Chapter 24: Dark Sacrifices

"You can sacrifice and not love. But you cannot love and not sacrifice."

Kris Vallotton

-The Ballroom-

Myotismon watched from the back as his assassins were forced to swing daggers at their companions. He motioned the Darklings surrounding the perimeter of the room to begin closing in. They did.

"Guys…" Joe whispered, holding his hands up defensively as he stepped back to back to Mimi, "they're closing in…" Mimi sighed, a bit annoyed by having to watch her friends go to battle with each other. "Guess we'll have to join in," she said, lifting her palms as fire formed in them. Joe blinked back, "I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to that…" Mimi shrugged playfully, "Hm. Too bad." She flung fire at the first Darkling, the creature almost melting to the ground. Mimi and Joe stared at the dark puddle of black blood and ash, "… Okay. Ew." Mimi shivered, readying more fire.

Kari joined Mimi and Joe, the three had their backs to the others. "You three pay attention to the Darklings," Tai said as he pushed Sam off of Yamato, "and we'll try our best to not get killed," he ducked out of Sora's reach. "Got it," Kari replied, Takeru passing her the staff he often carried. "I'll just… Use wind…?" He said, a nervous smile on his lips. She chuckled, thanking him before smacking a Darkling that got too close to Joe's shoulder.

Sora clenched her teeth as she fought against the pull of Lillian swinging her dagger in Tai's direction. Pain shot through her arm, her dagger still swinging. I can fight it, I know… She gave her arm a confused look, a bit angered that her body betrayed her. Luckily, Sora decided to try and focus most of her energy on Tai. He can see my moves before I swing… I hope anyway. There was that pain again.

"Still trying?" Lillian's voice said in her head, "It's entertaining at this point…" She could hear the smirk on her words. Next to her, Sam was swinging his arms and daggers between the two brothers, the tip of his dagger almost catching Takeru's arm. "I-I'm sorry," he stuttered an apology, his blade aimed at Yamato's throat. Yamato pushed him out of the way, dodging the sharp edge.

"Izzy said something about darkness," Tai said to Sora as his dagger met her's. "What?" She asked, her arm swinging for his ribs. "Darkness. The markings on you…" he grunted as her elbow dug into his side, "… Your arm and back… Geez, Sor." She smirked, a small pain reminding her that it wasn't time to mess around. "Sorry… Yeah I know it connected me to them, but it's always been this color. I don't know…" "Time to talk?" As the words flashed across her thoughts, Sora felt a bigger shove against her will.

Her wrist flicked, an additional dagger slipping into her palm from her suit. The suit had blades built in around her elbows and the heels of her feet. "Shit…" Tai said, Sora gave him a warning look.

"My my…" Myotismon said followed by a yawn, "how boring is this…" He clicked his tongue, watching his Darkling army melt to the ground under Mimi's flames. Sora and Sam were still able to hold back a bit, too much in his Myotismon's mind. "Lillian. Please buckle down on the assassins. I don't have all day for the light keepers to die." He waved at her with his fingers. Lillian shrugged, turning back to the fight.

A smirk formed across her lips, her hands clenching into fist. Lillian looked to Magnus, "are you ready?" Magnus chuckled, rubbing his hands together as he withdrew a sword from his hip. "I've been waiting patiently. It's about time."

Tai hesitated, Sora's elbow connecting with his cheek. "Tai, why didn't you duck?" She whispered, her dagger finding skin on his calf. "I can't… I can't see your movements…" He squinted, realizing Magnus was approaching. "It's him…"

Mimi's flames diminished, the woman looking at her arms and cursing to herself. "Damnit… Why aren't they… Come on," she swung her fist to keep a Darkling off of her.

"Ah. Seems as though you are all noticing the effects of my ability," Magnus chuckled, wiping his sword as he readied to join the small battle. Izzy squinted out of frustration, "he can… He can mask our abilities… Tai look out!" Tai jumped out of the way of Sora's deadly dagger. Sam by her side, readying himself next to Magnus.

"Sora, any luck?" Sora shook her head, her body felt like it was attached to strings only Lillian could control. "Time for the real fun," the words said to Sora and Sam, tickling their minds and pulling at their will.

"Tai," Yamato said, "are your abilities…" he looked at his hands, unable to feel the usual iciness coursing through his veins. He shook his head. "I can't feel mine either," Takeru said quietly, the group forming a tighter circle. Joe swallowed nervously, "this is it… Isn't it…" Kari gave him a nervous look, scared to disagree in case it was. The formation tightened, everyone crowded together as they readied themselves to fight.

Sora watched her friends, feeling bad that she was part of the cause for their obvious fear. The darkness must end… She thought to herself, glancing at Sam's mark, knowing her own looked very similar. She didn't have much time to think of a plan, the electricity shooting through her body harder than it ever had.

Sam and Sora let out screams as their bodies fought against them, their daggers leaving their hands as they threw them with scary precision. Two daggers missed their marks, one digging into the thigh of Takeru. "Agh…" Takeru hissed, pulling the dagger from his leg slowly. "We have to fight back," Yamato said, taking the dagger and pointing it at Sora. "Either we all die, or only those two die." Mimi shook her head, "Yamato there has to be a way." Tai turned, "there might not be any other way. They're the only darkness left an-"

Kari nudged her brother, "but Sora. She… She can't…" She didn't have time to finish. Yamato grabbed the staff from her hand, swinging at Sam as he leaped for Izzy. Sam fell to the side, Sora countering Yamato's swing and turning to hit Joe.

She was moving fast. It was evident that she was trained to kill with precision and no thinking before. The group reacted fast, everyone doing what they could to draw Sora away from the target she chose. Sam leaped back in. Yamato raised the staff again, giving Sora an opening.

She tried her best, doing what she could to lessen the blow of her daggers as she slid on her knees under his staff. The shard edges of her blades sliced through Tai's left thigh and Yamato's right. The men gasped in pain, Takeru kicking Sora away a their blood began to spill to the tile. I'm so sorry, she wanted to say it, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she felt Lillian force her body to crouch for its next strike. Mimi.

Tai gripped his thigh, letting out a shaky breath. He looked up just in time to see Magnus join the fight. He swung his sword at Yamato, missing him by a few inches. "Not as accurate as your assassins," Tai joked, trying his best to distract the man. Magnus glared at Tai, focusing his attention on him. "Hm. I bet I won't miss you…" He smirked, raising his sword.

Yamato reacted fast, taking advantage of the opening Magnus left on his side. He grabbed the dagger Joe had been holding, driving it messily into Magnus' side. Magnus gasped, staggering back as blood spilled from his side and lips. "How…" He blinked slowly, collapsing. "… That was… That was easy…?" Yamato said to Tai, having trouble believing that he had just killed Magnus. Sam's knife came down, catching Yamato's arm as it split the skin. Yamato yelled, grabbing his arm, angered that he let his guard down.

"No…" Lillian's eyes fell to Magnus' still body, her hands clenching and unclenching. "No!" She yelled, Sora and Sam falling to their knees in pain. "How dare you…" Lillian hissed, standing between the two assassins.

She eyed the group. While Lillian watched Magnus die, Sora and Sam had landed a few blows on the others. Kari's lip was bleeding and Takeru was on his knees, breathing from taking a fist to his stomach. Joe was knelt by Tai and Yamato, trying his best to heal the wounds on their thighs and and arms. Izzy and Mimi stood, trying their best to ready themselves to protect the others if needed.

Sora used the time to think. She stared at the ground, catching her breath as she had a few seconds without the feeling of electricity pulling her muscles to strike. Darkness… Sam and I are all that's left… She knew what she needed to do. She looked to Sam, the realization on his face as well. The two shared a look, a look of goodbye.

Angrily, Lillian pulled the assassins to their feet, daggers drawn. Sora took a deep breath, letting her body be willed to move. Sam did the same. Raising their daggers, the two fought against the pull slightly, moving towards one another rather than the group centered in the ballroom.

Myotismon gasped, catching onto what was about to happen in front of him. "N-No! Lillian, stop them!" Lillian gave him a weird look, shrugging her shoulders as she loosened her grip on them. This gave them some free will. Exactly what the two wanted.

Exchanging one final look, Sam and Sora closed the gap between them. "It's been fun, Sam." Sora whispered, a small smile on her lips. Sam blinked back tears, "see you on the other side?" His words were quiet, a phrase they would exchange before going into missions Lanus had assigned them too.

With one last swing, the two assassins dug their daggers into each other's chests

*Author's Note*

Yes. They story is coming to an end. I'm thinking of adding a fun thing of one shots for side stories and plot hole fillers after I finish this? Let me know what you guys think of that. Thank you again for the kind reviews. I honestly appreciate it so much you guys have no idea! Happy readings everyone :)