OoO( 33 )OoO
Lyle and Thunder stood with their backs against the wall of a small room they had been cornered in, sweating profusely. The warrior looked to Thunder and said, "Ready?" The dark knight nodded and Lyle jumped into the hallway crowded with guards and unleashed a hellish fireball, blasting the guards backwards. Running forward the warrior dove onto one guard and impaled him through the stomach.
Thunder ran past Lyle and swung his sword in a massive attack, cleaving one guard in two and taking off the arm of another. A guard with a crossbow at the end of the hall aimed an attack at the dark knight, when both Thunder and Lyle unleashed a streaking lightning bolt making him fly back and smash into the opposite wall with such force that it shattered his spine. Thunder looked ahead and saw more guards running down the corridor ahead to join the battle. Looking over he noticed another barrel similar to the others sitting next to the door.
Smiling, the knight turned to Lyle, "Hey farmboy, watch this!" he yelled, firing another bolt of lightning as the guards emerged from the hall. It flew and hit the barrel, causing a massive explosion that tore the closest guards apart and set the others on fire. Lyle smirked as they both ran through the room and into the new hall. Turning a corner they found stairs and three guards at the top, all with crossbows aimed directly for them. Thunder immediately held up the small shield at his side and Lyle dove back behind the corner. Three bolts were fired, one completely missing, one pinging off Thunders shield, and another sinking into the dark knights leg. He roared in pain and sent a bolt of lightning flying from his sword, hitting one of the guards and going completely through his body, melting his innards and killing him instantly.
Lyle rolled back into view and hurled his katana at the second guard, scoring as it sank into the mans throat. Dragging the tip of his sword along the ground, he dashed up the stairs as the final guard began to reload. Cocking the bow back, putting the bolt on, and aiming wildly at the quickly approaching terror, the guard fired. Lyle jumped forward in what seemed like slow motion, watching as the bolt came closer until he finally reached up and smacked it out of the air. Time flew normally again and Lyle thrusted his sword forward, making it drive up to the hilt in the guards now permanently open mouth. Kicking the man off his sword, Lyle grabbed the katana again and ran down the corridor with Thunder dashing up the stairs and following him.
They looked ahead and saw more guards. "We must have woken up the whole prison!" shouted Lyle over the din of the massed guards in the room. Thunder laughed out loud and pulled the crossbow bolt from his leg as they stopped. Lyle looked at Thunder. "You like the heat?" he asked.
Thunder looked at him oddly. "Why do you ask?"
Lyle smirked and said, "Watch this..." then ran towards the crowded room, throwing the bag of explosive powder aside. Using his momentum, he stepped on the back of one guard who didn't notice him running and launched himself into the air. Raising his fist in mid air, every eye in the room was on him. Guards in the center clear the way so as not to be landed on, giving him plenty of room to plant his feet. Lyle hit the ground and slammed his fist visciously into the stone floor. Immediately fire warped the air and raised to the ceiling, shooting out like a tidal wave and smashing into the barrels at the edge of the room, causing earth shattering explosions to tear across the room. Lyle stood again and every being in the room was either lying in the floor smoldering from the flames or torn apart by the blasts from the barrels.
Thunder ran up to Lyle and shoved him. "You need to teach me to do that farmboy..." he said jokingly.
"Maybe later, I'm busy right now!" he said as they dashed down the hall together. Finally, they came upon what appeared to be a store room for supplies. They both looked around and saw only a pair of guards that seemed to be minding their own buisiness. Lyle took his bow off his back and fired at one, dropping him instantly. Thunder turned and blocked the way as the other ran for the warrior. As soon as he got too close, the knights sword shot out and impaled the man through his stomach.
Thunder lifted him up with the blade, then threw him across the room. Lyle sat down a moment and wiped sweat from his head. "Damn...this has got to be the easiest mission I've ever done..." he said. Thunder picked up on the sarcasm in his voice and laughed.
"Well, its almost over. We've already cleared the exit." said the knight. "Now we just have to find your mother." said the knight as he took off his helmet to wipe his own brow. Lyle stood again and stretched.
"Well, no time like the present." he said and the knight nodded. Putting his helmet at his side, they walked around and found several doors leading to a chamber with a large pool in it, but nothing that led further inside the prison. Finally, they found a doorway that took them to a torture chamber. All around them were different devices used to cause pain and suffering. It seemed as if the room itself screamed from the souls that had laid waste inside. Lyle turned to the knight. "I'll continue from here. You wait until I give the signal to move forward, alright?" he asked.
Thunder was skeptical, but knew that Lyle was no fool. Nodding, he hid himself behind a large entrapping device and waited. Lyle walked over to the next door and pulled on the iron ring. It slowly creaked open and he slid inside silently closing it behind him. There was a large cell to his left where he heard heavy breathing. Walking to the bars, he saw an old woman sitting in the corner with her head in her hands as if crying. Looking at the door to the cell, he raised his hand to demolish the lock with lightning. But, nothing happened. He stared at his palm for a moment before grabbing the bars and pulling on them to see how sturdy they were, causing them to make a clanking sound.
The woman looked up with a glare, then her expression turned to surprise. Standing up, she walked over to the door and looked at him amazedly. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" she asked.
He looked at her. "I am looking for someone. Now, if I free you from here can you help me find them?" he asked.
She looked at him with contempt. "You won't be getting out of here boy. Jack has this place packed with so many guards that all the exits are blocked." she said sourly.
He smirked. "Well, that was before I got here. How do you think I made it this far?" he asked, still examining the door.
It dawned on her, and she grabbed the bars. "You...you cleared a path? You must be crazy!" she said.
"Well, crazy kinda works for me." he said. She cracked a smile, then saw him try the lightning again.
"It's no use. This place is a sanctuary that forbids magic. You won't be able to use it here." she said. "The only way to get that lock open is with the key." she said. She was staring at his face confusedly. Somehow, he looked familiar.
"Stand back." he said. She stepped back and he took ahold of two of the iron bars. Exerting his strength as much as he could, he pulled and pulled. A loud creak rent from the bars and he continued. After about a minute of pulling the bars apart, making them groan under the freakish strength of the hero, he stopped. Stepping back, he said, "See if you can fit through there." in a breathless voice.
The woman walked over and put one leg through the bars and slid her slender body through the parted cage. Once on the other side, she smirked at him. "When you put your mind to something, you find a solution to it don't you." she said. He smiled and stood up, apparently restored. "Now, who is it you are looking for?" she asked.
He turned to the next door leading out of the room and answered her question. "She goes by the name of Scarlet. Do you know of her?" he asked. When he received no answer, he turned and saw her looking at him with an expression of pure shock. "What is it?" he asked.
"L...Lyle?" she asked. His face changed to surprise as he stared at her. "Lyle is that you?"
Lyle walked forward and stared at her. "Mom..." he said. Suddenly, she lost control.
Bursting into tears she backed away saying, "You shouldn't have come here! You should have stayed away! You are all he needs!" He looked at her strangely.
"Needs for what?" he asked.
"You have to get out of here! Now!" she said pushing him towards the exit.
He didn't move from that spot, despite her efforts. Grabbing her by the arms, he shook her until she got a grip on herself again. "You are coming with me! Now stop screaming and lets go!" he said. She nodded to him.
"We must get as far away from here as possible. It won't be long before Jack knows you are here. And once he finds you, it will be the end of us all." she said. Not stopping to ask questions, he went to the door and opened it. Letting her through first, he followed and closed the door. Suddenly, he heard, "Thunder?"
Turning, he saw his mother staring at the giant warrior who emerged from his hiding place. Thunder looked at her, then asked, "Scarlet? Is that you?"
"Thunder, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I was helping Lyle with...wait...don't tell me you are his..."
"Yes, I am Lyle's mother. It has been a long time my apprentice." she said with a faint smile.
"This is unbelievable...I thought you were dead! You and that balverine dropped into that river and were never to be seen again!" he said.
"You two know each other?" asked Lyle as he approached the two.
Thunder nodded. "Aye, your mother taught me everything I know about being a hero..."
"And Thunder was my young sidekick when I was still a hero. Who would have thought that you two would be working together to save me." she said.
"Well, we can get back to the memories later alright? We have to get out of here and quick before Jack and his scaly friends decide to check on you." he said. They nodded and went back the way they came. Following the path of carnage from before, Lyle, Thunder, and Scarlet all creeped along the body ridden tunnels.
"You two did this by yourselves?" she looked with an expression of horror. Lyle smirked and Thunder nodded. "This is the first time anyone has ever penetrated Jack's prison. You took the hard way at that..." she said, remarking at all the bodies and fire everywhere. "It looks like the sun fell on this place."
Lyle and Thunder laughed at the remark, but were instantly on their guard as another voice began to laugh as well. They spun around and instantly six dragonites appeared out of nowhere. Lyle drew both swords immediately and stepped in front of his mother. "Jack! Show yourself now you coward!" he yelled. Jack of Blades appeared from a shadow in the corner and walked forward.
"My my, it has been a long time Lyle." said the wicked voice behind the mask.
"I couldn't agree more Jack." said Lyle in a deadly tone. Thunder stepped forward too, his sword drawn and ready. "Thunder, take my mother and get out of here." said Lyle.
Thunder looked at him as if he had been slapped in the face. "What?"
"Take my mother and leave!" he shouted as he jumped and slashed through the throat of one of the minions that were trying to surround them.
"But what about you!" shouted his mother.
"Forget about me! I'll be fine here! Just get out of here!" he shouted and went strait for Jack himself. Immediately all the dragonites focused on Lyle and dove on him. Thunder grabbed Scarlet and ran for his life.
"You better not die farmboy!" he shouted and ran for the hellgate. Lyle was brought up to his knees as the minions dashed for the escaping party. As soon as the dragonites reached the tunnel, Lyle broke one arm loose and shot the bag sitting next to the tunnel entrance. It exploded, collapsing the tunnel and causing everyone in the room to fly backwards. Jack jumped up and saw his minions crushed by the falling rocks. Jack glared at Lyle.
"You seem to make everything more difficult for me than it has to be." he said. Looking up, he summoned countless shadow creatures into the room. "Go after them now!" he shouted. The beasts all dashed for the collapsed tunnel and fazed through it as if it were empty.
OoOoO
Thunder had made it into the hellgate and was now running for his life. Scarlet was over his left shoulder and he had his blade in his right hand. He had made it across half the plain in little under thirty minutes. Turning back, he noticed the shadows speeding behind him and picked his pace up.
"What are you doing Thunder! Are you mad?" she asked. The knight knew he wasn't going to make it to the other side before the shadows caught up. And it was only a matter of time before the undead rose as well. He stopped as he heard the creatures running up on them. Turning around, he dropped Scarlet and faced the creatures.
"Scarlet, get out of here! I'll take these beasts!" he shouted. But Scarlet mearly stepped in front of Thunder and held her hands in front of her as if praying, then pushed her palms forward right as a one of the dark creatures jumped for her. A wave of massive energy slammed into all the creatures and they were all catapulted across the plain. Turning around she smirked.
"Where do you think you learned all your skills from Thunder?" she asked. He snorted in amusement, then turned to the direction of the gate again.
"We are almost there. You think you can keep them behind us until we reach it?" he asked her.
"No problem. I may not have used my magic in ages, but I can still send any creature in Albion crying to its home." she said. Then her face turned serious. "Now what about Lyle? We need to get him out of there!" she shouted.
"One step at a time." He said as he picked her up again. He ran the rest of the way across the plain and made it back to the hellgate with the creatures still hard on his heels, despite the added assistance of Scarlet. Running into the gateway of fire, he burst out back into Lychfield Graveyard. He dropped Scarlet again and turned to the entrance. Using all his strength, he swung his sword down and embedded the blade into the hellgates center. Lightning shot out everywhere, barely missing Scarlet and destroying the undead that were once again roaming the inside of the courtyard. Just as one of the beasts claws came through, the gate exploded, sending stone and fire everywhere and tossing Thunder back like a ragdoll.
Scarlet stood and flattened her hand like a blade, then swung it at the remaining undead. A blade of energy cut through the whole crowd of undead. Walking over to the unconcious Thunder on the ground, she looked at his side and smiled at what she saw. It was the dagger that she gave him when they were both much younger. Grabbing the decorated dagger, she held it tight in her hand as she touched Thunder and warped to the guild, using the guild seal embedded into the handle.