Chapter 6- The Final Battle
{ Santerous -narrator}
The breeze of the night's crisp air reaches me. I open my wings and fly into the sky and circle the mountains for a while. As I pass the mountains for the fifth time I suddenly feel a sharp pain in my side. I start to fly lower. I make it the cave but then I collapse.
Tronay sees me, stands up, and walks over. Dartz follows and soon I'm moved to the back of the cave.
"So what can we do? We can't just sit here! We must help Santerous," Tronay says pacing the dirt floor of the cave.
"Well there is a town not to far off. I guess we could go, but I'm worried with it being nighttime and all," Dartz says sitting down.
We can't just do nothing we must help him, Uria growls as he gets to his feet after regaining consciousness during my flight around the mountains.
"We will Uria. Just go and check on Santerous," Tronay says stopping the pacing.
Fine, Uria grumbles walking toward me.
I feel Uria's gentle warm breath as he looks at me.
Santerous the others have decided to carry you to a town about five miles away, Uria says to me.
I don't feel them picking me up, as best they can, and carrying me to a net stretched between the Great Leviathan and Uria. I don't feel it when we take off. The pain starts to return in fresh waves that hit my body all over. Somehow I roar in pain. Uria turns his head to face me.
Tronay I think it's getting worse, he says.
Suddenly Uria and the Great Leviathan start to fly lower.
What's wrong my Great Beast? Dartz asks his Guardian.
I'm not sure lord Dartz. I suspect that Uria and I are feeling the same pain that Santerous is going through mentally because of his psychic powers, the Great Leviathan answers.
Tronay thinks for a second.
Uria, land! She screams.
Where? Uria asks.
"Anywhere Uria. Just land!" Dartz yells.
So the two Guardians crash into a forest that is below them, taking down at least five trees in the process. The net splits in two dropping me onto the cushiony forest floor. The Guardians land and Tronay rushes over to me.
He's fine, the Great Leviathan snarls.
Uria? Are you alright? Tronay asks.
I am fine, Uria answers.
Somehow Tronay manages to drag me to where the two Guardians and Dartz are.
Are you sure that his mind won't hurt you two this time? Dartz asks as Uria carries me on his back.
Yes lord Dartz, the Great Leviathan answers.
So they drag me into a clearing in the forest. The four of them stop to rest for a minute. Suddenly from the nearby trees a human, covered by a large white cloak, walks out into the area that we're in. Uria growls softly and moves in-between Tronay and the girl. Somehow I can sense that this person is a friend.
"Sorry for intruding on you but I couldn't help sensing that someone of your team was hurt," the girl says.
The girl looks around for a minute until she spots me. She walks over and much to her surprise, and the others, Uria fires off an Fire Blast at her feet. She backs up then continues walking toward me. Once there, she reaches out and touches one of my white scales. She kneels down and runs her hand along my side, the side were the problem began.
Then she gets up and turns to face the four of them.
"This dragon of your is very weak and sick," she says.
And what do we do? Just sit and wait for him to suffer further? The Great Leviathan growls.
"No that isn't what I meant, Guardian of the Orichalcos," she says looking up at the Great Leviathan.
"How do you know the Great Leviathan is the Guardian Dragon of the Orichalcos?" Tronay asks.
"Simple. Because I have a Guardian of my own," she replies.
She whistles and a few moments later a silverily-white dragon comes, landing in front of the girl. The dragon roars and paws the ground. In her blue eyes they can see loyally and trust toward this female.
"Meet my dragon Silver. Now if you will allow me. I will carry your friend on my back," she says.
But how? Uria asks.
She picks my limp body up, by telekinesis, and carries it behind her. Once we reach the town, they find nowhere that has space for me.
"It's useless. No one would want to help a dragon," Tronay says leaning against a tree.
"Yes but isn't your friend truly a human?" The girl asks.
Yes. How do you know that? Uria asks.
"Let's just say I've heard things," she says.
Later that night everyone is asleep, except the girl. She gets up and stares at the full moon.
Sarina, should we worry about Santerous? asks Silver.
"No," Sarina replies. "Silver, as I've told you before, everything has a purpose in life. Just as I once had one, so too will my brother."
Sarina turns and looks at Santerous.
Sarina . . . Silver begins.
"Do you think that I don't remember what happened in the Guardian chamber on that night?" Sarina asks turning back around to face her dragon.
You do, but that wasn't what I meant, Silver says.
"That night changed everything . . ." Sarina begins as she got up off the grass and starts to walk over to where Santerous lay.
{Sarina-narrator}
That night I was waiting for Santerous to return from the Guardian chamber but he was late. So I decided to go and find him. As I was walking toward the chamber I saw a dragon fly into it. Naturally it was Mirage, Santerous' Guardian Dragon. Then, a few seconds later, a piercing dragon's cry reached me.
I ran toward the chamber but I was too late. The Light of Destruction had already taken over Santerous. Once inside the chamber I saw Mirage lying against a wall, I ordered him to leave. I called upon Silver and we stood our ground. Suddenly Santerous picked me up, by telekinesis, and threw me against one of the walls of the chamber.
Silver sprung, rushing toward him. He did the same to her. I managed to get to my feet. Suddenly Santerous fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Sarina . . ." he says opening his eyes.
"You're all right Santerous," I reply.
I always thought that you were too scared to face him, Silver says.
"Perhaps but on that night fate chose for it to happen," Sarina says as she placed her hand on Santerous' shoulder.
Brother your time has come. Remember what you used to tell me when we were little? 'Trust the light within.' Well it's time you trust the light within yourself, Sarina hums.
Suddenly light began to cover Santerous' body and the light began to rise into the sky.
Sarina couldn't the others find you here with him and think you are going to hurt him? Silver asks in worry.
"No, they know not of my intentions yet," Sarina says.
I see, so we shall lie low for now? Silver asks.
"Yes. The transformation is just about done," Sarina replies.
The light died down until none of its glare could be seen. Before Sarina lay her brother's true form, his original human one.
{Tronay -narrator}
The next morning we finally find a place that will take Santerous. It's old and rusty but it will do. As we await the results Sarina finally pulls down the hood on her cloak. Both her hair color and eye color is the same as Santerous' eye and hair color are: purple. Finally the doctors allow one person to see him.
The rest must wait outside in the lobby. Sarina gets up and follows the doctor to Santerous' room.
{Sarina-narrator}
As I step inside the room the doctor shuts the door.
"Your friend is sleeping right now," he says.
He leaves, allowing me to be with Santerous. As I near the bed that he's on I find my hands sweaty. He weakly opens his eyes and looks up at me.
"Sarina," Santerous says weakly.
I kneel down to eye level with him.
"Hush brother, save your breath. You may speak to me using your mind, if you wish," I say softly.
Very well sister. Sarina I don't care what those doctors say, but I do know that its some kind of poison, he says.
"Poison but how?" I ask.
Even I don't know but I do think that the Light of Destruction somehow created it to further weaken me, he says.
"So you think . . ." I begin.
Sarina I don't know. Just do one thing for me. Wait until night falls then let Silver and Uria put the guards to sleep. Then bring Tronay with you and come back in here, he says.
So I do as he asks.
"Where are we going?"Tronay asks.
"Just be quiet Tronay," I reply.
We enter his room. Surprisingly Santerous is standing up.
"Ah good timing," he says. "Now, I know that both of you are wondering why I'm standing. But in order to do what must be done I cannot sit. So are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" Tronay asks.
"Tronay I think he wants to duel us," I replies.
"Correct Sarina," Santerous says activating his duel disk.
"Duel!" The three of us shout.
Santerous: 4000
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 4000
"The first move is mine!" Santerous says. "I play Celestial Sword and as you already know I can now summon Guardian Eatos (2500/?) to the field. I end my turn."
"Quite clever Santerous. Summoning a monster with 2500 attack points on your first move. But however it can't beat what I'm about to summon," Sarina says. "I play my Guardian Call trap card to summon Guardian Dragon Silver (4000/?). Now since I can't attack I'll place one card face-down and end my turn."
"My move!" Tronay says. "I'll also play my Guardian Call trap card to summon my Guardian Dragon Uria (4000/?) in attack mode. Then I'll place one card face-down also and end my turn."
"Do you honestly think that I summoned Eatos just to get you to summon Silver and Uria? No I didn't. But since you have your Guardians out I may as well summon mine," Santerous says. "I play a spell card known as Guardian Search."
"What does that card do?" Tronay asks.
"I search my deck till I find my Guardian and then I can summon Mirage to the field. So come forth Guardian Dragon Mirage (4000/?)," Santerous says. "Next I'll play the spell card Guardian Sacrifice. So that means I can send both of your Guardians to the graveyard and then I can summon them to my side of the field. And with that I end my turn," Santerous says once Uria and Silver are on his side of the field.
"My move," Sarina says. "I summon my Crystal Dragon-Ruby to the field in defense (1800/1500) and I end my turn."
"My move!" Tronay says. "I call Spirit Dragon to the field in defense (2500/?) and I end my turn."
"Do you honestly think that your pitiful weakling dragons can stand up to 3 Guardian Dragons? I think not," Santerous says. "Now go Uria and Silver! Take out Crystal Dragon-Ruby and Spirit Dragon!"
"You just activated my Crystal Dragon-Ruby's effect. So your attack is canceled out since Silver has more attacks points than my Crystal Dragon-Ruby's defense points," Sarina says.
"Good move, but I can still destroy Tronay's Spirit Dragon," Santerous says.
"I don't think so. Because I reveal my face-down spell card Guardian Recovery," Tronay says.
"Guardian what?" Santerous asks.
"Guardian Recovery. It works like this: I can bring Uria back to my side of the field as long as I give up 1000 life points," Tronay says.
Santerous: 4000
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 3000
"I end my turn," Santerous says.
"Good," Sarina says. "I summon my Crystal Dragon-Sapphire to the field in attack mode (1550/2000). Next I activate his effect. So his attack power is doubled."
Crystal Dragon-Sapphire: 3100/2000
"That can't beat Silver and Mirage," Santerous says.
"Perhaps, but I don't plan on attacking them. My dragon's after your Guardian Eatos," Sarina says.
"No!" Santerous screams.
Santerous: 3400
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 3000
"Now I end my turn," Sarina says.
"My move," Tronay says. "I play the trap card Guardian Fury."
"Guardian what?" Santerous asks.
"Guardian Fury. Since you have two Guardians on the field Uria gets a 1000 point boost and he can attack twice," Tronay replies.
Uria: 5000/?
Santerous: 1100
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 3000
"Is that all?" he asks.
"No and that's far from all that I can do," Tronay replies. "Because I play my Monster Reborn spell card. So I bring back your Guardian Eatos (2500/?) to my side of the field. And with that I end my turn."
"My move," Santerous says. "I play a spell card known as Guardian Recall so I can bring back Mirage with 500 extra attack points. I end my turn."
Mirage: 4500/?
"My move," Tronay said. "I'll attack Mirage with Uria."
Santerous: 600
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 3000
"And with that I end my turn," Tronay says after attacking.
"My move," Sarina says. "I switch my Crystal Dragon-Sapphire to defense (2000/1550). Next I summon my Crystal Dragon-Diamond in defense as well (1500/?). I end my turn."
"My move," Santerous says. "I play . . ."
He hesitates. His hand on the card he was about to play.
I can't play this card, I just can't. Tronay, Sarina, the Guardians, all of them wouldn't trust me anymore if I used it, Santerous thinks.
Santerous raises the card into the air.
I can't use it, I can't, Santerous thinks again.
Suddenly a stone hanging around his neck on a string starts to shine slightly with green light.
Sarina that card. . . . that card is the source of power that destroyed our paradise, Silver says to Sarina.
"I . . . I play the Seal of Orichalcos!" Santerous shouts as he slides the spell into the field spell slot on his deck.
The Seal of Orichalcos in-circles Tronay, Sarina, and Santerous.
"Santerous how . . . How could you?" Tronay asks.
"I had no choice Tronay. I can't lose this duel," Santerous says.
"Even at the cost of destroying yourself?" Sarina asks.
"I don't care! I play the spell card Monster Reborn to re-summon Mirage," Santerous said.
Mirage: 4000/?
"Now Mirage destroy Tronay's Guardian Eatos, " Santerous says.
Santerous: 600
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 2000
"Tronay, are you alright?" Sarina asks as Tronay gets back on her feet from being blown backwards from the force of Eatos being destroyed.
"Just fine Sarina," Tronay replies.
"I end my turn," Santerous says.
"My move," Sarina says. "I sacrifice my Crystal Dragon-Ruby, Crystal Dragon-Sapphire, and Crystal Dragon-Diamond to summon my Rainbow Dragon (6850/?). Now Rainbow Dragon destroy Santerous' Guardian Dragon Mirage with Rainbow Meteor!"
Santerous: 0
Sarina: 4000
Tronay: 2000
Santerous collapses to the ground. Sarina runs over to him and tries to pick him up. She only manages to lift him onto her legs, chest and up.
"Sarina promise me that you'll look after Tronay and the Guardians," Santerous says.
"I will brother," Sarina replies.
"Good. I leave you with this," he says handing Sarina an amulet.
"What is it?" Sarina asks.
"You remember the amulet that our father gave me when I got Mirage don't you?" Santerous asks.
"Yes, but why are you giving it to me?" Sarina replies.
"Simple. I used the last of my power to complete the spell," Santerous says.
"What spell?" Tronay asks.
"The spell that would release the Light of Destruction's energy from within me," Santerous replies.
His head drops into Sarina's chest.
"Santerous, don't leave us yet!" Sarina says as tears begin to form in the corners of her eyes.
"In order for the spell to be completed a human spirit must be sacrificed," Santerous says. "So I offered mine to finish the spell."
"But why? You could have told us . . ." Sarina begins.
"Yeah, you weren't alone Santerous," Tronay says.
"Tronay and Sarina trust me I wanted to tell but I was slowly growing weaker by the Light of Destruction. Sarina, the Light of Destruction is pure darkness. I know first-hand . . ." Santerous says.
Santerous' closes his eyes and draws his final breathe.
"Santerous . . ." Sarina cries lowering him to the dusty dirt floor.
Eatos summons herself right next to Tronay.
Sarina . . . Eatos begins.
"I failed him. I made him a promise back in Atlantis, to protect him always, and I failed," Sarina says crying as she falls to her knees next to Santerous' lifeless body.
"Sarina that's not true," Tronay says.
Tronay, Sarina, we should go, Eatos says as the building starts to collapse from the force of the duel.
Tronay helps raise Sarina to her feet and they walk out.
Deep in the sea, a stone tablet starts to shine. Its light illuminate the bottom of the sea with its white light.