The final test
Disclaimer: I do not own SVTFOE only my OCs and the idea for this particular story
Marco PoV
"So, when you said training, you actually meant-"
"Training, yes," Michael interrupted me. We were at his house, in his backyard on monday afternoon, right after school. He is wearing sweat pants, a plain white t-shirt and running shoes. Ryan and Felix are dressed similar, Felix still having his ,by now, signature sunglasses and were standing near the fence line. "And since we only have 9 hours until the veil between living and dead are at their thinnest in this part of the world, we're just gonna go over the basics."
"Well, that doesn't sound so bad-" Star started.
"About 3 hundred times until your knuckles start bleeding, your hair starts falling out from the stress, and someone's heart gives out."
We didn't say anything, but I'm pretty sure Star's face is mirroring my own, and her's looks like when someone is living their worst nightmare. And she only got that look when someone messes with her hair. "Oh, I'm sure it's not gonna be that bad-" I try to say to her, but she starts to scream.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO! No no no no no! Not the hair!" Nailed it.
I tried to be the voice of reason, but then Michael started laughing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said between bouts of laughter. "But I couldn't help myself, oh god, the look on your faces! Ha haha!" He started to calm down, but then said with humor still in his voice, "But, in all seriousness, one or both of you might get seriously hurt in the next couple of hours." Me and Star noticeably gulped. "Ok then, so, first things first. I need to gauge your continuity, so we're gonna spar." I walked forward a few steps, Star went off to the side and I started to get into my usual stance, but then he continued, "At the same time."
Me and Star stopped. "What?" I said. "That seems a bit… unfair," I said with a snicker, Star chuckling as she came by me.
"Yeah, it does," he replied. Then he smiled. "For you two," that wiped the smirk off of our faces. Ryan and Felix glanced at each other, smiled a bit and backed away a bit farther from the 'ring' that they were in. "One sec," Michael said.
He walked forward, and once he halved the distance between us, he bent down, and place an open palm on the grass. He started to mutter something under his breath, a green colored energy started to pulse to his hand and gathered there, after 3 pulses his hand was a ball of green energy. Finally he said, "Bakudo No.52, Korren Rishe!" The energy went into the ground, and then spread outward in a circle. It stopped when it hit a square perimeter, a few feet from the fence line.
"There. Korren Rishe is a power dampening prison, though, I cut some of the power off to make it so it won't hold us indefinitely. This'll make sure that we don't seriously hurt each other too much, and that we don't kill each other." I gulped. His face was completely serious, and devoid of any emotion. A cold hearted machine. "Now, some ground rules. First, no magic, Star, give Ryan the wand."
"What!? Why?" She said, clutching the wand to her chest tightly.
"Because me and Marco aren't gonna be using magic, and I need to see what you're made of without it."
"But this wand is a royal artifact! And last time I checked, Ryan isn't a royal." she said stiffly.
"Actually," he said back. "He's the crown prince of his home world. So, he is royalty. So, give him the wand so we can continue."
Star looked at her wand and said reluctantly, "But… but what about-"
"Star," Ryan said from outside the ring. He stepped up to the edge of the barrier. "I know about what the wand does and what it could do to a person. I have no intention of using it, so it won't transform when I touch it. And it's safer to give it to me than Felix because… well, he's-"
"Completely evil," Felix stated matter of factly. "If it wasn't for the fact that I'm outside my own universe I would have found a way to off these two and made my way home, but as it is, they would sooner decapitate me than let me try, so, I'm stuck with them."
"Star, we're on a time crunch, give him the wand," Michael said, not unkindly.
She looked back down at the wand, sighed, walked over the the barrier and tossed it over the border of it. It hit the barrier, the perimeter lit up for a split second as the wand went through, like a stone through water, and Ryan caught it. Nothing notable happened. In fact,the only thing that seemed to happen was that the vibrant colors that made up the wand dimmed a bit, but that was it. He hefted it and Ryan said, "Hmm… it's heavier than it looks." And he walked away.
"Now then," Michael said. "Prepare yourselves." We got into some fighting stances, me the usual,and Star, trying to copy me. "Oh, wait," he said suddenly. "I forgot to differentiate. You two, shirts, off-"
"Wait, what?" I said surprised.
"This exercise is to test your limits of comfort in a battle scenario, and to test your limits naturally. No armor, no cloths, well, you can keep your pants, but yeah. No shirts."
"But I'm a girl!" Star said.
"Put on a sports bra," he said back.
"She's my girlfriend!" I said.
"I'm pretty sure she's not into scrawny little mexican boy-" he stopped and looked at me like something just hit him. "Um, I'm pretty sure she's not into me," he tried again.
"Look there is no way that I am-" Star tried to say, but Michael snapped his fingers at her, she poofed a puff of smoke and when it cleared, her green dress was gone, leaving her torso bare, except for a black strip of cloth covering her breasts. I tried not to stare, but noted that it looked comfy…. in an objectified kind of way! "Well… there it is…. Ok, I'm gonna kill him," she said hotly and started to walk forward.
"Not so fast," he said. "Marco, your turn."
Sighing I unzip my hoodie and strip my grey shirt, leaving my torso bare, leaving me in my pants and sneakers. "There, happy?"
"I am never happy," he said, pretty sure he quoted Family Guy, but he got into a stance where he moved a leg back, put one arm behind his back and one arm forward slightly. He made that gesture from the Matrix with his hand that said, 'come and get some'. And well, me and Star did.
We both leaped forward and tried to hit him, but he seemed to disappear in an instant. Our fists just grazed each others, and we stumbled a bit. "Wha-" I tried to get out, but then he reappeared behind us. He punched me in the kidney, her on her side, grabbed our arms, twisted them, and then did this thing where he used our arms to move our bodies and spin us around. Once around he started to kick us, over and over again, getting me in the head a few times, and Star in the stomach. He then pushed me away, and then judo flipped Star over his shoulder.
Once that was over, we sat up, groaning and breathing heavily. "W-w-what the hell was that?!" I asked him angrily.
"Hmm," he replied. "You're at where I expect you to be, but then again, you're not gonna be fighting any big boss battles anytime soon."
"What, are you talking about!?" Star all but yelled. "How is this training? You just beat the crap out of us!"
"... Ok, I gotta stop cussing in front of you," I commented. "But she's right, how the, heck," I strained to use appropriate language, "is this training?"
"I said it was to test your continuity," he replied. "To see how much punishment you can take at a time. You see, I was fighting you at a level that's slightly above normal human, and in a regular fight, I would have floored you much, much worse than what I just did. And look, you two are standing on two feet already, barely winded." He was right, me and Star were standing up, slightly slouched, and in pain, but standing and breathing normally. "So, test passed. Now, weapons check."
It went like that for a few hours, he would go at us in bursts of speed and strength to see what level we were at, show us a few easy techniques, and then move on to another aspect of fighting.
He gave us practice swords, Star was pretty much a master at it, but still barely managed to hold her own against Michael, while me, I'm just garbage with a sword. "No worries," he said. "The plan for you two tonight is to be back up, the 3rd line of defence. Me and Ryan and Felix are the 1st and 2nd lines, while I go to the Organization guy and cut his head off."
So pretty much me and Star are cannon fodder. Finally, after he was done testing us to see how much we can take a beating, how much damage we can dish out(he had us beat some magical clones of his until they went poof) he stopped the physical training, dropped the barrier and had us get dressed.
"Ok, so, now that I know where you're at, I know how much help you can be tonight. So now, I need to tell you what kind of enemies we might be facing tonight."
So he lead us inside and to his living room. It was nice, similar design to my own home, some leather couches that can seat 12, and a few unopened boxes from the move. In the middle of the living room was a small circular coffee table. He had me and Star, Ryan and Felix sit on the couch. He stood opposite us, on the other side of the coffee table. He bend down and tapped the marble, from the point where he touched it ripples spread out like he touched the surface of some water.
"These, are Shadows," he said as the image of what I fought with him appeared on the table. "They are the most basic creature of Darkness out there." He waved his hand over the table, and the image sprung to life. The table zoomed out like a computer mouse moving the scrollbar back to zoom out an image. Next to it a rectangle outlined itself next to the fidgety Shadow, and some words typed themselves out like baseball stats.
Name: Shadow
Type: Unknown
Genus: Unknown
Element: Normal
Info: Born from the darkness of mans hearts, theses simple beasts are the cesspool of mankind's madness, jealousy, rage, lust, hunger, and all around; evil. Commonly found at or near their spawn points, where they are most powerful and can do the most damage. Such locations are the epididymis of man's darkness stained by the land, as such, they are as follows: Brutal murder scenes, places of sin and deceit, broken homes with violent history, and high schools.
"Why are high schools on this list?" I ask.
"Because high schools accumulate teenagers hormones, hatred and jealousy," Felix said. "Ever wonder why kids get antsy when their very close to each other for a long period of time in there? It's not because of boredom, or worrying, or any of that… well, that's not true, that has a huge roll in it. It's because deep down, on an instinctual level, they can sense the darkness that runs off all those emotions. Shadows are born from that cesspool of all the crap that you guys sweat out on a daily basis, and because they are born from hate, all they feel is hate."
"So high schools are bad?" Star said.
"Yes," "No," Felix and Ryan said at the same time. Ryan glanced at Felix next to him, and continued. "Yes and no Star," he said. "It depends on what kind of environment the school has. It depends on what kinds of teachers there are, the types of kids that go there, and what kind of attitude the student/teacher bodies bring."
"Oh," she said, nodding somewhat, trying, and I guess, not entirely grasping what he says. She is still trying to get a handle on this whole Earth biz.
"And not only that," Michael continued. "But they can be born from a single person too. Ever hear these stereotypes of these bitter old men who are mean to anyone that steps on their laws? Or waves their canes at every young person that passes by?" We all nodded. "Widowers like that often hate the world around them and as such, leak their darkness to the environment around them, and Shadows are born from it. People generally steer clear from their homes because of that inner instinct to stay away from Darkness, cuz deep down they know that there is danger there just by being near the home."
"Now," he tapped the table again and the image rippled out, and was replaced with another type of Shadow, this one in boney white armor that looks similar to medieval knights armor. It even had a purple plume of hair on the top of the helmet and a lance replaced it's right arm. It split and another one appeared next to it, this time with a lance.
The text box next to the two appeared next to it.
Name: Knight
Type: Warrior
Genus: Male/Female
Element: Various, as can use elemental magic to bolster their already tank like attacks
Info: Shadows have this uncanny ability to evolve. A near instant metamorphosis where they change into a completely different creature of Darkness. Still Shadow in base, they can either become greater or lesser, in both strength, size and stature. Transformations like these can have multiple stages, and are virtually infinite, and the ones on record doesn't even scratch the surface of what these being are capable of. This type, however, are known as a Knight, like the medieval term, they are loyal, fierce, and powerful. There are two types of varied Knights. The lancer, with a lance for an arm, or the swordsman, with a sword. Attacks are similar, but both have a unique attack that coincides with their specific type.
"So," Felix said. "This is fascinating and all, but we only have a few hours left until the guys deadline, so, can we speed this up?"
Michael shot him a look, but said, "You're right, we have to prepare, and I still need to put the finishing touches on your armor," Felix visibly brightened up at this. "One more slide, and then we'll go," Felix slumped back in his seat, but shrugged.
Once again the image rippled and was replaced with the giant monster me and Michael faced.
Name: Minotaur
Type: Beast
Genus: Boss
Element: Earth
Info: A varied and rare type of Shadow, this mindless beast has evolved multiple times from the lesser Wulf, to Bull, to Scorpion, and to finally, Greatest Minotaur. This tank, in all sense of the word, has incredible strength, surprisingly fast reflexes, and armor similar to a rocket bound for space. It draws its strength from its stability and momentum, the earth giving it it's stance on the ground for its attacks.
"This is the boss monster that me and Marco faced last week. He was big, mean, fast for his big fat butt size, and also kind of smelly," Michael explained.
"Really?" Star said, looking from Michael, to me.
"Yeah… but I wasn't really paying attention to that, I was mostly trying to keep myself alive."
"Come on now, try to think back," Michael said. "Sensory memory like that can help you in the future."
Deciding to humor him, I close my eyes and think back. "... I'm smelling…. Hay. Lots and lots of hay. Like the kind that horses eat," I finish while opening my eyes.
"Yes good," he says nodding. "I have noted when I encountered some Minotaurs in the past that they have the distinct smell of rotting straw, or, as you said, hay." He gets up and the table winks out. "Well, that's all you need to know for now, we're on a time crunch. But, here," he snapped his fingers and some things poofed on top of mine and Star's laps. For me, it was some cloths exactly like my own, red hoodie, pants, and shoes, though they felt a bit heavy, and a sheath for my sword. Star only got a small book, maybe 20 pages.
"Um… thanks?" I say.
"Why do I only get a book!?" Star all but shouted.
"First off, uh, you're welcome!" Michael said sarcastically. "And second, Star, that's a spell book with instructions for spells specifically designed to destroy Shadows on a molecular level. Easy to use, but tricky to handle. These are instruction on how to pull the spell off perfectly. So, and I know that this isn't exactly your style, but, actually read it thoroughly before you try it.
"Marco, that is obviously a scabbard for your sword," I grunted in response. "And the cloths, well, their made of a special kevlar weiv, the same material that the president uses in his suits. But I added something special. These things are enchanted by magics from yours truly. These ones can stop a 50 cal bullet from point blank range, fire proof, blast proof and most of all, it looks really stylish with black."
Me and Star both looked down at our gifts, thanked him and left. Once we got home we saw that my parents were home, and we told them that we were just at a study group with the new kids. They believed it, and we went about our business and went to Stars room.
"Ugh," She said when we got in. She flopped on her bed and continued, "He's such an ass!"
"Star," I said in a scolding tone. "Princesses don't use language like that."
"Oh shut it Diaz," she replied, and threw a pillow at me. "It's like he's… like he's-"
"Like he knows everything and not afraid to be smug about it at times?" I interjected for her.
"Right! Exactly! He's a know it all and he's not afraid to let us know that he's a know it all by being a know it all!" I was silent while she finished ranting, and contemplated over what she was saying. Sure he can be a bit insufferable at times, but I guess that if he's as old as he says he is, then I guess that being a bitter old man comes with the territory of being immortal. "Ugh," she start again. "I'm so sweaty and worked up over being mad! And this sports bra he magically poofed onto me isn't helping either!"
"Why, is it uncomfortable?" I asked, looking around the room, not completely comfortable with thinking about her bra right next to her.
"No actually, it's completely comfortable," she said. "Feels like a cloud is hugging my bust. But just that thought that he switched out my clothes like that, with magic, and me not noticing until it happened!"
"Isn't that how magic works?" I ask. "Sudden and fast?"
"No, you're thinking of witchcraft," she said. "And that's not sudden, or fast. Only when the effects of the spell finally reach you, it seems like it. But what he did was like what I do with my wand." To prove her point she brandished it and in a flash of light created this cute fluffy blue squirrel, which scampered off under her bed, chattering happily. "And he did it with his fingers."
"Well, he said that he was basically immortal," I said back, sitting next to her. "Maybe magic works differently for him, or he wasn't using magic and is basically a god." She gave a noncommittal grunt. "Well, putting his tricky fingers aside, think we should try out the stuff he gave us?"
"Sure," she said half heartedly. "Lemme just change first."
"Good idea, I should get this cloths armor he gave me," I said, but then stopped when I heard a zipping sound. I looked up to see her dropping her dress, leaving her in the black bra thing that Michael put on her, and her tights.
"What?" She said when she saw the look on my face. "Oh come on Marco, you literally just saw me like this an hour ago, it's not something that should surprise you now."
"Y-y-yeah, b-b-but, w-we were t-t-training, and I didn't have time to n-n-notice," I said, stuttering, and feeling very hot in the face, and other areas. But that's not important now! Or… wait, maybe it is.
"Oh… well, maybe you should get undressed too," she said, looking anywhere but me.
"... Huh?" I said stupidly.
"W-well, I didn't get to see you without a shirt either, so… why not?" It came out more of a question that it usually is. And I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I stood up, like I was having an out of body experience, unzipped my hoodie and stripped off my shirt, like I did before in Michael's backyard. Only now, now we're not being beaten up, and it's just the two of us. In her room… ALONE. "Wow," she said. "That… that karate biz is really paying off," she said.
In truth, it's not really, well, maybe I've trimmed up a bit since I've started my training when I was 12, but, I'm not ripped. But I didn't say that, instead I said, "You are so beautiful Star," and walked over to her and pulled her into a deep kiss. She squeaked, but kissed back with equal passion, if not more. And the feel of her creamy white skin on my hands, her bare stomach on mine, it made it so much more… invigorating. And the fact that my parents were down stairs made the experience all the more… well, just more. I can't think of a word that fits this.
We pulled away with a wet sound, a trail of saliva bridging the gap between out slightly bruised and swollen lips. "Wow," we said at the same time. We chuckled a bit, then went back in for another kiss. But just as out lips were about to touch, she squeaked… again. "Wow, getting a little, uh, e-excited there Diaz?" she said with a smile.
"Wha?" I looked down, then whipped my head back up and blushed. "S-sorry S-S-Star," I said, moving back and covering my crotch with my hands. "I c-couldn't help myself. You-you're just so goddamn gorgeous," I said and went back in for a kiss.
She gave me one and then pushed me back a bit. She said, "It's kind of distracting to have your little fella poking at me."
"S-sorry," I said again.
"Heh, yeah, it's ok, I mean, it's only natural right?" She said giving me her usual 1000 watt smile. "I just don't think we should tempt fate. I mean, you're parents are downstairs, and my mom could call at any moment."
"Y-yeah, I-I get it," I said a little ruefully, but understanding. "I-I guess we should get our clothes on-"
"Hold on," Star stopped me. "I don't think that it's fair that I got to feel you, but you didn't get to feel me."
"Um… what?" I say stupidly. Star responded by taking my left hand, and placing it on her right breast. "O-oh, w-wow," I say, and getting harder by the minute, and a dangerous tightening of my pants too.
"Yeah, wow," she said with a nervous chuckle. "I know I'm not as big as other girls, or like Jackie or-"
"Star," I interrupted her, and subconsciously squeezed my hand, making her gasp. "How many times do I have to tell you, you are my girlfriend. I am with you, I love you." I punctuated my sentence with a kiss on her lips. "In other words Star," I give another, gentler squeeze, making her giggle. "These are just great, because they are yours."
We were going in for another kiss when suddenly we heard, "Ok, so I forgot to tell you guys that-woah," we looked behind us to see Michael coming out of what looks like a shadow. Me and Star jumped apart like each of us are on fire. "Oh um… I came by to tell you guys to meet us at our house at 10. But, uh, I see that you guys are, um, busy, so, I'll just go…" he turned around and made for the wall, much to our confusion. But then stopped, "But just so you know, this is ok, what you two are doing. Hell, it might be our last night alive, things can go south pretty fast. But, just be careful, like I said, things can go south pretty fast."
Me and Star looked at each other, then away, shuffling our feet, when I looked back up Michael was gone.
I looked back at Star, then I silently pick up and put my shirt back on, and taking my hoodie. I also picked up the clothes that Michael provided me. "Sorry about that Star," I said. "I shouldn't have let that get out of control so fast, I'll… I'm just gonna go and take a cold shower. I'll see you tonight."
And take one I did, but it didn't seem to work so I… 'took care of business' so to speak, inside the shower, and felt much better afterwards. At around 9 o'clock I put on the cloths provided to me, and found that they are the exact fit and style of my usual clothes. Only, as I noted before, just a bit heavier. And also soft as silk, and my pants felt like it's made of leather.
So, when the clock struck 9 I went over to Star's room and knocked. "Star?" I said outloud. She said 'come in' and I opened the door and walked in. She was dressed in her blue sleeveless dress and blue leg warmers. "Hey Star," I said a bit awkwardly. "Are you ready yet?"
"Yeah," she said, taking up her wand and motioning for me to walk closer. "I just need to put a sleep spell on the house. I need you to come closer so you don't get caught in the spell." I nodded and got within arms reach of her. She shook her head and said, "You need to be really close to me, this spell is made so that anybody in a room, except for the caster, gets affected, and I have to make it big enough to go through walls, so, come here." I walked over to her, and she pulled me into a tight hug and I stiffened.
She sighed and said, "Marco, I know that you're uncomfortable being this close to me, with what happened earlier, but I do know that we'll find a way to get use to it, because, I want what happened, to happen again. I liked the feeling of us being that close. Sure, maybe we should take things slow, but I'm willing to work on it if you are. Ok?"
I looked at her, our faces a breath away from each other, smiled and nodded. "Whatever you say Princess. I'll be willing to take it as slow as you want."
She smiled brightly and from behind my back waved her wand about and said, "Slothy drowsy sleepy feel!" And a white light with little sloth icons in it flared out and then died down.
We let go of each other, and then down stairs. Mom and Dad were passed out on the couch, a show about exatic retreats was on. To save on the power bill I shut off the tv, and high fived Star. Finally we walked out of the house, I making sure to lock it after we left with my house key.
Together we walked to Michael's house, hand in hand, not really speaking, just enjoying each others company. The calm before the storm… now where did that thought come from? Soon we reach the house, and Ryan opened the door before we could knock, and beckoned us inside.
"Go down to the basement. Michael is putting the finishing touches on Felix," was all he said before going upstairs. Looking at each other, me and Star shrugged and went to the door under the stairs and made our way down the basement. And what we found down there was something between a construction sight and a mad scientist lab.
A few robots were in the back of the room picking at the soil that made up that wall, and a few more were taking measurements of the floor, presumably for the square sheets of metal resting in the corner. The half of the basement that was done had some counter tops with computers on it, or other lab equipment that I can't name at the moment. Right now Felix was sitting on a bench next to one of the counters with Michaels poking at a tablet that has some wires connected to Felix. Felix was wearing a black skin tight suit, and where the wires connected to him, were attached to some metal nodes.
"Oh, you guys are early. No matter, I'm almost done here," he said not even looking at them. "You two can sit on the other side here, just let me concentrate."
We did, and in a few minutes he unhooked Felix from his tablet, went to a computer monitor and hooked the tablet up to that, then made a few keystrokes on it. "Felix," Michael said in a strange tone. "You know what to do."
Glancing at Felix, he smiled and walked over to a glass cabinet that can fit a person inside it. Once in it robot arms sprang to life on the inside. He stepped onto a platform, and some metal shoes hooked themselves together around his feet, and the platform rotated so that he was facing us. The mechanical arms on the inside grabbed some pieces of metal from panels that slid open and placed them on his arms, legs, torso midriff and they started to hook themselves together and I realized that their piecing together some armor. The armor itself looked like it was made for his body, and from the way that it's being assembled, it probably was. The metal hugged every curve of his body, and attachments to hook the pieces together slid out from under them. Finally a tiny door directly above him opened and a helmet lowered onto his head. When it was placed down, some mechanism clicked together on it's jaw line, presumable to lock it into place.
Once the show was done, the clamps holding his feet down released and he stepped out of the cabinet, and Spartan Felix looked around. "Hmm," he said, his voice sounding a bit electronic. "Feels lighter."
"That's because it's not your original armor," Michael said stepping away from the computer. "The other one was made for adult you, I had to modify it so that it'll feet your teenage self."
"You know," Felix started. "I should be mad, I am mad, but it just feels too good to be back in action right now."
"I know what you mean," Ryan said coming into the lab. He was dressed in all black. Black pants, tunic looking thing under a hooded leather overcoat, and black combat boots. "I mean, I'm a pacifist by nature, but after all that we've seen and been through, it just doesn't seem…. What's the word for it?"
"Real?" Michael interjected, stepping forward. As he did, his clothes seemed to fade out as another set seemed to fade in, and when it was done he was now dressed in a similar get up to what he was in on halloween. "I know exactly what you mean. Just everything being calm and nice is a very weird change to crawling through the mud, or outer space, or interdimensional portals just makes one very paranoid." His get up consists of that white overcoat, a silky heavy looking black tunic underneath, black pants and combat boots.
"Uh…." I said.
"You guys kind of look hot," Star said, a bit of drool dripping down the corner of her mouth.
"Uh, normally I wouldn't say this," I said, cupping Stars chin to close her mouth. "But I agree. You guys look awesome! Especially you Felix, why didn't you tell us you were Master Chief?"
"Well, I'm not a Spartan II," Felix said. "I'm actually a Spartan IV, created after the war with the Covenant ended, and Dr. Halsey was forced to disclose the details of her experiments on the original Spartans and Spartan II's. You could say that I'm sloppy seconds, but if you do I'd remove your spleen through your throat hole."
"...Duly noted," I said. "So, what's the game plan?"
"Game plan?" Michael said. "Well, let's take a look outside, shall we?" He lead us outside, and once out there, he pointed to the sky. "Game plan is starting now." It was purple. The clouds were hot pink and the once black sky, dotted with stars was now a purple canvas with pink streaks on it. And the moon was blood red. "Environment changes like this means that he's amassed an army of Shadows, and one of a legendary caliber. Remember the boss categories that I showed you two earlier?" Me and Star nodded. "Well, keep that in mind. You might be facing a few of them."
Later we were at the edge of town, and we waited. It was like the anticipation before jumping off the high board, only about a million times that feeling. But soon 11:30 approached, and I got this weird feeling, kind of like I was receiving bad news. I looked up, and then I was on my feet shouting, "What's that?"
Everyone looked to where I was pointing, and only Star gasped. It was a big mass of angry black clouds. But that's not what made it so scary, what did was the fact that the big mass of angry black clouds were made up of Shadows. Tens upon thousands of, only individually noticeable because of the burning yellow eyes cutting through the darkness.
"That," Michael said, but Ryan finished, "Is a whole lot of trouble."
We sat in silence again as a wind started to churn up. "Yeah, we're fucked," Felix stated.
Michael didn't even scold him like he usually would.
"Ok, guys, you know what to do," Michael said. I looked over to Ryan and Felix and Ryan nodded, then he disappeared in a flash of light and sparkles. Felix moved forward, taking out his auto rifle that he picked up from the armory in the lab. "Star, Marco," we looked at him. He stepped back a few paces just as wall ward shined up. And behind that a dome erected itself over the town too. In fact, the wall was interconnected to a bunch of other throughout the town. "I need you two to hold this line. We can't keep that tide at bay forever, not with just us three, well, me and Ryan. Felix can still do his part, but he's not like us. If and when they get past us, they will attack this wall, this line. I need you two to defend it. The spell is waived so that it keeps them at bay, but not forever, not in those numbers. But it'll give you two time, time to drive them back a bit, and for me to do what I can."
"And what will you do?" Star asked.
Michael turned around and pointed to the clouds of Shadows. "I'm going there. The man that was there at the school the other day, he's at the center of it all. I can feel him, sense his power… he's strong. Stronger than some of the people I've faced for a long, long time. It should be fun." He looked back at us and gave us a smile, the kind that an adult would tell a kid, that it'll be ok, when something clearly serious is going to go down. "So, if and when the time comes, fight like the wild animals you are, especially you Star."
Star and him grinned, but I just said, "If and when… ok, we can do this," I said and drew my sword, the familiar soul sucking cold along with it, but I was starting to get use to the feeling now. Not enjoy it, mind you, I don't think I could ever enjoy such a feeling, but just the way it grips in my hand, like it was made for me. "We can do this," I said again, and held Stars hand with my other one.
Michael nodded, and stepped back and joined Felix just outside the dome. Me and Star walked past the wall, a feeling of ions and energy rushed through me, and came out on the other side, both of our hair a wild mess. Ryan appeared next to us in a flash of light.
"Where were you?" I asked, not even surprised at the weirdness that is my life now-a-days.
"Center of town," he said removing a small bottle from inside his coat pocket. "Had to activate the town's defences."
"What's that," Star asked pointing to the bottle.
"Spell in a bottle. Me and Michael drew lines all over the town, there needed in order to spellcraft something this big, and this, was the starting key. Ok, so, you two stay here, me and the other guys will handle the real stuff. I can assure you, that the bigger ones we'll handle, but we can't keep them off of you forever. Now, let's do this."
3rd Person PoV
The cloud of Shadows dispersed. And by that, the individual Shadows jumped out of the air, and landed about 300 yards from the dome. They came like a herd of charging buffalo, and the rage of a herd of charging buffalo as well.
Michael, walked calmly out towards the charging mass. Clouds were starting to boil to life over head, lightning flickering occasionally. When they were less than 10 yards from Michael, he took the hilt of his sword in hand. With a flick of his wrist the sword was unsheathed, and a wave of energy cut through the mass dark beings, carving a burning scar through the charging army and the ground that they stood upon. For a few hundred feet the ground and Shadows were incinerated, but before the flames could reach the critical point of stopping, Michael disappeared, his form flickering before it was gone entirely.
Ryan and Felix were standing just outside the dome. Ryan opened both of his hands and some energy built up in them, in a flash of light twin scimitar like swords materialized in his hands. Felix took his auto rifle and started to shoot, flicking a switch to shoot from the built in grenade launcher from time to time. And when they got too close, Ryan would either slice them, shoot spells in the crowd, or both.
Soon, however, they overwhelmed the two warriors and they retreated behind the dome, picking off as many as they can, but the dome started to crack from the sheer numbers and weight of them all.
From the secondary line, Star and Marco were watching the spectacle with wide eyes. "Woah," Marco said. His sword in hand, he hefts it a few times to get a feel of its weight, feeling inadequate in the face of this enemy. "Star," he said. "Do you feel like we're back on Draksus?"
"Um, kinda yeah," she said, gripping her wand tightly. "Well… just in case we don't get a break, or a Hugo to save us, just wanted to let you know, I love you."
"I love you too Marco," she said, walked over to him, cupped his cheek and gave him a kiss. A short, but sweet one. She pulled back and let him go. "Ok, now then," she pointed her wand at the incoming horde trying to break through the barrier. "Tenebras effugare, diabole tenebris evanescunt, lux perpetua luceat per!" A blast of pure white light shot out and exploded when it hit the first shadow, taking out a few hundred of them.
"Woahohoho!" Star said grinning, but then it fell as the mass of them started to take the places of the ones who got blasted. "Ugh," she said groaning.
"This… might take a while," Marco said, then he charged and did what Ryan was doing.
Out over in the center of the cloud of Shadows, Michael reappeared. He flash stepped onto what appeared to be a giant jellyfish. Also on it was the Organization member, he smirked when Michael appeared. He lifted his hood to show off his face, ashen colored hair blowing in the wind, his eyes as black as ever, only broken by the ring of crimson that made up his iris.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," he said, shouting over the wind to be heard. "I don't think we've been introduced. My name is Neil, I am, at least in this part of the multiverse, I am number 15. And you," he pointed to Michael, who's eyes narrowed. "You, are the former soul reaper commander in chief, former 'Arrow of God' Michael!... Your last name was lost in translation, but the point is," he stopped talking and bowed a bit. "It is an honor, to meet you, oh fellow mass murderer. And," he lifted his head a bit and gave him a one eyed psychotic stare. "It is also an honer to be the one to kill you."
Michael didn't say anything. Then he closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. Neil raised an eyebrow, then his eyes widened as Michael suddenly flash stepped and reappeared right in front of him, sword out, point swinging towards his eye. Neil bent backwards to evade, and once the blade was clear, did a backflip by using the momentum of his dodge. He did a few more flips and came up standing with his hands held out, preparing for a fight. A line suddenly shone out on his right cheek, dribbling a few drops of inky black blood.
"First off," Michael said, getting in his fencer's stance. "Those titles no longer have any meaning to me, it's been a very long time since I lead any army." He took a step forward, and Neil took one back. "Second, I only commit those crimes against living being because an entire alien armada was poised to invade Earth, my, Earth. I made a judgement call, and, though I regret it, I wouldn't change my decision." He took a few more steps, and this time Neil held his ground. "And lastly, the only thing that you just said that has any sort of meaning or truth to it is the fact that you said that I am a soul reaper. And you know what?" All of a suddenly clouds started to form, lightning and thunder flashed and boomed all around their jellyfish Shadow, and Michael's power became visible. The air distorted and what look like the camera flairs and lines that you get from old film reel movies appeared all around them, and electricity crackled through out the air. "You were right, and also very stupid to pick this day. I am a master over life and death, it's in the soul reaper job description, as the veil between the two planes is thinnest, I am allowed naturally more unrestricted movements. So you, my friend, are fucked. Royally."
Neil didn't say anything, but then started to laugh, he through his head back and laughed, arms spread out wide, then he stopped, and whipped his head to Michael. "Oh, this is going to be fun!" He said with a maniac smile.
Boss music. Kingdom Hearts-Dark Impetus(Mysterious Figure battle theme)
With his arms still splayed out, Neil summoned a ball of electricity with darkness mixed in, and elongated them. When the light and electricity faded he was holding two glowing blue short swords. He expertly flipped them around his hands and they came up being held in a reverse hand grip.
Michael changed his stance, getting low and holding his sword parallel to the ground, both hands on the hilt, pointing towards Neil. They both charged, Michael going in for the direct approach, wanting to get this fight over with as fast as he could, and Neil taking it nice and slow so he can enjoy the feeling of battle a little while longer. They thrusted and jabbed at each other, taking swipes to test out their opponent, Neil getting over zealous and pressing his advantage, or what he thought was his advantage. Michael was putting up a front of giving it his all, while retreating into a form of combat that was purely defencive, and utilizing quick counter attacks to keep Neil on his feet, and to keep up the front that he really was giving it his all and was struggling to find an adequate enough opening to do some real damage.
Neil, starting to get fed up with this one liner song and dance, decides to change up his attack pattern a bit. In a quick burst of speed he seemed to break the sound barrier as rushed to Michaels flank, and then behind him, looking little more than a black bler, he then slowed down behind Michael, attempting to strike at his back, but Michael could see that trick coming a mile away. With lightning fast movements he reached his arm over his back to catch the two blows, one after the other, with his blade. He then gave a backwards kick under Neil's guard and to his stomach. He fell back a couple of steps, tumbling over a few times, but came back up in a crouch.
Getting mad, Neil then connected his two blades in a double ended staff and came charging at Michael with a completely new attack pattern. Michael, who's alternate weapon of choice is a staff, knew exactly how to counter such attacks, did exactly that. He met, countered and reposed ever strike, even managing to get an elbow to Neils face, he moved back, wiped the blood from his lip, which started to evaporate as it left his skin, and smiled.
"Oh the stories were true, wow this is so much-"
"Not this crap again," Michael said, switching from defence, to attack mode and pressed his attack which were just shy of completely overwhelming Neil.
He then started to get weary, just a second ago this museum piece was at a disadvantage, now he was blowing away Neils defences with ease, something which irked Neils ego quite well. Quickly detaching one of his blades, he tried to make Michael confused, and only succeeding in gaining some ground before it was back to Michael pressing himself on Neils defence. Neil then jumped back, and before Michael could move, he stuck one of his blades in the ground, or, uh, Shadow jellyfish's head, and three columns of fire sprung to life around Neil. They started moving in a circle, and he started to move with them at break neck speed, attempting to tank over Michael.
Michael dodged, rolled, leaped, you name it, all the while the mass of storm clouds has gotten more thicker and more full of stormy magic stuff.
"That's it," Michael said. He then charged at Neil when his fire tornado died down, knocked all of his attempts to attack aside, and used one of the openings created to slice at his left rotator cuff on his wrist, which caused Neil to scream in pain and drop his sword, his hand no longer of any use. The blood dripping down from the wound started to fizzle and evaporate.
"Now that was uncalled for-" he was cut off, both literally and figuratively, when Michael flash stepped towards him and as he was passing by Neil, he cut the side of his neck, enough to sever his carotid artery. Neil dropped his remaining sword, and they both flashed and crackled out of existence. He dropped to his knees, holding tightly to the fatal wound that Michael inflicted on him, the inky blackness that was his blood evaporating as it dripped through his fingers. "N-n-now t-that was un-uncalled f-for," he breath out. Then he started to glow with the dark aura of something that's not from this world, energy starting to crackle to life. "B-but you know, this isn't even my true form!-" Michael sliced at him across the back. "Ow!" Neil shouted as he fell forward.
End boss battle music
"Nope," Michael said. Then he stood over him raised his sword with both hands on the hilt, and started to stab Neil. "Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope and nope," he said over and over again, each 'nope' was punctuated with a stab. "No more living and no more final forms, this isn't an RPG, you don't get to do that. Now, why don't you do us both a favor and just die? For me so I don't have to waste my time with you anymore, and for you so you don't have to be hurt anymore."
Neil struggled to get up, breathing heavily, evaporated black blood free flowing from his wounds, but eventually he sat up on his knees. His form started to break apart, little pieces of his skin started to flake and peel away, underneath a misty blackness that was his essence started to slowly seep through. "Heh, it looks like I was right," he said, his voice barely a whisper as he faded away. Michael raised an eyebrow as more of him broke apart. "It looks like the stories were true, you really are a cold blooded killer, heh heh," he chuckled as his form was barely more than his face, some of his hair, and the mist essence that was still in his shape, and lower body. "I truly am honored," and with that the last solid bits of him broke apart and the mist scattered into the wind, his last words seeming to echo as he was made no more.
Michael sighed, and looked around. The storm that was created by the runoff of his power became more and more violent as his emotions turned towards a dark path. "God I hate this part," he muttered. Then he looked up at the red moon, and spoke again, "But you already know that, don't you?"
He then turned his attention to the Shadow jellyfish that was his and Neils fighting grounds. "Well, I can't leave you like this, can I? It'll destroy the city. Ok, I got this," he then brandished his sword outwards, and began twirling it like a baton, expertly flipping it over and over again in his hand.
"Piece of the heavens, piece of the sky, I call upon you," he began chanting. The storm began to swirl over head as if responding to his call. "With heaven's wrath bestowed upon me, I use his hand to make judgement, and to deliver swift justice," Bolts of lightning began to strike the swirling blade, the whole sword then elongated and became an elegant staff made of pure metal, and came up to a sharp point on either end. Michael then jumped in the air several dozen feet above the jellyfishes head. "I call on you, awaken Odenheime!" With it complete, the staff exploded to life, looking like a bolt of lightning, it is wielded in Michael's hand, and all that power brought down onto the jellyfishes head.
Back in the town, the other four were not faring very good. The dome was shattered, and they all retreated behind the secondary line, the one that Star and Marco were charged with. And that wall wasn't faring very well either, it was starting to crack, and the number of Shadows were not decreasing as they pressed their attack. Felix was out of grenades and bombs, and he was on his last clip. He set his rifle to semi-auto and chose his shots carefully, head shotting the ones that look like they were causing more damage. Ryan was running low on stamina as well, he stopped fighting them with his swords and just fired all kinds of spells into the crowd to try to thin their numbers. Star was repeating the Shadow killing spell over and over again, to the point where her voice was starting to give out. And Marco, he kept charging at the wall and shoving his blade through it, pulling it back as the shadow he stuck started to burn away to nothing.
And then, as ferocious as the attack was, all of the Shadows stopped, twitched a bit, and then left. They all ran, becoming their namesake, shadows and then faded away.
"W-what," Star tried to get out, but Marco finished for her. "What happened? Why they'd run away, not that I'm complaining or anything."
Ryan looked up. The mass of Shadows that was in the clouds were gone, now, they were just clouds. Angry, boiling black clouds with fierce lightning running through it. "It's over," he said. "Michael did it. I'm guessing that the organization fellow was the one controlling the-HOLY!" THe clouds then exploded. No, literally exploded. One sec it was just a mass of storm clouds, the next they're swept aside by a massive release of energy. Lighting seemed to crackle out of it as the shock wave also swept aside the weird colors in the sky, leaving them their natural black sky and white moon. And all was left was the explosion that was already fading, and then Michael was there in front of them, a current of wind following him as the brief gale whipped at all of their clothes and hair.
"So, that was a thing," he said. "Is everyone ok?" They all nodded. "Good, well, I guess we should all head home and get some rest."
He started to move past them, all of them frozen from what just transpired, then began to follow him. Star caught up with him and said, "Are you ok? It seemed like a lot went down on your end."
He didn't answer for a bit, didn't even acknowledge that he heard her. But then, "I don't know, it was a long fight. I just killed someone, I need some sleep."
End chapter 19
A/N: Sorry, sooo, super sorry for that long wait, this chapter was a bitch. But fear not! The next chapter of this shall come on Valentines day! :D Yup, and it's a lemon chapter, so for obvious reasons, this story shall be upgraded to rated M, so, if you don't like that kind of stuff, then don't read that chapter, the one after it shall return to my normalness, but because I added that chapter this shall be rated M, so, don't give up on it, just skip it if that's your cup of tea, and the lemon is only in the second half of the chapter, the first half shall be starco fluffyness. Also, my next monthly chapter of Rick and Morty will be posted the day after, so, more work for me.
Tenebras effugare, diabole tenebris evanescunt, lux perpetua luceat per- Translates from latin to roughly-Darkness begone, darkness disappear, let light shine through