle."
Double D growled and gripped the sword, charging right at the girl with a battle cry.
"Just as I thought." she thought, holding the other blade.
She held her sword in defense as the attack struck the blade. Sparks flashed like the thunder as the blades collided.
The storm's intensity resumed as the battle began, flashes and sparks lit the area like the lightning did, their crashes of blades like the calls of thunder. Their shouts and calls screamed out like the wind was screaming, their running on the ground splashed in the puddles of rain.
Double D blocked the bows with the katana, allowing her to drop her guard. Double D got a free swing for another counter. She gave a gasp as the blade grazed her right leg.
"MY LEG! YOU WILL PAY!"
She gave a yell, though it was hard to tell if it was of pain or anger.
Rolf continued to swipe at the ground. However, he came to a stop as he noticed something shine.
Rolf gasped as he spotted it. "Is this what Rolf thinks this is?"
He bent down and picked up the shinny object, a little coated in dirt. It was no larger then a quarter, but amazing all the same. He held the shinny object and let the rain wash off the mud… revealing a design of an eyes that looked back at him.
"It's the Eye of Wisdom! This is what Double D wanted!"
Rolf looked back to the two fighting.
"Edd-boy! Take this!"
Rolf ran a bit and threw the relic through the air. It soared like a weapon, piercing through the storm.
Double D let go of the katana and let it fall back to the earth. His now free right arm arose and caught the item. The ancient relic began to glow the second it was grasped by the sock-headed teen.
"WHAT?" the fanged one shouted.
Beams of light radiated from Double D's hand, giving a luminous glow to the entire area. It where as though the storm had faded, but only around him.
"…of course." she thought.
In the instant that followed, Double D griped the relic even tighter, making the glow shine even more. Rolf had to shield himself from the awesome light.
"I remember now… this power." Double D thought. "I must act now."
With his free arm, he pointed at the demonic one, with the light now as bright as a miniature star.
"FIRE!"
A burning sensation filled up his finger as it began to glow bright red. Sparks at first, but then more prominent combustion exploded in a great wrath. Flames shot wildly in the air as the explosion took place.
Rolf could merely watch in amazement as the amazing display of lights and the sound of fire screaming overtook the entire area, with a flash much brighter then lightning…
"Hey, look!" Jonny shouted.
Everyone, including the newcomer adult looked out a window in Eddy's house.
"What in the world?" the man asked.
"I haven't seen anything like that before." Sarah said, starring at the distant display of lights from the woods.
"…yes, you have." Jimmy said. "We all have, except him." he motioned his head to the man.
"Oh wait, yeah I remember!" Sarah shouted.
"We do too. But how is it even possible?" Jonny asked, holding his wooden friend up to the window.
"…dude." Kevin said, simply starring out of the window in awe.
"Eddy!" Ed shouted, trying to shake Eddy back into consciousness. "You're missing this, c'mon!"
"I'm afraid this may be…" Jimmy trailed off. "I never thought I would see this again."
"I know… but how is it possible? I thought that he got rid of that thing years ago." Kevin said.
"…does someone mind filling me in on this?" the man asked, confused.
The others all looked at each other for a moment. Sarah looked at the man, acting as a spokesperson.
"We should go get Double D first, then have him decide if we should. It's mostly his thing, he should be the one to explain it."
Author's Notes: Alright, a bit of action this time. Honestly, I will be surprised if anyone hasn't yet to have an estimation about who the guy is, and many of you probably have already guessed it.
So, what's in store next? Again, I shall let you guess. Please review, as I will try to get the next one up as soon as I can.