Here's chapter twenty - four. Thank you caitlinkeitorin, Eddie Camp, and Grim Reaper Kid for reviewing last chapter!
Chapter Twenty - Four: Knight of Despair
Xuren looked down at the Light Army village in the fading light of the sun. "We'll strike soon," he said.
"But, Master Xuren, one of the Keybladers you sent out hasn't come back yet!"
He whipped his head around to glare at the outspoken warrior. "The other two have," he snapped, "and we aren't just going to wait around! If he's late, that's his problem. If he's dead…" He laughed. "That's also his problem."
The other Keybladers were quiet for a few moments. Finally, one spoke up tentatively. "So…what do we do?"
"We'll split up into three groups," Xuren decided, eyes glittering. "And we'll attack…as soon as full night falls."
Gillick walked slowly into the town. Night had fallen, but the glow from the torches allowed him to see the safe haven. He trudged along slowly, only half-awake. He pulled out his munny pouch and tiredly counted what remained. Not enough to waste on an inn, he decided. Much as he hated the idea of having to deal with thieves, he'd have to take refuge in an alleyway.
Gillick turned slowly down the nearest alley. He slid down to the ground and leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. Hopefully, the assassin won't try to strike tonight…
He jerked awake at a sudden noise. He stood slowly to his feet, eyes scanning the area for what had caused it. His body was tense as he searched.
Then, he saw the source of the noise; Dark Army Keybladers. And they were coming towards him.
"But why aren't we staying in an inn?" Riun complained.
"Um…because we aren't," Mala replied, not wanting to admit that it was her lack of trust and lack of money that forced them to stay on the streets. Riun pouted, crossing his arms. "Come on, it's not that bad; at least we have light." She gestured to the torches that surrounded them.
She halted abruptly as she saw something move up ahead. She quirked an eyebrow. Maybe more stragglers like us, she though, knowing that people on the road would often come into town during a New Moon.
Her opinions soon changed when she saw something glint in the torchlight. Armor? But…usually when there was armor, there was…
Her suspicions were confirmed when one of the shadows summoned a weapon and set a house ablaze. Screeches of alarm immediately went up. "Keybladers are attacking," she muttered. She reached for her bow and arrows…only to remember belatedly that she'd used up all her arrows in the fight against the Dark Army. Cursing under her breath, she whipped around and grabbed Riun, ignoring his protests as she hauled him into an alley.
He jabbed his weapon into one of the oncoming Keybladers. She fell with hardly a cry. He continued to fell his opponents as quickly as possible. He didn't know how many he'd fought, or how many would continue to stream into the narrow alley. He simply fell into the rhythm of battle.
He froze suddenly. A wild, inhuman call pierced the night.
Mala stiffened as a cry echoed through the night. He grip tightened around Riun. "Ow! Mala, you're hurting me!"
She ignored the young boy's protests and glanced around the edge of the alley. She didn't see it yet…that was good. "Come on, Riun, we need to get out of here."
"What? Out of town?"
"Yes."
"Are you just scared of the Keybladers?"
"There's something much worse I'm worried about."
She had just dragged the boy out into the streets when the torches suddenly flickered out. Mala felt cold dread creep down her spine. Slowly, she turned her head. All she could see in the darkness was a patch of glowing blue and two eerie patches of light…light she knew to be eyes. The eyes moved, and a snarl ripped through the night.
Fear and adrenaline lanced through her. "Riun, we need to run!"
"Why?"
She felt the boy slip from her grasp. A straggled cry of, "No!" escaped from her lips, but she couldn't see well enough in the darkness to find the boy.
She heard his voice come from nearby. "What is it?"
Mala didn't think; she simply lunged towards the sound. She felt someone, and tackled them to the ground. A moment later, a fireball streaked away and hit a building, illuminating the night once more.
Mala looked up from where she'd tackled Riun. The Keybladers that'd swarmed the town had stopped their rampage, looking at the monster before them with undisguised horror. "Is that…?" one of them asked, trailing off.
Mala swallowed hard, fear glittering in her eyes. "The Knight."
He watched his enemies carefully. They'd backed off a bit, seemingly a bit more wary of him now. That was good. It'd give him an edge.
For several moments, both sides waited in tense silence. Then one Keyblader lunged toward him with a furious war cry.
He lashed out and blocked the Keyblade. The man's eyes widened as he was first pushed back, then stabbed. He fell with only a strangled gurgle.
He suddenly felt something tugging at him. His wounds…they weren't completely healed yet…
The Knight swept its glowing gaze around the Keybladers before it. Mala, and Riun hidden under her, didn't appear to be much of a threat to it. It was little wonder; the Keybladers that had tried charging it so far had been felled with little effort.
She knew she should move, but fear kept her paralyzed where she was. She was having trouble thinking; having trouble doing anything but listening to the pounding of her heart.
Then, slowly, the helmeted head of the monster that stood over her looked down. Her breathing grew louder, but she didn't move. Riun, still protected beneath her body, had stopped trying to struggle away. She looked up at the creature. None of the Keybladers seemed willing to move to her aid. She was on her own.
Then, slowly, the Knight began bending down towards her. The movements, hindered by the armor joints, seemed stiff and awkward. She was shaking violently as the Knight's glowing eyes edged closer to her. It growled quietly. A familiar sort of fear crept into her body. It would attack soon; she knew it. What kind of horrible death would be in store for her and Riun?
Mala finally snapped out of her stupor. Her hand shot out and grabbed the nearest weapon she could find; a rock, one that, thankfully, had a pointed tip. She lunged it upwards to the only weak spot in the Knight's armor; it's upper arm. The creature seemed to try to move away, but wasn't quick enough.
The sharpened tip of the rock sunk into the creature's flesh. The Knight let out a roar of fury and pain as Mala dragged the rock down through the glowing blue on the bared flesh. Dark blood seeped from the wound and spilled onto the ground.
Mala quickly grabbed Riun and tried to scramble away. The Knight, however, had been enraged into a fury. It shot out a Blizzard spell. The attacked caught her legs, freezing her in place. She released Riun, pushing him forward. "Riun! Get out of here!"
"But what about you?"
The Knight was coming for them. Mala covered her head with her hands, shaking and waiting for death to come.
The Dark Army Keybladers had decided to swarm him. Great. Just great.
They obviously seemed to think their greater numbers would overwhelm him. Well, he'd have to prove them wrong. Even with his injuries, he'd defeat them.
He lunged forward, kicking away one Keyblader and slashing at another…
She felt something break the ice encasing her legs. She looked up in surprise to see a Keyblader. "Get out of here!" he commanded. She could only nod shakily. She scrambled to her feet, trying to run away.
The Knight saw her, and lifted its clawed hand to send a spell towards her. It was stopped, however, as Keybladers began to converge on it. It snarled, slashing and clawing at the humans clinging to it…
He could feel his wounds beginning to ache. Pain was pulsing through him, but he ignored it. He had enemies to fight; if he stopped, he'd die.
He slashed at them, trying to force them back. The Keybladers were persistent. They seemed to be determined to kill him. Seemed to be a reoccurring theme in his life recently…
"Riun!" she called frantically. She had to find the boy and get them out of there. If not…she didn't want to think about it.
"Mala!" She heard the boy's response, and whipped around, trying to find him. Nearby, the Keybladers were still trying to fight the Knight. The monster kept attacking and firing off spells, keeping the Keybladers at bay…
He was growing frustrated. He lashed out blindly, hoping the idiots would leave him be.
The Keybladers seemed to finally realize how foolish an idea this was. "Why are we doing this?" one asked. "We're supposed to be attacking the town."
Another swallowed hard. "Good point. Let's get out of here."
He watched them run…
The Keybladers seemed ready to give up on their fight with the Knight and flee. The Knight, however, didn't seem willing to let them go so easily. It fired a Thundaga spell towards the fleeing Keybladers. They screeched and convulsed with pain as the spell lanced through them.
Mala watched it all in horror. She shivered, her search for Riun nearly forgotten. She could only look on as the Knight killed the Keybladers.
A hand landed on her shoulder, and she jumped. "Well, I see you're still standing back."
She looked up and gaped with surprise. "It's you!" The man who'd met her after she'd fled from the Moogle village, and the Knight had attacked. The one who had convinced her to try and fight to help Trevor.
The man glanced towards her. "Go; find your friend and leave. I believe…this battle is meant for me to fight."
Black wings erupted from the Knight's back, and it flapped them to lift into the air. The man followed behind the beast at a rapid pace. "Wait!" Mala protested, taking a few steps after him. Then she stopped. He wouldn't catch the Knight…at least, she didn't think so. Right now, she just had to find Riun.
He left soon after the Keybladers did. He stopped to rest some distance away, not expecting anyone or anything else to show up. So he was surprised when something did.
He jerked back in surprise as a figure appeared before him; a stocky armored creature with glowing eyes and a glowing arm. He remembered it from his childhood. The Knight.
The beast extended a clawed hand towards him. He lunged forward without thinking. His weapon grazed the helmet.
Gillick froze as a face was revealed. But…I know this person!
He was suddenly sent flying backwards. He collided with a building, the force of the blow causing him to break through the wood and bring the structure down. He felt his arm burn, and something hit his head hard. Then he fell into unconsciousness.
Xuren frowned, looking around his area of the town. There didn't seem to be…as much destruction as he'd thought there'd be. What are those other two groups doing? he wondered. One thing was for sure; they'd be in huge trouble when the attack was over.
That's the end of chapter twenty - four. What'd you think? Reviews are awesome!