Chapter 56: Lara Vs. Remora
All four of Bel'al's eyes were clenched tight as his bared teeth as he fought to maintain his focus and magic. It was no easy task. The scale of this undertaking was immense, as was the precision it required and the urgency it warranted. He could feel Maelstrom's invasion unfolding by the second. Fear. Panic. Sorrow. Anger. Despair. Death. So much death. He felt lives extinguished one after another, both above and below the sea. Each one was snuffed out like candles in a storm. He was taking too long, and people were dying because of it. His portals were ready and waiting. But he found himself unable to amass the magic needed to initiate and then maintain them all.
He knew why. It was Lara and Melody.
Bel'al never anticipated Lara sacrificing herself at the hospital. Nor did he anticipate the Hive Queen employing him and Melody to bring his daughter back from the edge of death. Sending the princess into the Void to fetch her was a monumental feat, even for a pair of Eternals such as them. As was bringing the pair back, even with the "assistance" from the departed. Souls behaved like water within that realm, only flowing willingly in one direction. To pull them against that flow took immense power. Power he did not have to spare. His strength was already limited by Poseidon's curse, which even now sought to end him. Returning both girls to this realm was a significant drain on him. One he gave willingly and without hesitation, but a drain nonetheless. Now he faced the consequence of his decision.
Bel'al growled in his throat, brows furrowing with effort. It was no good. Returning the young women's souls from the Void consumed too much of his magic. He no longer had the power required to use the full volume of his portals. He now faced a terrible choice. He could still activate his portals, and for long enough to be of genuine help. He could still save some of the Alliance's citizens. Still ensure the survival of some small part of their kingdoms.
The question was, whose kingdom? One belonging to the humans on land? Or the merfolk of Atlantica? He only had enough power for one. The others would be left to what scant mercy Maelstrom possessed, if any. But who? Who did he choose? Who did he grant salvation to, and who did he consign to suffer? How was he to make this decision?
"I swear this to you–cursed or not, I will not abandon this world! I will continue to watch over it, and your people!"
"I am Bel'al the Solar King. Descendant of the clan of Anclagon of the first knights. I may be a king in name only, but that does not mean I shirk my duty to safeguard this world from those who would destroy it. Or go back on my oath to you or your grandfather."
Another slew of lives was taken in Atlantica, and Bel'al felt it happen. He snarled, and then he let out a deafening roar of frustration. He had to act now. And he had to fulfill his promise.
"Forgive me, your highness…" he said.
He drew his four hands apart and then brought them back together, forming a tunnel of open triangles with his fingers. He spoke the needed words–words no mortal tongue could hope to utter. Words lost to time, but not to him. Then his voice roared out into the dark with a single loud "HA!" as his eyes snapped open, blazing like four wildfires as flames filled the spaces between his hands.
He made his choice.
Triton swam upwards, avoiding the beam of darkness streaking for him. It flew through the water, pierced through the palace, and blasted out the other side before sailing into the ocean and vanishing. Several towers collapsed as their bases were destroyed. The merking aimed the trident, feeling the magic grow within it. "Trident, shoot!"
Another pair of lightning bolts flew off the trident, sailing for the Master. And again, Triton saw the Master cut them down with his bare hands. The bolts shattered in his grasp with flashes of light and showers of sparks. Then the Master flew straight up at Triton, his dark sword reappearing in his hand as he drew it back to swing at the merking's side. Triton blocked it with the shaft of the trident, the weapon glowing bright as it contacted the darkness. But the strength behind the blow was beyond Triton. He went sailing backwards, shooting through the water till he struck the exterior of the palace. His spine flared with pain, and again when the Master appeared in front of him and slashed. Triton blocked again, his arms aching from shoulder to fingers from the blow. He barely composed himself when the Master released a shockwave from his body. It blasted Triton backwards through the stone wall and sent him rolling across the floor. Triton was barely upright when the Master sent several sharp tendrils of darkness after him, snaking through the water with deadly speed. Triton quickly rose and spun the trident, cutting through the shadows and causing them to shatter. However, three still snuck past, slashing him across his shoulder, chest, and the side of his tail. Triton grunted at the pain and struck through the remaining shadows, breaking them apart.
The Master flew at Triton and swung with his sword again, aiming for the merking's neck. Triton parried the sword away and then thrust for the Master's center. The warlock easily parried the strike aside and then struck Triton sharply across the face with his fist. Triton tasted blood in his mouth yet again. Then the Master twisted his sword over and thrust for Triton's face. He narrowly evaded the piercing blade, suffering a shallow cut across his cheek. Suddenly the Master's sword vanished, reappearing in his other hand as he slashed again for Triton. Triton quickly swung the trident upwards, redirecting the blade away from him. Again the sword vanished and reappeared, the Master striking for Triton's middle. Triton backed away, feeling the tip of the sword graze his stomach. He saw trails of red in the water from his own blood as the Master extended his hand towards him. Before Triton could react a tendril of shadow shot out and snared Triton's neck, squeezing tighter than a noose. It whipped him around like a toy on a string, smacking him against walls, floor, and ceiling before throwing him out of the palace entirely. Triton tumbled through the water before righting himself.
Triton aimed the trident at the Master's head. "Shoo–!"
The Master flicked his wrist and a beam of shadow shot up from underneath Triton, knocking the trident up as it fired. The lightning bolt went sailing towards the surface and vanished.
A scream below Triton caused him to look down. One of the Master's black demons, an eight legged monstrosity from some child's nightmare, had chased a mermaid into a house. The scream intensified as the demon followed her inside. Then it abruptly ended. The demon emerged alone moments later. A merguard with a spear charged at the demon, narrowly evading four of its limbs to pierce it in the head. The demon came apart into a cloud of blank ink, its remains melding with the darkness shadowing the kingdom.
Triton looked around. It was much the same story across Atlantica. The demons were attacking anyone they could find. The merguards and those brave enough to resist were completely overwhelmed, the demons slaying them with ease. Meanwhile, the metal bugs latched onto merfolk left and right, dragging them through portals to who knew where. No one was safe.
"How unsightly."
Triton whipped his head up to see the Master barely an arm's length away from him, luminous blue eyes narrowed. He quickly swam back, putting distance between them. The Master made no move to attack.
"I expected far greater from you, Triton," said the Master. "You, who they call the most powerful in all the ocean. What an utter disappointment you are. To me, to your forebears, to your reputation, and to your people."
Triton grit his teeth, and then he aimed the trident at the Master's head again. "Trident, shoot!"
The Master raised his left hand, allowing the bolt to strike his palm. It shattered against it, arcs of electricity scattering through the water. He lowered his hand, thin trails of steam coming off it. "Slow. Predictable. And weak."
Triton wrung the trident in his hands. How was this possible? How was the Master this powerful? He was giving his all trying to fight this man, assuming he was even human. His whole body was burning from exertion and aching with deep bruises. His skin and scales were riddled with lacerations from the warlock's sword and shadows. Yet for all the damage Triton had taken, the Master had barely a scratch. The worst Triton managed to do was cut his robes. The warlock was not even flustered. Every movement he made was precise, fluid, and effortless. Every attack Triton made was deflected, blocked, or turned back on him.
In short, Triton was losing. And they both knew it.
Suddenly a deep, forceful boom resonated through the water, as if the shockwave of a large and distant explosion had reached them. Triton and the Master looked out over the kingdom. All across Atlantica they saw points of fiery light appear, rising off everyday objects. Then the lights grew, becoming rings of circling fire. Boiling bubbles rose from them as the fire persisted within the water, refusing to be extinguished. Rays of daylight and currents of warm water came shining through the rings
"SANCTUARY!" called out a thunderous voice.
Even in the midst of his desperate battle, Triton allowed himself one speck of relief as he recognized the dragon's voice. "He did it!"
The Master narrowed his eyes. "That voice…the sorcerer?"
"SANCTUARY!" the voice repeated. "COME TO SANCTUARY!"
A mermaid and merman were fleeing from a pair of demons, an infant merchild clutched in the mermaid's arms. The pair swam as fast as they could. They saw one of the portals and swam away from it, only to find three more demons in their way. The pair quickly backpedaled, their child screaming in terror. Seeing nowhere else to go, they swam for the portal. The demons pursued them, one of them nicking the merman's fins with its teeth. The merman yelled in pain and put on a last desperate burst of speed, pulling his wife and child with him. They swam into the portal and vanished. The demons tried to follow after them, but the moment they touched the threshold they burst into flames. They writhed and boiled in the water before bursting into clouds of ink and sparks.
The Master's eyes widened and then narrowed again as he saw a lone mermaid flee into another portal. The demon chasing her met the same fate as its comrades, destroyed when it tried to cross through. "Portals…and guarded ones at that. Seems his meddling is not done."
Triton saw an opening. He charged in and stabbed at the Master's chest. But the Master easily avoided his strike and then seized Triton by his hair before tossing him back. He never even looked at Triton while he did it.
"No matter," said the Master as he turned to face him. "Aided or not, you and your kingdom will still fall."
With that the Master attacked again, striking down at Triton. He thrust the shaft of the trident up, blocking the blow, but it still sent him shooting down. He crashed into the silt of an empty street, throwing up a cloud of sand. His entire body went numb for a second from the impact, and then the pain followed. He was starting to have trouble moving his body. He felt heavy and sluggish.
"Do not let him interfere."
Triton opened his eyes. "Bel…al?"
"I can only keep these open for so long," came the dragon's voice.
Triton looked up at the Master, who was now slowly descending to him. He groaned with exertion as he shakily rose. "I understand. Just promise me you'll save them."
"As many as I can." There was silence for a moment. "Stay alive, King of Atlantica. Above all else, stay alive."
The Master settled on the ground, a small puff of silt flying away from him. "Well, King Triton? Do you wish to continue this fruitless resistance of yours? Or are you prepared to accept your inescapable defeat?"
"If all I accomplish by this so-called 'fruitless' effort is sparing one more life from your evil…" Triton hefted the trident before him. "Then this will not have been in vain!"
With that he swam at the Master, trident drawn back as he prepared to thrust.
Lara's brow furrowed in an angry scowl as Remora approached. She hissed through her faceplate, the glow inside intensifying as her eyes flickered. Melody cowered behind her, peering over Lara's shoulder. The smell of smoke was as thick in the air as the terrified screams and the explosions of artillery and gunfire from the town.
"I knew you'd come scurrying out if I shook this place hard enough," said Remora, the sound of her boots echoing in the ballroom. "And scurry you did. Right to me!"
Melody hid behind Lara as Remora's gaze shifted onto her. "And you even brought one of the fish I was looking for! Lucky me!"
The witch gave an amused chuckle as Lara gripped her sword tighter. "Oh, don't you worry. I've got orders to keep the princess and her family alive. You, however…"
Remora held her right hand out. Electricity crackled down her arm as her gauntlet came apart. Metal shards crawled out from under her robes, gathering in her hand to form the shaft and then the blade of her scythe. Lara growled angrily, hot breath passing through the teeth of her faceplate.
At that moment a clockman burst into the room through a side door. It quickly scanned about, its green eyes locking on Lara. It raised its right arm, the barrels of its chain gun starting to spin as three more clockmen entered.
Lara quickly fanned her wings out, covering Melody as she drew her sword back. "Clay–!"
There was a flash of light, and then a lightning bolt struck the attacking clockman. It exploded violently, sending shrapnel flying outwards. Sparks flew off its compatriots with the sharp sounds of ricocheting metal. Several pieces hit Lara's armor, bouncing off harmlessly.
"Stand down!" Remora shouted sharply, her scythe bristling with lightning. "All of you!"
The three clockmen, who had begun to raise their own firearms, immediately lowered them and stood at attention.
"The brat is mine!" Remora barked through her mask. "The princess, too! Any of you get so much as a speck of grease on them and I'll turn you into slag! Right after I rip your souls out! Got it!?"
The clockmen made no motion to indicate they understood or felt threatened by her promise of destruction. They just remained still.
"Then get out of my sight and stay out! Find the rest of the royals and capture them! And remember, I want them alive!"
The clockmen turned on their heels and ran off to carry out her orders. Remora turned back to Lara as the echoes of their metal steps faded away. "There! No more interruptions!"
"Where are my parents!?" Melody shouted. "And my family!?"
"Oh, we got most of them already!" said Remora. She rested her scythe on her shoulder, a thread of electricity dancing across her body and then disappearing. "Including your daddy, princess! We caught him and your fishy aunties and uncles trying to run out the front door!"
Melody gasped loudly. "No! No, you're lying!"
Remora's shoulders shook as she laughed. "And why would I lie?"
"Because you're the textbook definition of twisted!" spat Lara, her tail twitching irately. "And a bona fide witch!"
Remora cocked her head. "How thoughtful of you to notice. But it's true. We already caught most of Triton's spawn, including his next-in-line!"
"Aunt Attina!" exclaimed Melody.
"Her, the sisters, and their other halves! At least, the halves I didn't cut to bits!" Remora laughed again as Melody gave an alarmed cry. "Only ones we're missing are the notorious redheaded, the blonde with the baby, and the kids! A whole lotta kids!"
Was Melody imagining things, or did Lara just breathe a sigh of relief?
"But I'm not interested in hunting sea rats in a castle! The clockmen can see to that!" said Remora, pointing her scythe at Lara. "I'm here for you, brat! You and I are going to settle things once and for all! And I can't think of a better venue for our showdown than this!"
Lara grit her teeth hard, keeping her sword at the ready. "Much as I'd love to burn you to nothing, I've got better things to do!"
"Do you now? Then I guess you don't care what happens to your precious new family?" Remora gave a chuckle, running a finger along the edge of her scythe. "The Master does want the royals alive, but–."
"What does he want with them?" interrupted Lara.
"Don't know, and don't care!" snapped Remora. "And I don't think he'll care much either if one or two of them were 'lost' in the assault. You never know who's going to die when you start blowing things up! You know what that's like, don't you Lara?"
Lara snarled angrily, her eyes and hair flickering for a moment.
"No!" pleaded Melody. "Don't hurt them!"
"You wouldn't dare," hissed Lara.
Remora laughed loudly. "Did you forget who you're talking to!? Of course I'd dare! And will if you even think of running away! All I have to do is give the order, and my clockmen will take their heads off long before you get to them! That is…!" She brandished her scythe, a few arcs of electricity leaping across her mask. "Unless you kill me first!"
A/N: "We Walk Amongst Titans" by ADN Compositions
Lara narrowed her eyes at Remora. A tremor came to her arms for a moment, and then it stopped. "Melody."
"Lara?"
"Go hide in the tower." Lara walked out onto the ballroom floor. "No matter what happens, do not move from there."
"Lara, wait!" said Melody. "What about my family!? My mom!?"
"For all we know, those machines already found her!" said Lara. Her wings burst into flames, shrinking down and then disappearing. A mirage of heat appeared around her sword and then spread across her body. "If I don't do this, she will kill them! Now go hide! And cover your ears. This is gonna get loud."
"I'd do as she says, kid," said Remora. "Unless you want to get splattered on the wall!"
Smoke wafted from Lara's mouth as she growled loudly. "If you so much as–!"
"What, harm a hair on her pretty little head?" interrupted Remora. She started walking towards Lara, dragging the tip of her scythe across the floor as she went. It scraped loudly, sparks jumping off the edge as it cut through the marble. "This isn't going to be like before! No clockmen! No prisoners! No cheap tricks! I'll kill you right this time–with my own two hands! I won't touch your princess till you're bleeding out at my feet! So keep your focus on me and nowhere else!"
Melody watched as Lara and Remora moved closer and closer, then stopped a full hundred feet apart. She quickly retreated to the tower stairwell, hiding herself behind the wall. She knew she needed to get fully behind cover, but she could not resist the urge to peer around to watch.
"This ends today," Lara said, glaring at Remora. She slid her right leg back as she drew her sword up by her head, wrapping her clawed fingers securely around the handle. The blade began to glow with incandescence, as if it were a reflection of the anger inside her. "I'm gonna make you pay for everything you ever did. To me. To your victims. To these people. And to my mom. I'll avenge all of them!"
"Enough talk, brat." Remora adopted a similar stance as Lara, pulling her scythe back. "Show me what you've got!"
Melody saw and felt magic auras grow around the two women. Lara's was just like her–fiery orange, blazing, and fierce. It was large and intimidating, but also familiar. Like the warmth of a roaring bonfire on a cold night. It gave a small amount of comfort to Melody amidst the chaos and destruction surrounding her. Remora's aura, however, was golden yellow, sparking, and dangerous. There was a palpable bloodlust about it. It made Melody feel as if there were a rabid dog lunging to rip her throat out, held back by the frailest of chains. That it could break free and destroy her at any second. Her presence was as murderous as her weapon.
The air around Lara rippled with heat as arcs of electricity jumped across Remora. The pressure between them filled the ballroom with a heavy yet fragile tension. It felt like the whole moment was a powder keg surrounded by open flames, ready to explode at any moment. Their eyes were locked on each other, each waiting for the first move. They stayed like that for what felt like hours to Melody. She leaned forward slightly, causing a piece of the wall to fall off. It struck the floor and broke apart, the noise echoing loudly.
Then Lara and Remora vanished faster than Melody could blink. She stared at the empty ballroom, her mind just starting to–.
BOOM!
A shockwave ripped through the ballroom, blasting out what remained of the windows and knocking Melody down before a cloud of grit and ash washed over her. Her vision flashed and her ears rang loudly as she lifted her head, her thoughts scattered. She coughed as she breathed in dust, only for another shockwave to assault her. Through her blurry vision she saw arcs of lightning and jets of fire shooting about, blasting and scorching wherever they struck. She caught glimpses of Lara and Remora's figures darting around the ballroom, clashing together with sparks flying off their weapons. They were too fast for Melody to follow completely. A bolt of lightning flashed and struck one of the columns, shattering it to pieces. Another was struck by a jet of fire and exploded. The heat coming from the room was intense, drying out Melody's eyes.
Then Lara and Remora reappeared in the middle of the ballroom, weapons drawn back and bristling with their respective elements. The two yelled at the top of their lungs as they swung at each other, their blades colliding with seismic force. Fire and lightning went flying in all directions as the floor beneath them cracked, as though a giant fist had smashed it. Lara's hair and eyes were aglow as she pressed hard against Remora, the electromancer responding in kind as electricity swarmed across her. They shoved against each other, causing them to separate, and then ran in and swung their weapons once more. There was another shockwave as sword and scythe clashed, rattling the room and causing pieces of the ceiling to fall.
Melody knew she needed to go hide like Lara ordered. That she was endangering herself by continuing to watch. But for the life of her, she could not tear her eyes away from the fight unfolding before her. Only a matter of seconds had passed, and already it was beyond anything she ever imagined. This was not some mage's duel. The two of them were fighting with their lives on the line, wholly intent on killing each other. One look at their faces told Melody they had blocked themselves off to everything except the enemy before them. Nothing else mattered. Not the war raging around them. Not their allegiances. Not their orders. Perhaps not even Melody.
This was a battle for revenge. And it would not end till one of them was dead.
Remora parried Lara's blazing sword aside, a violent plume of fire shooting past her and setting a section of the ballroom aflame. Then she quickly slashed her scythe at Lara, the curved blade brimming with lightning. Lara parried it aside in turn, the lightning blasting off and tearing a long scar through floor, wall, and ceiling. Lara spun in place, slicing with her tail and then her sword. Remora blocked both with the shaft of her scythe, but the blows still sent her skidding back. Lara started drawing in air to breathe fire, but Remora beat her to it when she sent a lightning bolt straight for Lara. She abandoned her breath and swung her sword up, catching the bolt on the flat of the blade and redirecting it out the broken windows. It shot off into the sky and disappeared. Lara spun with the motion as her sword became drenched in fire again, and then swung it at Remora. A jet of searing flames shot at the witch. Remora quickly darted aside, avoiding the flames as they struck the far wall and blew a hole clear through it.
Shards of metal flew out from under Remora's robe, forming three small balls around her. She gave her scythe a hard spin, sending the balls shooting away and flying around the room like wasps before coming after Lara. Lara deflected them away with her sword, swinging the weapon too fast for Melody to see. She heard the ricochets as the bullets swarmed Lara, her sword swatting them away with blinding speed. Then Lara gave a flurry of hard slashes and shattered the bullets, scattering their remains across the ballroom. Remora charged at Lara as the shards of the bullets returned to her. She spun her scythe and pivoted before slashing at Lara's neck. Lara blocked with her sword, redirecting the weapon above her and then swinging back for Remora's shoulder. Remora blocked and then parried Lara's sword aside, slicing for her neck again with the same motion. Lara ducked and spun, sweeping her tail high at Remora's neck. Remora blocked it with her arm but realized too late it was a feint when one of Lara's legs came swinging for her middle, the instep aflame and glowing bright orange. She braced against the hit but was unprepared for the explosion that followed. Lara's hit detonated like a stick of dynamite, sending Remora shooting away. It was a short flight, however, as Remora quickly buried the tip of her scythe into the floor to stop herself. The blade left a deep scar in the stones.
Lara gave her sword a twirl as she rose, watching closely as Remora stood and batted out the fire on her robe. She knew she landed a solid hit, but she did not like how it felt. There was a certain softness and pliability when she hit bodies. A sensation of her strike burying in as skin, muscle, and even bone deformed from the impact. She did not feel that with Remora. She was solid, not giving in the slightest. It felt like hitting a rock. And given how unfazed Remora appeared, the analogy seemed accurate.
She was prevented from contemplating it further when Remora darted back in, drawing her scythe overhead with a loud cackle. She swung down hard at Lara, who deflected it with her sword. The strength behind that glancing blow was immense, pushing Lara down hard enough to break the marble underfoot. Melody felt the ballroom vibrate from it as Remora herself was lifted off the ground. Then, in a feat of speed and dexterity, Remora buried the end of her scythe in the ground, yanked herself forward, and shot her heels out and nailed Lara in the chest. The strength in the blows was ferocious, knocking Lara backwards and sending her skidding over the floor. She felt pain through her ribcage as she rolled upright into a crouch, even with her armor protecting her. She glanced down and saw several hairline cracks in her plating. Small fires burst from the cracks, repairing the damage.
Remora was not just fast and tough. She was strong–very strong.
Maelstrom's vice-commander landed as the blade of her scythe came apart, reforming at the staff's opposite end. She shouted as she swung, a beam of lightning shooting off the end and raking across the room. Melody screamed and dropped to the floor as the beam passed above her, feeling her hair stand on end. Lara quickly leapt over the beam and inhaled, then unleashed a jet of fire from her mouth at Remora. The witch swung the lightning beam around and into the flame, the two magics cancelling each other out with an explosion. Lara twisted over, planting her feet on the ceiling and then launching herself back at Remora. She swung to slice her in half but missed when Remora evaded to the side, her sword instead smashing into the floor and sending a wave of debris and fire across the room. The palace shook from the force of it. Melody darted behind the wall to avoid the flames.
The hybrid mage quickly darted aside as Remora tried to slice her in return, sinking her scythe halfway into the floor. Lara spun and swung her sword up, knocking the scythe free and away, and then lunged to slash. Remora quickly brought her scythe back down, blocking Lara's strike. Her boots slid back as she resisted the strike, both of them pushing hard against each other. Four streams of metal shards flew out of Remora's robes and formed small round bullets, which then went flying for Lara's chest and limbs. They shattered against her plating, leaving minor scratches on its surface. Lara dug her clawed feet into the floor, breaking the marble. Remora started to slide back, her boots unable to find the traction she needed. Then electricity coursed around her feet and she stopped.
"Not bad for a brat!" said Remora, her arms trembling as she pushed against Lara. "You've got my heart going a few beats faster!"
"You don't have a heart!" growled Lara. "And after I'm done with you, you won't have a life either!"
Lara yelled and shoved hard, pushing Remora away. Then she swung her tail around and wrapped Remora's scythe as she stabbed for her chest. Remora quickly released her weapon and leapt back, the sword's tip leaving a small tear in her bodice.
"Got you now!" said Lara as her sword ignited. "Claymore…!"
"Bad move!" shouted Remora. Then she thrust her hands towards Lara, sending a winding arc of electricity into her scythe.
Pain exploded in every fiber of Lara's body. She screamed as the electricity surged through her, locking up her muscles and sending her heart into fibrillations. She tried to let go of the scythe, but her tail would not respond to her will. Her sword extinguished as Remora's sorcery continued to assault her. The witch let it go on for several long agonizing seconds and then stopped. Lara dropped to one knee, panting hard and body shaking as Remora's scythe collapsed into a pile of metal shards. There were multiple cracks throughout her armor, arcs of electricity lingering on her body.
"Metal conducts lightning," Remora said, wagging a finger at Lara. The metal shards flew to her other hand, reforming her scythe. "And my metal does that especially well! You might as well have held out a lightning rod and said, 'Please kill me, Remora!'"
She cackled, spinning her scythe around her wrist and then neck before taking it in both hands. An arc of electricity came off her mask, winding its way to the end of the scythe's blade. "Not that you'd ever have to ask!"
Lara snarled and stood, fire sweeping across her armor as the cracks sealed. She darted at Remora, swinging her sword blindingly fast as it burst into flames. Remora quickly knelt as a metal shield formed on her forearm, blocking Lara's attack. The flames blasted off the sword, enveloping Remora completely. Lara roared and breathed her own fire at Remora, adding to the conflagration. The flames spread out through the ballroom, igniting every furnishing, wood, and cloth it touched. Melody shielded her face against the intense heat. Lara kept it up as long as she could, stopped when she ran out of breath.
Suddenly there was a crackle of lightning, and then an electric shock hit Lara like a cannon. She went tumbling backwards across the ballroom and spun out on the floor, using her claws to stop herself. She quickly got up despite the burning pain as the electricity lingered on her. She looked across the room and saw a tall scutum shield, its surface blackened by the flames. Remora herself stood up behind it, unharmed save a few small flames on her hood and arms. She laughed as her scythe reformed, electricity dancing around her feet. She then crouched and shot towards Lara, zigzagging across the floor to throw her off. Lara darted back as a bolt of lightning came straight for her, narrowly missing her face. Remora closed in and swung her scythe at Lara, who moved to bock it with her sword. Suddenly the blade of the scythe shattered, reforming on the opposite end of the shaft and covered in electric arcs as Remora swung it back. Reacting on instinct, Lara blocked it with her forearm. To her shock the blade bit through her plating, sending electricity coursing through her as the sharpened metal sliced into her arm. Lara screamed as cracks wound their way up her arm. More metal shards gathered on Remora's right hand, forming a gauntlet as she punched Lara in the face. There was a sound like a cannon and Lara went flying back, slamming against the ballroom wall. She shook her head, regaining her senses in time to see Remora charging at her, scythe drawn back to strike. Lara raised her sword and blocked it, the force of the strike cracking the wall behind her. The lightning on Remora's scythe intensified as Lara's sword caught fire.
"Lara!" shouted Melody.
"Looks like you're not as lightning-proof as your sword!" sneered Remora, glancing at the crack in Lara's arm.
"Don't think it'll make this any easier for you!" grunted Lara as she pushed back against Remora. She was truly having to exert herself to keep the scythe from coming any closer. She met strong opponents before, but not like this. Even Undertow was not this strong. How was this witch so powerful? And so tough? And so fast?
"I'm betting on it!" Remora gave a loud yell and the lightning leapt onto her body. There was a flash and then an explosion, the shockwave stunning Lara as Remora was pushed away, backflipping through the air before gracefully landing. She was covered in arcs of golden electricity, her long braid writhing like a pained snake behind her. "It'd be a real let down if that was all it took to kill you!"
Lara gripped her sword harder, eyes locked on Remora's mask. Fire grew on her sword as the glow in her eyes and hair intensified. With mutual yells she and Remora dashed at each other in a blur, their weapons colliding hard enough to produce another shockwave. A large piece of the ballroom's ceiling fell down, but neither of them noticed it.
King Benjamin screamed as he went tumbling through the air, sky and earth flashing before his eyes. Then he struck the ground hard on his side, rolling over and over through the churned dirt before coming to a stop on his stomach. His blurry vision kept coming and going. He distantly heard the sounds of destruction, mayhem, and monsters as they continued to ravage Glowerhaven and its people.
Riptide's colossal shadow loomed over him, blocking out the sun. The sea serpent bared his teeth as he leaned down, giant yellow eyes narrowed at the man. "Still alive?"
Ben could not have spoken if he wanted to. He lost all feeling in his body after the fourth time Riptide flung him like that. There was not even pain anymore. He was like a puppet with its strings cut, incapable of motion. Completely at Riptide's mercy as he toyed with him like a young cat torments a mouse it has caught.
Riptide opened his jaws wide and his blue tongue shot out, splitting into its many tendrils. Five of them wrapped around Ben's body, hoisting him high into the air as Riptide rose up. Ben's head rolled about limply as his vision briefly came back into focus.
Glowerhaven was destroyed. Monsters were rampaging through the harbor and town with unbridled fury, leveling everything in their path. The people looked like ants as they fled towards the Emerald Woods, the beasts charging ahead to block their paths before any more escaped. Ben's head rolled the other way, granting him sight of what remained of the castle he and his ancestors once called home. It was all but leveled. Riptide saw to that in a manner of seconds, knocking down walls and towers that stood for centuries as though they were a child's stacked blocks. The middle of his bulk now lay in the middle of was once the great hall. Smaller monsters smashed and clawed their way through the remainders. The majestic gardens were no more. The walls were toppled and useless. Not that they ever stood a chance. None of them did. Glowerhaven never did. How were they ever supposed to be prepared for this?
"I've tenderized you enough," said Riptide, his eyes narrowing on the king. "Time to eat."
With that, Riptide flung Ben high into the air. He spun about lazily, stopping for a moment as he reached his zenith. Then he fell, descending into Riptide's massive open maw. His tongue raced up to meet him, greedily ensnaring the king and pulling him in. The last thing King Benjamin saw was the red tinged sun behind the smoky sky right before Riptide's jaws snapped shut, his life snuffed out between the sea serpent's giant teeth.
Riptide gulped the man down in one large swallow. He licked across his teeth with his tongue, and then turned and roared as loud as he could out across the kingdom. The other monsters responded with their own voices, drowning out all other sounds.
Thus did the kingdom of Glowerhaven fall to Maelstrom.
"Claymore, blast!"
What doors and windows remained in the east section of the palace's third story hallway were obliterated when a blast of fire ripped through its floor, followed by several bolts of lightning. Then Remora leapt up through the hole, scythe at the ready as Lara chased after her. Lara delivered an overhead swing in midair, knocking Remora into the hallway. Lara twisted over as she rose, landing in a crouch on the ceiling and then leaping at Remora, slashing for her. Remora parried the sword aside as Lara streaked past, cracking the floor when she landed. Remora spun and returned a slash of her own. Lara ducked the slash and spun, sweeping her tail for Remora's extended arm as the witch tried to fire a lightning bolt at her. Her arm was knocked aside, sending the bolt flying through the door to a guest room and whatever lay beyond. The room exploded, showering Remora and Lara with debris. It did not slow their fight in the slightest. To them, the fragments of wood, stone, and plaster moved in slow motion, as if time itself had granted them some special exemption from its laws.
Lara kept pivoting and swung for Remora's legs, but Remora leapt over her sword and then kicked at Lara's head. Lara's tail shot up and blocked her, then she lunged to stab her face with a pointed clawed hand. The witch used Lara's tail to push off, the claws just touching the right cheek of her mask as she retreated. Lara did not let up, thrusting with her sword for Remora's chest. Remora deflected Lara's sword up as Lara inhaled, pulling the flames out of the now destroyed room into her mouth. Then she spat a large fireball at Remora, the orb filling up the hallway. Remora slashed through it, splitting the fireball in half around her. The halves flew past her and then exploded, tearing apart and then collapsing a large section of the hallway. Remora shouted and thrust a hand at Lara, sending a large lightning bolt her way. Lara swung her sword and split the bolt in half, the force of it pushing her backwards as the twin strands obliterated everything in their path. Lara yelled and then swung her sword to the side, causing the bolt to shatter.
"Claymore…!" Lara drew her sword back as it ignited and then started to glow. "Blast!"
The witch called forth four metal shields as Lara sent a jet of roaring fire down the hall, protecting her from the searing flames that pushed against her like a flood. The fires barely stopped when Lara drew her sword back again and started swinging, sending multiple crescents of fire at Remora. The shields parted as Remora stepped forth, swinging her scythe about with blurry speed. She cut through each crescent with precision, scattering them into sparks. Then she drew her arms back and the shields became a swarm of sharp needles, sending them shooting at Lara with a shout. Lara quickly crouched as her wings returned in plumes of fire, wrapping around her as a shield. She felt the needles shatter and glance against her wings, unable to penetrate the dragon hide. Then she quickly dodged sideways, dismissing her wings in another burst of flame before leaping straight at Remora. She struck hard, her sword locking with Remora's blade. She growled angrily, glaring into Remora's shadowed eyes behind her mask.
"What's wrong?" cackled Remora. "Running out of steam? Need a breather? Or is this the best you've got?"
"Not a chance!" snapped Lara.
"Good! Because I'd hate for you to go down as pathetically as your mother did!"
Anger flared inside Lara, sinking its claws into her mind and magic. Her eyes and hair took on a reddish tinge as she roared furiously, shoving Remora back and then delivering a savage and explosive thrust kick to Remora's chest. Remora went flying back in a cloud of fire and smoke, bouncing down the hallway before righting herself and skidding to a stop. Lara drew her sword back again as Remora stood, the blade becoming incandescent with heat as she poured her magic and hatred into it. "Claymore…!"
Remora laughed as the shards of her needles flew back to her. Her scythe came apart as her gauntlets reformed on her hands. Lightning bristled all over her body. She brought her hands together and two arcs of electricity joined between her palms, forming a growing ball of lightning and magic. "That's what I'm talking about! Give me what your momma couldn't!"
Lara's eyes momentarily flashed solid red as she raised her sword straight up, then stepped forward and swung it down as hard as she could. "Incinerate!"
A beam of white-hot fire shot off Lara's sword as Remora thrust her hands forward, sending a thick bolt of lightning racing out. The two magics flew towards each other and collided. They writhed and coiled around one another, becoming a tangled unstable ball, and then exploded with awesome force. The blast sent Lara and Remora flying back as half of the eastern face of the palace was ripped apart, showering stone, wood, fire, and lightning out onto the bailey. The adjoining towers fell in as the hallway began to collapse around the two women, unable to hold up to their cataclysmic struggle. Lara momentarily lost sight of Remora as the roof fell in. She launched herself through the hail of debris, ignoring the stones and wooden beams that pelted her. Then she burst out, finding the Maelstrom witch waiting for her with scythe drawn back. She swung to sever Lara in half, but Lara blocked with her sword and used the force of the strike to throw herself over Remora's head. She flipped forward and landed, then spun and kicked hard with her right leg, the limb bursting into flames. Remora used her own leg and arm to block the round kick, but it still blasted her back into the wall. Lara yelled and lunged as a pair of explosions erupted from her feet, rocketing her into Remora and tackling her through the wall as the hallway collapsed behind them. She was barely aware of Remora hammering the butt of her scythe into her back as they smashed through wall after wall, leaving destruction in their wake.
Ariel shrieked in fright as the palace shook yet again, causing her to stumble. She caught herself on a window ledge, leaning heavily on it. Her legs started to tremble and then gave out. She dropped to the ground, resting her back against the wall. Her mouth hung open as she greedily panted, sweat leaving dirty rivulets down her face. She became aware of the painful burn in her lungs and her heart beating against her chest like a drum. The wounds in her skin were pleading for respite. Her legs were on fire, and her head was spinning. She felt as if she ran every stair, hall, and room in the palace. She may have already. Everything that happened since "Grimsby" left her was a blur. But she still had not found her daughter or her guardian. There was no sign of them. No sign of anyone else either save Remora's clockmen. Three times already Ariel was almost discovered by them, saved by quick thinking, clever distraction, opportune hiding spots, and no shortage of luck. She was not sure how much longer she could keep this up, though. She was going to be caught at this rate. That, or exhaust herself to the point she could no longer run or hide.
"Melody…Lara…where…are you?" she gasped out.
The palace shook again and with more violence than before. And it kept getting stronger. The walls cracked as pieces of the ceiling fell off. Ariel thought it might collapse when an armored Lara and an electric-coated Remora exploded through the wall, the dragon hybrid clutching the lightning witch around the middle with one arm as her other hand grasped her sword. Lara smashed Remora against the far wall, leaving a deep impression in it. Remora gave a pained cry at the impact, momentarily stunned. Lara stood up and punched a flaming fist at Remora's face, but Remora quickly jerked her head aside. Lara's fist blasted a hole through the wall, sending flames and debris raining down into the burning garden below. Remora then delivered an electric uppercut of her own into Lara's ribs, knocking her backwards. Lara slammed hard against the wall, the plating over her left ribs cracked heavily. She coughed, a puff of smoke issuing from her mouth.
"Lara!?" exclaimed Ariel.
"Ariel?!" Lara responded, just as alarmed to see her.
"So, this is where you've been!" said Remora as she shook pieces of wall off herself.
Ariel glanced at Remora, eyes going wide as she recognized the mask and scythe. "Y-You're…!" She looked back to Lara. "Lara, what's–!?"
Lara gave her no time to finish. She pushed off the wall and swung her sword at Remora's head. Remora quickly evaded to the side, Lara's sword blasting the wall further apart where it struck. Remora swung the butt of her scythe up, knocking Lara's arm away before slashing at her middle. Lara stepped in, the scythe's blade cutting the air behind her as she used her body to stop the harmless shaft. Remora jerked the scythe in sharply as it became electrified, trying to halve Lara again. Lara quickly swung her sword around, blocking the curved electric edge from reaching her. She swung her sword overhead, forcing the scythe up and away from her, then chopped at Remora. The masked witch darted back as Lara's sword crashed against the floor. It cracked and then started to buckle. Ariel found new strength as she scrambled to her feet, the collapsing floor chasing her away from the fighting mages. She thought it might get her when she gave a final desperate lunge, flying forward as the collapse halted. Remora retreated as Lara chased after her, swinging fast and with lethal intent. She darted right as Lara tried to split her down the middle again, stopping by a broken window. Lara spun and slashed at her, forcing Remora to block. The blow smashed her through the wall, sending her out into the garden. Lara started to go after her then paused, looking to Ariel.
"Mel's in the ballroom!" shouted Lara. "Get down there and stay put!"
Ariel coughed, pushing herself up. "But what about–!?"
Lara's eyes and hair flashed. "Mel! Ballroom! Now!" With that she leapt after Remora, her sword igniting as she left.
Ariel blinked, eyes watering from the grit in them. That was not the reunion she was hoping for. At least now she knew Lara was alive, and where Melody was. But why was Lara fighting Remora instead of with Melody? Why had they not escaped already, what with everything happening in the palace and kingdom? Ariel did not doubt Lara hated Remora enough to want to kill her. But surely Lara would not risk Melody's life to settle a blood feud. Unless…
A sinking feeling filled Ariel's stomach. Unless Remora was not giving Lara a choice. Unless she had some way to force her into a fight. And knowing who Lara was and how Remora operated, that likely meant prisoners.
She shakily got to her feet and started running, her weary legs finding new vigor and motivation. Normally she would go the other way, but Lara and Remora made that impassible. The shortest route now was to loop back and cut through the throne room. That was how she would find Melody.
She just hoped Lara would be there to meet them.
"Burn!" Lara shouted as she sailed through the air, sending another blast of fire at Remora. The witch landed on the charred lawn as lightning covered her scythe. She slashed up with it, sending an arc of lightning flying off that countered the blast in a violent explosion. Lara dove through the cloud of fire and electricity and swung her sword. Remora blocked her strike and rolled backwards, planted both her feet in Lara's stomach, and kicked her away. Lara went tumbling over her, rolling through the dirt and the blackened remains of a hedge and rosebushes before her back collided with the trunk of the burning willow tree, its blackened leaves falling into the muddied pond. She was barely upright when Remora came at her, scythe spinning in a blur and bristling with lightning as she slashed at her face. Lara blocked the blade with a slash of her own, their weapons ricocheting off each other before Remora spun and slashed again. Lara ducked, Remora's scythe cutting through the willow as though it were butter. The tree slid down the cut and toppled into the pond, sending muddy waves lapping against the shore. Lara moved to cut Remora's exposed middle, but the witch dexterously flipped her scythe around and blocked her. A shockwave of air blew out, lifting Remora's braid and sending a plume of ash rolling away. Remora laughed and shoved Lara back, taking the offensive. She pressed Lara backwards as she slashed, struck, and parried with masterful efficiency. Lightning and fire flew off their weapons, scarring the incinerated garden further.
"Impressive!" said Remora as Lara deflected one of her slashes. Her tail shot around to pierce her leg, but Remora parried it away with the scythe's shaft. She spun and jabbed the butt end at Lara's face, who deflected it with her arm. "I'm starting to enjoy this!"
"Don't enjoy it too much!" Lara snarled. She swung at Remora's face and the witch blocked her, their weapons bristling with magic and element as they pushed. They stayed like that, feet pressing into the dirt as they held their ground. Then they shoved off, forcing each other to leap back. Both immediately took up their stances, holding still as they waited for the other to move.
A/N: "The Only Thing They Fear is You" by Mick Gordon (you'll know when the music is supposed to kick in!)
"You know what?" Remora abandoned her stance as she stabbed her scythe into the ground. "Let's spice this up a bit! You said in Glowerhaven that your real weapons are your fists."
Lara shifted in her stance, not lowering her sword. "So what?"
Remora's scythe came apart, the metal shards flying around her hands to become gauntlets. More shards flew out from her robes, forming studded plating on her arms and legs. "Prove it! No more weapons! Just you, me, and our fists! I haven't had a good brawl in years!"
"Yeah, so you can stab me in the back when I least expect it!" growled Lara.
"Psht! Stabbing you in the back is so seventy years ago!" Remora bounced lightly on her feet, shaking out her arms. "I already told you! There's not going to be any tricks this time!"
"You didn't spare any trying to kill me at the hospital!" said Lara.
"That was then, and those were orders! This is now, and I get to take you down however I want!" Remora settled, pointing a finger at Lara. "I've had time, brat! Time to think about how I'd kill you if I could do it again! And I know now the only way I'll get any real, final satisfaction from it is if I do it myself! Cut you to pieces! Beat you to a pulp! Electrocute you to dust! Doesn't matter which, but either way…!"
She jabbed a thumb into her chest. "I'll be the one to do it! And I'll do it with my own strength!"
Lara glared at Remora, keeping her sword ready. "I hate you more than I've ever hated anyone or anything, Remora!"
Then Lara turned her sword over, stabbed it in the dirt, and walked away. Flames engulfed it as the black claymore returned to its straight-bladed katana form. "But you know what? I feel exactly the same! I've spent years thinking about what I'd do if I got the chance to fight you! It'd be satisfying to burn you to ash or cut you apart…!"
She cracked the knuckles of one hand and then the other, her tail swaying behind her. "But not nearly as much as pummeling you till there's nothing left!"
"For once we agree on something!" Remora settled into a ready stance, legs staggered wide and one hand clutched at her hip while the other was held like a claw in front of her mask. "So let's start round two already!"
Lara adopted her own stance, fists held up by her face as her legs settled. She twisted her feet into the earth, feeling herself become grounded. Her hands and feet began to glow orange as Remora's own limbs crackled with electricity. Their eyes met, and they both decided that was as much of a start signal as any.
Both Lara and Remora flickered out of sight as they charged at each other, yelling loudly. They closed in and drew their fists back, each intending to punch the other. They met and swung, both their fists colliding with explosive force. A shockwave burst forth, blowing away dirt and ash and shaking the ground. Pain flared through both women's arms, dark metal and black plating cracking from the force, but neither yielded. Lara swung for Remora's face with her other hand, releasing a blast of fire off her fist. Remora jerked her head to the side, avoiding the fist and flames. She swung her right leg in a round kick for Lara's ribcage, but Lara blocked it with her arm and knocked Remora's leg back. Then Lara pulled her right leg up, preparing to thrust it into Remora's chest.
"Nice try!" spat Remora, bringing her own leg up to counter.
At least, she tried to. But Lara's tail swung around and snared Remora's ankle, keeping her from guarding in time and throwing Remora off balance. Lara drove her heel into Remora's sternum like a battering ram, sending her rolling across the garden. Lara crouched and then launched herself after Remora with a pair of explosions. Remora barely rolled upright when she saw Lara shooting her knee towards her face. She crossed her arms to guard, but the force of the hit still sent her flying again. Lara halted as Remora flipped over in midair and landed, skidding to a stop. She stood up but then staggered, clutching her chest.
"That one was for the hospital!" Lara yelled.
Remora looked down and saw a blackened footprint on her sternum. She touched a metal-covered finger to it, seeing the black on her fingertips. She gave a short laugh, grinning at Lara. "Nice! That hurt!"
Lara took her stance again as Remora crouched down, lightning enveloping her lower legs. "Let me return the favor!"
There was a flash and then Remora all but vanished, shooting at Lara as an electric blur. She spun as she closed in and threw a hard side kick at Lara, her heel packed with lightning. Lara knocked her foot aside, only to have Remora leap with the momentum of it. She planted a hand on the ground and swung her other leg at Lara's face. Lara moved to block her, but Remora suddenly pulled her leg in and spun upright, throwing both her fists into Lara's torso with gun-like speed. Lara felt her plating break and then Remora's fists sink into her, followed by a momentary blast of electricity. The surge caused her entire body to tense up and then relax, leaving her unable to brace against the blows. And that was not counting the pain. She went rocketing backwards across the garden as Remora dashed after her, using her magic-enhanced speed to get behind her.
Lara recovered herself in time to see Remora draw her leg up in preparation to ax kick her. She flipped over and grabbed the earth, her claws tearing furrows into it as she slowed. Remora realized her attack was pointless and charged back at Lara, throwing a fist at her face. Lara backed up to avoid it, then backed again to dodge the spinning kick Remora threw for her head. She quickly stepped in, jamming the sweeping kick Remora was aiming for her legs, and then threw a front kick at Remora's face. Remora blocked with her arms, but then Lara twisted over in the air and whipped her tail into the side of Remora's head. Remora tumbled away and then back onto her feet, a large mark of ash and dirt plastered across the right side of her mask. Lara growled and then roared as she dashed at Remora, dirt spraying behind her as she became a blur. A moment later Remora did the same, leaving arcs of electricity momentarily hanging in the air.
Melody ran to the ballroom windows, looking down on the garden as Lara and Remora's fight went beyond her ability to follow. All she saw were streaks of black, gold, and orange zipping around the desecrated garden. Shockwaves erupted from empty air, blasting one end of the garden before blowing up some other part and then another. Fire and lightning shot out at random, destroying anything in their path. The garden wall was rubble, collapsing further by the second. The once proud willow that shaded her on so many afternoons was now splinters. Water sprayed out of the pond, reaching far enough that Melody felt it dot her face. The palace was shaking from the force of it, knocking loose fragments of plaster, glass, and stone.
A lightning bolt flew off and hit the side of the palace, exploding and tearing a crater into it. Melody grabbed the windowsill as the palace shook again. There was another shockwave and Lara and Remora reappeared in the middle of the garden, a powerful wind radiating from them. Their hands were locked together as they pushed hard, their magic auras fighting against each other as fiercely as their bodies were. Fire and lightning billowed off them, neither element nor mage able to get a decisive advantage over the other. They tried to kick each other, but their blows cancelled out with a sound like cannons. They kept kicking, their legs clashing each time, until Lara stepped in and got her leg behind Remora, keeping her from retreating. The two pulled their heads back and then slammed them together with such force that it shook the ground. Melody flinched as they kept hammering their heads together again and again, as though they were trying to crack the other's skull open. Suddenly Lara pulled her leg back, taking Remora's feet from under her. She ripped her right hand free and punched Remora straight in the chest, smashing her into the ground. A plume of dirt went up with the shockwave, obscuring the two mages.
Melody clenched her hands tightly as she heard Remora scream, biting her lip to the point it hurt. This felt like when she watched Lara fight Maelstrom in the marina. Standing against Undertow, Morgana, the clockmen and mutants, and then Riptide by herself. Except that time, the longer Lara fought, the more certain Melody felt of her victory.
Here, watching this fight continue to unfold, Melody did not feel that same growing certainty.
Lara knew she landed a solid hit on Remora, both from the feel of the impact and the pained yell the witch let out. She drew back her fist to punch again when Remora's hand shot up and grabbed her throat, delivering an electric shock. Lara screamed as it surged through her, hitting every pain receptor she had. Then Remora pulled Lara in and slammed her left elbow into her temple, dazing her and drawing blood. Lara drew her right arm across and then swung hard, backhanding Remora across the mask. How that thing was still attached to her face she did not know, but it refused to budge. Then she seized the front of Remora's robes and hauled her upright, only to let go when Remora grabbed her arm and sent another blast of electricity through her. Lara staggered back and then countered with a punch at Remora's neck. The witch parried her fist aside and then grabbed her wrist, pulling her in and punching for her face with an electrified fist. Lara quickly jerked her head aside, hearing the buzz of electricity as Remora's hand went by her ear. Then she lunged back in, quickly wrapping a hand around Remora's neck and pulling her in as she tried to drive a knee into her chest. Remora's own knee shot up, knocking Lara's strike wide. Lara's tail snaked around and stabbed for Remora's stomach with its bladed tip. Remora blocked it with her other leg, but she still was cut across the left side of her ribs. She gave a small grunt and then thrust a hand directly at Lara's face, driving the heel of her palm between Lara's eyes. Lara leaned back, but not fast enough to avoid getting hit. The blow was glancing, but it still made her vision flash for a split second.
Moving with the blow, Lara put herself into a backflip and swung her left leg up at Remora's face. The top of her foot caught the chin of the mask, whipping Remora's head back and causing her to retreat a step. Lara landed upright and charged in, punching hard for Remora's face and gut simultaneously. Remora deftly avoided Lara's fists as she stepped in and spun, grabbing Lara's right arm and then throwing her over her shoulder. She twisted around, pulling Lara off her feet as she leapt into the air, blasting Lara with electricity to keep her from escaping. Then she pulled a hand off and shot a bolt of lightning straight up, blasting her and Lara back towards the ground. Remora spun and then flung Lara down hard into the earth, shaking the ground and leaving a deep impression in the dirt. Lara felt the air forced out of her lungs. That throw would have pulverized any ordinary human. Remora raised her right leg straight up, lightning writhing around her foot. Then she swung it down hard at Lara, who crossed her arms to block it. Even in her armored form, the blow and lightning made Lara's arms momentarily go numb. Seeing an opportunity, she grabbed hold of Remora's leg and twisted hard. Remora spun with the motion, tripping on her own legs and falling face first to the ground.
"Got you!" Lara shouted as she rolled up. She took a deep breath in and–.
WHAM! Remora pulled herself in using Lara's hold and kicked her other foot straight back, hitting Lara hard in the face. She lost her hold on Remora and went rolling across the garden with stars and lights flashing across her eyes. She came to a stop when she collided with a pile of stones from the garden wall, one of the edges cutting her above the eye. She shook her head and stood, shaking dust off as the wound closed over.
"Excellent!" Remora said. She stood up, cricking her neck back and forth as she brushed her robes off. The sleeves and lower half of her cloak were heavily torn and burned, and her braid was starting to come undone. Her mask had multiple cracks, scratches, and burn marks on it. "Come on! Hit me again! I want more! I haven't felt this in so long!"
Lara hissed, wiping the left-over blood from her forehead. She knew Remora was hurting. She landed enough blows on her to do real damage, even if she was inhumanly tough. But Remora hit back just as hard. She was almost as strong as Lara and made up for the difference with her electrical magic. Her damaged armor was proof of that. Lara glanced at her right arm and saw glowing cracks all over it. They were filling in, but slower now. Too slowly for the pace of this fight. Her father warned this form was vulnerable to electricity. Her dragon blood and magic would protect her from the heat the lightning generated, but not its other effects. But Lara doubted her father ever thought she would cross paths with an electromancer like Remora, let alone a mage like her. Still, an armored form that was sensitive to electricity was better than no armored form at all.
"You wanna feel something?" Lara lowered herself onto all fours, crouched like a runner preparing to sprint. Her hands and feet ignited, leaving smoking impressions in the ground. "How's this!?"
Lara shot forward, turning herself into a blur again. She went straight for Remora, who was already drawing an electric fist back to attack her. Lara suddenly darted to the side before coming back at her. Remora barely turned to her when Lara grabbed her right wrist and then pulled her in. She punched Remora hard in the stomach with her other hand, burying her fist in and then releasing a fiery explosion. There was that same solidity as before, but this time Lara knew she did serious damage. Remora doubled over as her feet left the ground, the wind and fight momentarily driven out of her. A small amount of blood flew out the smile of her mask, hissing as it boiled on Lara's armor.
Remora suddenly snatched Lara's shoulders, pulling her in as she drove her left knee into Lara's chin. The hit knocked Lara's head back, but then her tail shot around and wrapped Remora's right leg. She spun and slammed her flat into the ground, and then whipped her up and smashed her against the earth a second time. She jerked Remora up into the air and released her as she drew her left leg in and then shot a firm side kick at Remora's face. The witch was able to get her arms crossed in front of her in time, but the blow still sent her flying away. She skipped over the ground and into the mudhole that was once the pond, spraying large fans of muck out. Lara crouched and leapt after her, spinning through the air as her right foot glowed orange and then ignited. Remora stood in time to see Lara coming at her. She quickly waded back, Lara's foot striking the mud and exploding. Steam and earth shot out, coating both of them in the mire. Even so, they never lost sight of each other for a second. Remora quickly attacked, alternating lightning-riddled jabs for Lara's face. Lara responded in kind, the two trading a flurry of punches that sent lightning and fire raging through the garden. The storm of fists endd when Lara quickly parried Remora's fists aside before snapping a hard burning backfist at Remora's ribs. Remora took the hit, tensing up her side and exhaling. Lara thought she would go flying, but Remora remained anchored to the mud. Then Remora's arm snapped down like the jaws of a trap, pinning Lara's arm as she stepped in with a yell and delivered a hard electric uppercut into Lara's gut.
That same searing electric pain from before exploded through Lara as the sound of shattered armor plating reached her ears. She felt Remora's fist plunge into her abdomen, forcing her lungs to empty. Before she could start to retaliate, Remora seized Lara's throat with the same hand and pulled her in as she drove an electrified knee right into Lara's chest. Electricity assaulted her again as she felt her breastplate shatter and then her sternum threaten to break as well. Before Remora could land a third blow Lara's tail shot around and stabbed for Remora's neck. She leaned back just in time, the bladed tip cutting superficially across her throat. Lara took the chance and grabbed the lapels of Remora's cloak and twisted around, intent on throwing her into the palace.
But instead of tossing the witch like a bag of grain, Remora whipped her right arm around and slammed her elbow into the back of Lara's head. Lara lost her hold from the stunning blow, allowing Remora to roll off her and land on her feet. Remora quickly spun, throwing a fist at Lara's face and striking her in the temple. Lara went flipping out of the pond as Remora launched herself past her, spraying searing mud behind her. She stopped in Lara's path and threw a hard kick into Lara's left thigh, lightning dancing over the metal. A crack appeared in the armor on Lara's leg as she flew away, rolling and tumbling across the dirt. Remora quickly flickered out in front of her again, this time stopping Lara when she drove a heel into her gut, breaking the armor there again. Lara screamed as she doubled over, smoke spewing out her mouth.
"You're a tough nut to crack," said Remora as she stomped repeatedly on Lara, blasting her with electricity each time. The cracks on her armor grew further, pieces of it falling off. "But looks like even you have your limits!"
Lara growled, narrowing her eyes at Remora. Suddenly she roared, fire engulfing her body and then exploding outwards. Remora backed away just in time, the flames singeing her hair and robes. There was no evading the blast wave, however, which hit Remora straight on and sent her flying away. She hit the ground hard and rolled over onto her stomach. She lay still for a moment, her body numb and then pounding with pain. She shook her head and looked up to see Lara getting to her feet. The fire was dwindling on her, leaving unbroken obsidian black in its place.
"Don't get cocky, you witch!" Lara adopted her fighting stance, fists up and at the ready. "This fight isn't over yet!"
Remora grinned broadly behind her mask. "That's just what I wanted to hear!"
The masked witch launched herself with a burst of electricity, going straight at Lara. She punched for her face and Lara evaded, throwing her own punch in return and nailing Remora in the solar plexus. Remora gagged and coughed as her organs were shoved up into her chest, but then immediately retaliated by grabbing Lara's arm and round kicking her across the abdomen. Lara belched out smoke as her armor broke once more. She kept her footing and swung hard at Remora's face. Remora batted Lara's fist away with an arm, cracking both their armors. She then swung for Lara's neck with the same hand, but Lara was able to parry it aside and then punch Remora in her stomach again. This time Remora was ready, tightening up her muscles and leaning against the blow and ensuing explosion. Lara was able to drive her back a few inches, but she did not send her flying. Lara stepped in and threw a front kick for Remora's chest, but then feinted when she blocked and whipped her foot up and around to strike the ball of her foot across Remora's face. Remora responded by spinning around and hooking her heel into Lara's side. Lara grunted from the blow as her tail swung up and blocked Remora's next kick, and then she kicked for the inside of Remora's other thigh. Remora swung her arm down to block her, but suddenly Lara planted her leg and stepped in to land an explosive fist square on her left cheek. Remora spun with the blow and retaliated with her own electrified fist to Lara's own face, sending cracks racing through her faceplate. The two staggered back from each other, reeling from the force of the hits.
All it took was a brief meeting of their eyes, however, and they were raring to go again. They yelled loudly and stepped in, each punching for the other's face with no intention of blocking. Their fists connected solidly, cracking mask and faceplate alike and sending shockwaves rolling past them. They swung again with their other fists, and again each landed their devastating blows. Anyone normal human or merfolk's skull would have shattered from the force, but not them. This time they braced, not allowing themselves to be knocked back. Lara grabbed ahold of Remora's clothes and pulled her in, driving her forehead into Remora's face and cracking her mask further. She went to headbutt her again, but Remora was ready. She swung her own head into Lara's with equal force, sending splitting pain racing through both their skulls. Lara shook it off and quickly darted around Remora and wrapped her right arm around the woman's throat, trying to suffocate her. Remora was fast enough to get an arm up, preventing Lara from constricting her. She drew her other arm across and then savagely drove her elbow back into Lara's ribs. Her plating broke where Remora hit, and Lara yelled as she felt one of her ribs fracture. But she grit her teeth through the pain and drove a knee hard into Remora's lower back. Remora screamed out in pain and then released a blast of electricity off herself, knocking Lara away and cracking large sections of her plating. Lara plowed through the dirt till the mound behind her became heavy enough to stop her, smoke rising as fires ran across her armor to repair it.
"I'm starting to remember why I kept you alive for so long!" said Remora, adjusting her mask slightly. "You made for a delightful punching bag! Maybe I should've kept your mother alive, too? Bet she would've been just as much of a treat for the crew to smack around!"
Lara felt her magic and her anger flare at the same time. Fire engulfed her limbs and sprouted off her back as her wings returned. She roared furiously and leapt to her feet, eyes ablaze with light as she glared at Remora.
"I'll kill you!" Lara screamed.
Remora laughed and made a "come here" motion. "It'd be a nice change of pace! So come and try!"
Lara launched herself back at Remora with a pair of explosions from her feet. Remora moved to punch Lara out of the air, but at the last second Lara dove down and put herself into a handstand. Remora's fist went over the top of her as Lara put herself into a handstand, pulled her feet in, and then rolled through and kicked Remora as hard as she could in the chest. Remora shot into the air as if launched from a cannon. Lara rolled upright and then flew after her, fire blasting out from her feet as she climbed. She sailed straight at Remora and punched her in the chest, sending her tumbling into the sky with a loud explosion. She beat her wings hard and got ahead of Remora, drawing a leg back and then kicking her away. She flew after her and seized Remora's hair, pulling her in and bashing her repeatedly with her fist. Remora managed to punch Lara in the face, but Lara ignored the blow and slammed her forehead against Remora's mask before throwing her away. She flew after her, getting below before spinning and striking her in the back with her tail. Remora went tumbling up again.
Lara saw red as she went after Remora, assaulting her as hard and fast as she could. She could feel her armor crack further with every hit as she stressed it to within a hair's breadth of the breaking point. She did not care. Even when Remora electrified herself and every blow Lara landed caused her pain, she pushed through it. She wanted to hurt this woman as much as she possibly could. She kicked, punched, struck, smashed, and bashed her through the sky like a pinball before spiking her down towards the garden. Remora fell like a meteor as Lara chased after her. Lara thought she would plow into the earth when suddenly a wavering aura surrounded Remora, rapidly slowing her descent. Lara beat her wings and dove after her, drawing a blazing fist back as she closed in. Remora looked up and then darted back just as Lara struck, burying her flaming fist and arm deep into the earth and then exploding it, sending dirt and rocks flying in all directions.
To Lara's surprise, Remora came charging right at her through the shockwave and debris. Electricity bathed her right leg as she kicked for Lara's head. Lara crossed her forearms above her, blocking the blow. Immediately she felt electricity surge through her arms, sending large cracks through her armor. She felt pieces of it fall off, crumbling to ash in the air. Remora backflipped off Lara and landed in a crouch, only to spring in and kick straight at her. Lara swept her leg aside with a wing and then retaliated with a kick of her own. Remora cancelled out her kick with a hard punch. The shockwave caused them to spin in opposite directions. Lara's tail whipped out and slashed Remora across the back, leaving a long diagonal cut. Fire engulfed her right fist as she turned and punched at Remora's face, but Remora parried it aside and landed a solid strike directly on Lara's throat. Lara gagged as her airway collapsed, and then was forcefully reopened when Remora buried the ball of her left foot through Lara's armor and deep into her stomach. Remora raised both her hands up high to hammer Lara in the head while she was doubled over, but Lara suddenly stepped in and kicked Remora hard in her right thigh. Remora lost her balance, giving Lara the chance to use the same leg to thrust kick straight into the witch's chest. The ensuing explosion sent Remora rolling across the remains of the lawn before she recovered and came to a stop, quickly standing up.
Both women paused, panting and pained. Lara's armor was cracked all over and had multiple pieces missing now, and she was breathing out a consistent amount of smoke. Remora's robes were tattered and burning, and her mask looked as if it might fall apart at any second. Her own armor plating was cracked and warped, shards of it falling off. She coughed, a small amount of red leaking from the smiling mouth of her mask. Remora reached up and wiped it off, staring at it.
"So?" panted Lara. "Feel anything yet?"
"Actually…" Remora clenched her gauntlets tight, electricity burning off the blood. "Yes!"
Remora thrust her hands forward, sending a pair of lightning bolts at Lara. The fire sorceress dropped to the ground as the bolts shot over her. She launched herself at Remora, holding her right hand out as she shouted, "Claymore…!"
The sword came flying straight to Lara as Remora's gauntlets came apart, starting to reform her scythe. Lara caught the sword as she landed right in front of Remora. She planted her feet firmly and swung the sword at her as hard as she could, Remora moving to block her. This time, however, Lara's sword and strength were stronger. For a moment, Lara saw Remora's eyes widen behind her mask as the sword glowed red hot.
"BLAST!" Lara shouted at the top of her lungs.
A massive explosion tore from Lara's sword, hitting Remora at point-blank range. Remora went sailing up towards the palace ballroom and the still watching Melody. The princess shrieked and ducked as Remora went smashing through part of the floor, hit the ballroom ceiling and then fell into the room as a smoking human fireball. Lara spread her wings and took off after her, a trail of fire following from her sword as it transformed into its larger claymore form. She followed Remora's smoke trail in, seeing her tumble across the floor and then right herself into a crouch. She started to stand but then fell back to her knees.
"Lara!"
Lara glanced over and saw Melody crouching by the windows. She looked a bit smoky and very scared, but otherwise unharmed.
"Are you okay!?" asked Melody.
"Stay put!" Lara ordered, and then she attacked Remora again. Remora raised her scythe to slash as Lara landed, but Lara beat her to it. She swung up as her sword heated, cutting through the shaft of the weapon. It fell apart in Remora's hands as Lara lashed out with her leg and kicked Remora hard in the chest, sending her shooting back and smacking into the far wall. Pieces of metal and white mask fell from her. Lara flew after Remora as she fired a lightning bolt, but she swatted it aside with her sword and closed the gap. Remora desperately called out more metal, starting to form a shield, but Lara destroyed it with a single stroke of her sword. Remora's smoking form stepped back, only to fall when her foot slipped on a piece of rubble.
Lara gripped her sword tightly. This was it! Remora was down! She had her opening! She had to take it now! She drew her sword back in preparation.
"This is for my mom!" she yelled, and then she swung as hard as she could, intent on splitting Remora and the entire palace in two if that was what it took to finish her.
And then Remora's hand shot up from the smoke and stopped her sword.
The blade came to a dead halt against Remora's bare palm. The floor beneath the witch cracked like an eggshell as she withstood the force, a long fissure going into the wall and then splitting it clear to the ceiling. Then it went quiet save the cracking and breaking sounds of the palace continuing to fall apart.
Lara stared open mouthed. How did it happen? She had her! She was completely open! She had no armor! She had no weapon! She had no spell ready! She was caught off guard, off balance, and off her feet! So how did she do it!? She pressed hard against Remora's hand, but her blade would not budge against her grasp.
No. Not her grasp. Remora was not physically holding her sword. She was not even touching it. There was an unseen force pushing against Lara's sword, keeping it less than an inch away from Remora's skin. Lara pushed hard against it, but she could not break through. She tried to pull it away, but found it was just as impossible. It was frozen in place.
"Finally…"
Lara beat her wings as Remora released whatever enchantment held her sword, putting distance between them. The smoke cleared away as Remora stood, revealing the damage Lara's latest attack had done. Her robes were in ruins, reduced to smoldering rags by the flames. Her hair was singed and burned. And the left side of her mask had broken off, revealing her visage to Lara and Melody for the first time.
Remora's face was not unpleasant. High cheek bones. Gentle jawline. Full lips. Clear skin. Piercing pale blue eye, the color of the sky. Most of her left cheek, however, was missing. There were only strands of skin covering her teeth and jawbone. She was missing sections of skin above and below her left eye as well. But it was not bare and bloody flesh Lara and Melody saw. Instead, there was a layer of amber-yellow metal underneath. As though some sort of copper and gold alloy leaf were laid onto everything underneath her skin. Her eye fixed on Lara, and the exposed corner of her mouth pulled back in a sinister grin that was even more menacing than the broken mask and missing skin. A chill went down Lara's spine despite the heat from her armor, and she heard Melody gasp and step back.
"Finally!" Remora shouted. "Finally, an opponent worth fighting!" She laughed again, her braid coming completely undone. Her laughter grew louder and wilder till she was in hysterics. Now it was Lara who took a step back.
"I was so worried you'd disappoint me, Lara!" Remora finally said. "That you'd be another letdown like all the others were!"
She lowered her hand, staring right at Lara. "But not you! You're the real deal! You had me just then! If I hadn't done that, you would've killed me!"
"What was that?" demanded Lara, pointing her sword at Remora. Fire slowly spread across her armor, trying to repair the damage she and Remora did to it. "How did you stop me?"
"The same way I make my weapons. The same way I've kept up with your strength and speed." Remora chuckled, her visible eye twinkling as she tapped her mask. "And the same way I keep this lovely thing on my face –magnetism."
Lara narrowed her eyes. "Magnetism?"
Remora proved her claim as she held her hand out. Small arcs of electricity danced in her palm as the shards of her scythe flew to her. They gathered above her hand to form a perfect sphere, its mirror surface holding Melody and Lara's distorted reflections. "There's more to electricity than lightning bolts and death by shock. Far more. I can use it to make my body faster and stronger. I can use it to shield myself against weapons. I can use it to pull energy, magic, and even souls out of living things. And…"
She shifted her hand, and the orb became riddled with sharp spines. "I can use it to manipulate almost any metal I see. I can make it take any shape and move in any way I want. Speaking of which…did you ever wonder, Lara?"
"Wonder what?"
"Why I use a scythe." Remora held her hand out. The star deformed and then stretched out as more metal shards flew to her, reforming Remora's scythe. She gave the weapon a spin before holding it out in front of her. "Tell me something. Have you met anyone besides me who uses one?"
"No," Lara replied flatly.
"None at all? Not even in the eastern kingdoms?"
"Not one."
"No surprise!" Remora ran a finger along the weapon's spine. "The curve and angle of the blade makes it almost impossible to cut or slash someone! It's also fragile! Without my magic to hold it together, this would've broken ages ago! It's cumbersome, unstable, and unbalanced in the extreme, which makes it outright dangerous to wield! You're liable to take your own limbs off just trying to learn to use it! I cut myself up more times than I can count figuring out how to swing this thing around! As far as weapons go, it's about the worst one out there!"
"Then why use it?" asked Lara. "And for that matter, why didn't you use that magnet ability of yours from the start?"
"Two reasons." Remora stabbed her scythe into the floor. "One, this scares the crap out of everyone who sees it!"
She grabbed the sleeves of her ruined robe and ripped them off. As she did so, lightning encircled her lower legs, burning away her boots and part of her pants. There was more skin missing from her forearms, shoulders, calves, and feet. These, however, were filled with metal shards. Remora tore off the lower half of her bodice, revealing her toned midsection was also coated with shards. Lara and Melody quickly realized Remora's exterior was more metal than it was skin. Even the spot Lara cut on Remora's neck showed metal underneath. No wonder she felt like she was hitting a lump of metal during their fight–she was doing just that.
Remora rolled her shoulders and then crouched down. "And two…"
A/N: "Dragonslayer" by Shiro Sagisu (you only need the first 80 seconds or so–after that, the music stops working for the moment)
Lara readied her sword as lightning arced down Remora's legs. She was still getting into her stance when Remora flickered out of sight.
"I need a handicap."
"Lara, behind you!" yelled Melody.
Lara's hair stood on end. Remora's voice was in her right ear! She could feel her breath on her skin! She got behind her! How did–why was she even thinking about that!? She had to attack!
She spun around, swinging her sword at Remora. The witch grabbed Lara's wrist and stopped her, then delivered a hard punch right into Lara's gut. Electricity exploded across Lara, causing her to scream until Remora uppercut her jaw with the same fist, lifting her feet off the ground and shattering her faceplate. Then she punched Lara in the stomach again, sending her shooting across the ballroom and embedding in the wall. Lara hung there for a moment, dazed and out of breath, and then stumbled out onto the floor. She caught herself on her sword. The armor over her stomach was now riddled with cracks. The pain in her body was not fading. That, and her strength was. Her muscles felt twitchy and dull, as though her body was only receiving half her commands.
"Lara!" exclaimed Melody as she ran towards her. "Are you –!?"
"I said stay put!" Lara barked, causing Melody to halt. She dragged a hand across her face, fire engulfing it to reform her dragon-esque faceplate. Fire also swept across her armor to repair it. But the pain and weakness were still there. And this time, not all the cracks disappeared.
Remora strode towards her as the pieces of her mask lazily flew to her face. The cracks disappeared as her mask repaired itself, hiding her monstrous visage once more. At the same time, her scythe broke into two streams of shards and flowed to Remora's hands. A pair of short swords formed in her grasp, the middle of the blades punched out to leave a large opening down the center.
"You're strong, brat," said Remora as the metal shards left her body to reveal more of that golden second skin. The shards slowly collected behind her, forming a dozen swords just like the ones she was holding. "I'll give you that. You've got power, speed, toughness, and magic down in spades, same as I do. Small wonder you got the better of Undertow and those sniveling squids. But unlike you all, I've been fighting and killing and honing myself non-stop for the last seventy years. It's made me leagues stronger than I was back on the Charybdis. Too strong, even. Other than you and the Master, there's no one who can challenge me. So when the opportunity for a fight comes up, I have to make things interesting for myself."
She allowed the tips of her swords to scrape the floor, leaving long scratches behind. "I don't use magnetism on my opponent's weapons or magic. I use a weapon that's difficult to wield. I carry extra metal to weaken my speed and strength. And until recently, I keep more than half of my magic sealed away."
Lara hefted her sword, growling angrily. Small sparks slipped through her teeth. "Why would you do that? You trying to get yourself killed?"
"Because if I didn't, I'd never get any thrill out of it!" Remora laughed as she spread her arms, causing the floating swords to fan out like wings. Electricity jumped between them, filling the room with flashes of light. "I haven't felt the need to go all out against an opponent in decades! Until now, that is! So…!"
Remora gave the swords in her hand a spin, sparks flying off their tips as they scraped the floor. "Let's kick this up a notch!"
Remora gave a manic yell and bolted at Lara, drawing her swords back. Lara rushed in to meet her, their blades smashing together. They pressed against one another as hard as they could, trying to feel out the moment to make their move. Then, to Lara's shock, she found herself being forced back! Her clawed feet scratched into the floor as Remora pushed her away. Suddenly Remora cackled and shoved Lara back before darting left, slashing for her side. Lara deflected the blow and tried to get Remora with her tail and wing, but the witch suddenly dropped to her knees and bent backwards, her head almost touching the floor as she slid under Lara's tail and got behind her. Lara spun around to face her, only to find Remora pointing a lightning covered sword straight at her.
"Block this!" Remora yelled, the electric light briefly illuminating her eyes inside her mask.
Lara barely got her sword up in time before the lightning bolt fired. It was even faster and more powerful than before, knocking Lara off her feet and sending her flying across and then out of the ballroom before it dissipated. She spread her wings and flew up, hovering in the air above the garden. She looked down and saw Remora walk to the edge of the ballroom, Melody shying back from her. Remora paid her no heed, eyes fixed solely on Lara.
"I know what you're thinking!" shouted Remora. "Being airborne gives you an advantage in this fight!"
Suddenly three of the swords behind Remora pointed straight at Lara. "Not!"
Remora laughed and then slashed at Lara. Her floating swords went shooting at her like bullets, each one riddled with lightning. Lara quickly beat her wings, shooting her back and away from the first one, but the second immediately adjusted and came right at her. Lara narrowly avoided it when she fell back, but the third one found her. It cut across her left shoulder, the electrified blade slicing through her armor.
Lara yelled and flew back, clutching at her wound as Remora laughed again. She snarled angrily and raised her sword up, the blade turning incandescent as it absorbed her magic. "Claymore…!"
"You don't have time for that anymore, brat!" said Remora, pointing a finger up.
Lara whipped her head up. The three swords were right above her, lines of electricity arcing between them as they spun in a circle. They immediately began spinning faster, a loud hum growing with the velocity. Lara felt the hair on her neck stand on end, and she got a strong odor of ozone. She quickly flew out of the way as an enormous beam of lightning shot forth and punched into the earth. It missed Lara, but the light still blinded her and the shockwave sent her reeling. Then the swords tilted in unison, sending the beam chasing after Lara. She quickly flew away, the lightning chasing after her. Everything in its path was annihilated, reduced to ash and dust by its power. Lara did not bother finding out if her sword was an exception to that. She weaved and dove as fast as she could for a full minute before the beam finally gave up, dwindling to nothing.
"Eyes up!"
Lara spun around to see Remora right behind her, both her swords drawn back and ready to strike. Lara quickly blocked her, their swords grinding against each other. How did she get up here? They were over two hundred feet in the air! There was no way she could have–!
Then Lara saw the sword Remora was standing on, and the procession of them leading back to the ballroom. That was how! She used the flat of her blades like stairs to reach her!
Remora laughed madly and then shoved Lara away. She lunged at her as another sword flew up, preparing to catch her. Lara had to block again as Remora cut at her neck, and then again when her second sword stabbed at her right wing. But she was not fast enough to keep Remora from then slicing her across her left thigh, her sword intercepting a moment too late. Lara retaliated by kicking for Remora's legs, but Remora quickly leapt back. Another sword flew up to meet her, and she landed on it as surely as she would the earth.
Lara quickly inhaled and then yelled, sending fire billowing out at Remora. Her floating swords zipped to her and began spinning rapidly, forming a barrier of whirring blades. Lara's flames hit them and broke apart, scattered by the sword's motions.
"I've seen this one before!" shouted Remora over the fire. "Did you think I wouldn't have a way to counter it by now?"
"Try countering this!" shouted back Lara, her sword glowing once more. "Claymore, swarm!"
Lara slashed her sword through the air, sending over two dozen small glowing orbs of fire spraying out. They zipped through the air like bees, leaving contrails of orange light behind. Then Lara pointed her sword at Remora and they all shot straight for her, zigzagging about to–.
Remora's swords abruptly flew out, matching the speed of Lara's fire orbs. They slashed and cut through them all with ease. Instead of exploding like Lara intended, the orbs burst into puffs of flame and died out, leaving whirls of smoke behind.
"Here's a question!" said Remora as lightning arced down her arms. "How many swords do I have!?"
Lara did not have time to answer before Remora sent a pair of lightning bolts at her. She avoided the first one and then blocked the second with her sword, deflecting it out over the ocean. Lara flew in and swung at Remora, who crossed her swords and blocked Lara. The strike knocked Remora off her sword and Lara swung down, sending her shooting back to the earth. Her swords quickly flew behind her, catching her on the flat of the blades and stopping her before she hit the earth.
"Answer is thirteen!" shouted up Remora as her swords reassembled behind her. "And the one behind you!"
Lara suddenly became aware of the buzz and crackle of electricity behind her. She spun around and saw one of Remora's swords only feet away, the tip aimed right at her and a lightning bolt ready to fire. She had no time to block or evade. The bolt hit her right in the chest and blasted her straight down. She did not remember hitting the ground or feeling her armor crack all over. All she felt was pain. She rose slowly, her back and head riddled with a sharp pins-and-needles sensation. She could only feel some of her fingers. The rest were numb.
"About time someone clipped your wings!" Remora threw her head back and laughed as her sword returned to her.
Lara shook her head and snarled, then roared and charged at Remora as fast as she could. Remora responded in kind, stabbing for Lara's face and stomach. Lara deftly parried both swords away and then swung to cleave Remora. She quickly stepped back, feeling the wind off Lara's weapon. Then she slashed at Lara's chest. Lara got her sword down in time to block, taking a hand off it to seize Remora's other hand as she tried to land another strike. She tried to kick Remora in the hips, only for Remora to knock her foot aside with her knee. Lara planted her leg and spun, yanking Remora off her feet. She moved to throw her, but then Remora dropped her swords and grabbed onto Lara's arm. She swung herself with the momentum, orienting herself back towards Lara, and then delivered a vicious heel into the side of Lara's head. Lara let go, stars and lights exploding in her skull as she staggered back. Remora dropped onto her back and then leapt up, her swords flying to her. She leapt at Lara, swinging one for her head. Lara quickly evaded to the side and then swung up at her, forcing Remora to block with her other sword. Remora pushed off Lara's blade and flipped over her, landing with their backs to one another. They spun around, swords meeting a split second before their eyes did.
"Keep it up, brat!" said Remora, smiling wickedly at Lara as an electric arc leapt between the eyeholes of her mask. "I'd hate to kill you too quickly!"
Lara grimaced as she dug her feet in, keeping Remora from pushing her back as their swords collided. Her chances in this battle had just taken a dire turn.
King Gerrod never stopped fighting. He did not stop when the werewolf army broke the castle gates and poured inside. He did not stop when they drove him and his knights into the keep. He did not stop when his ax broke and his shield shattered. And even now, clapped in two sets of irons, beaten and bloodied to within an inch of his life, and with two werewolves dragging him along, he kept fighting. He intended to fight until the bitter end. Which, given where the werewolves were taking him, Gerrod knew was coming soon.
"How does this bastard still have the strength to resist!?" questioned one of the werewolves as Gerrod continued his struggling.
"Would you–oof!" The werewolf on the king's right grunted as Gerrod threw his weight against it, pinning it to the stony wall. It snarled and shoved the giant man off, adding a hard punch to his stomach for good measure. "Give it up already!?"
Gerrod doubled over, wheezing as he fought to regain his breath. He sagged in his captor's arms for a moment, then found his footing and spat at the one who assaulted him. "Not so long as I have breath in my body!"
The werewolf snarled, wiping the spit off its face. "Why you bloated–!"
"Enough!" barked the other werewolf. "Knock him out and let's get this done! Commander's waiting!"
A heavy fist bashed Gerrod in the back of his head. His vision went blank and his thoughts soon followed. He was not sure how long he was out. When he woke up, he saw the blurry outline of a weathered wooden door before him. The werewolves dragged him to it and then kicked it open. Gerrod squinted as the sunlight made his aching head pound even harder. The werewolves roughly shoved him forward. He tripped and fell on the ground. He started to rise when a clawed foot stomped on his back, pinning him in place.
"Your majesty!" came a man's voice.
"Sire!"
"What did you mongrels d–!?" The third voice was cut off by the sound of a punch and then a body falling flat.
"Shut it!" snarled a voice. "Eyes forward, all of you! And as for you two, it's about time you showed up! What've you been doing, picking each other's…!?"
Gerrod looked up and saw a pair of werewolf feet approach him. "What the blazes happened to him?"
"Brute fought us the whole way up!" said one of the werewolves. "So we had to get rough!"
"He's one man and there's two of you! How did he give you that much trouble!?"
"Find out for yourself!" One of the werewolves kicked Gerrod spitefully in the side. "He's your problem now!"
"Not for long!" Hard clawed hands seized Gerrod by his chains and dragged him forward. He heard the door slam shut and muffled voices fading away. His vision started to return to him as he was hauled upright and forced into a kneeling position.
He was at the top of the castle keep. The battlement had been knocked down, leaving a perilous edge just feet away from Gerrod. There was a wooden chopping block in front of him. His knights knelt in a line to his left, a werewolf behind each one. All of them were bloodied and wounded, and more than one had a look of defeat on their faces.
One of the knights turned his face to him. The despair in his eyes was irrefutable. "Forgive me, sire. I couldn't–."
The werewolf behind him slashed his back, causing the man to cry out. "Keep that tongue still or I'll rip it out!"
Gerrod was wide awake in an instant. "Get your filthy hands off him, monster!" He lunged for the werewolf, but the one restraining him jerked him back and forced him to kneel again.
"Defiant to the end. Strong as the forest, indeed."
Gerrod looked to his right. Richard Avitas approached, a look of malevolent amusement on his face. Or was that disdain? There was blood smeared across his arms and chest, and his pants were in shreds. A heavy broadaxe rested over his left shoulder.
Gerrod could not help but scowl as the "man" stopped before him, if Richard qualified as that anymore. He spat at Richard, spraying bloody spittle across his chest. Richard nonchalantly wiped it off onto his pants. Then, faster that Gerrod could see, he backhanded him across the face, and then struck the shaft off the broadaxe against his back. A pair of sledgehammers would have been softer.
"I imagine you think your continued resistance is heroic or honorable," said Richard. He knelt down, grabbing Gerrod's hair and lifting his head to face him. "Personally, I think it's the mark of a sore loser. And you have lost, old man. You've lost everything."
Richard nodded towards the town. Gerrod looked out, beholding what remained of his kingdom. Fires were spreading unhindered through the buildings. The air stank of smoke and burned blood. There were bodies everywhere, both human and werewolf. He could hear the screams and howls as the beasts kept searching through the town, grabbing those who could not or would not fight back and killing those who did. The main gates lay broken on the ground. The werewolves were taking the captured citizens and bringing them into the bailey, shoving them with the rest. The people of Vorhaven crowded together like sheep in a pen, corralled by snarling werewolves. He could hear the fear and confusion in their many voices.
Gerrod grit his teeth angrily. How did this happen? How were they so poorly prepared for this? How did they not know this was coming? How did his kingdom fall so easily? Of all the Alliance kingdoms, Vorhaven was the greatest in terms of its military. Their soldiers were renowned for their training and toughness, even if they rarely had a chance to exercise their prowess. That went doubly for the king's knights. How did it amount to so little against this pack of monsters? The werewolves overran the walls shortly after the first one attacked him. The guards and knights fought bravely, but they were overwhelmed by the beasts' numbers and savagery in less than an hour. For every one of the enemy they killed, it seemed ten more took its place. There was no end to them. It was like fighting against a tsunami of claws, teeth, and rage.
"Don't feel too bad, though," said Richard as he rose. "This was inevitable."
Gerrod's brow furrowed darkly as he glared up at Richard. "Brave words for a traitor."
Richard gave a dismissive huff. "Empty words from a beaten man. Call me what you will while you can. Besides, I never had any real loyalty to the Alliance to start with. And after today, there won't be any Alliance. Even now, Maelstrom is laying waste to the other kingdoms."
Gerrod's eyes widened. "No…that's impossible!"
Richard smirked at him. "They'll all fall, just like this one. I'd offer you a chance to surrender, but the Master gave his orders. And they don't include keeping you or your men alive."
The former Seahaven lord stepped to the edge of the keep. "People of Vorhaven! Listen well!"
The chatter below died off as all eyes looked up to him. "As of this moment, you and all of Vorhaven are the property of Maelstrom! Your lands are ours! Your crops are ours! Your homes are ours! Your families are ours! Your lives are ours! And so long as you remain useful and obedient, you will keep them!"
Richard turned and nodded to one of the werewolves. Without hesitation it lifted one of the knights by the hair, his feet dangling in the air. It then bit the man's neck, jaws wrapping all the way around. The knight screamed in agony for a moment, and then his voice was cut off with a sharp crack.
"No!" bellowed Garrod. He leapt to his feet, breaking free of the werewolf restraining him. He barely made it three steps when three of the monsters seized him, slamming him against the ground. Gerrod heard horrified cries go up from the crowd as the werewolf threw the man's body over the edge.
"Get him back in line," ordered Richard before gesturing to another werewolf. "If you disobey us…!"
"You bastard!" shouted Gerrod as the werewolves hauled him to his place. "Don't you dare! Don't you dare!"
"You will die!" declared Richard, ignoring Gerrod completely. Another werewolf grabbed its captive's head and lifted him, mouth opening wide for the fatal bite.
"No, wait!" pleaded the man.
Crack!
"Stop!" bellowed Gerrod. He fought desperately, but he was unable to overpower his captors. "I order you to stop, Avitas! Stop this now!"
"If you deceive us, you will die!" said Richard as another body was sent tumbling. One by one the werewolves ended their captives' lives as Richard continued. "If you cannot work, you will die! If you are weak, you will die! If you are sick, you will die! If you try to escape, you will die!"
Gerrod grit his teeth angrily as the last of his knights had his neck broken and then was discarded off the keep. He struggled again to get free, but the werewolves holding him were too strong. One of them clobbered him over the head for good measure, dazing him. They then hauled him over to the chopping block, forcing his head onto it. More horrified voices came from the watching crowd, along with several excited howls from the werewolves.
"And this…!" said Richard as he hefted the broadaxe. "This is what will become of any and all who dare oppose us!"
Gerrod looked up as Richard raised the axe. The sunlight glinted down the sharpened edge.
"Give my regards to Eric and Ariel when you see them," said Richard. "They should be waiting for you on the other side. Oh, and that fat oaf Ben."
A sudden burst of outrage and strength flowed through Gerrod. With a roar he stood up, shaking the werewolves off him. Then he charged at Richard. The man hastily swung the axe for the king's head but missed, instead burying it in his shoulder. Gerrod kept charging, plowing the top of his head straight into Richard's stomach. He knocked him over, Gerrod landing on top of him. With his hands tied, Gerrod used the only weapon he had left–his head. He bashed it once and then twice into Richard's face until a clawed werewolf hand sank into his shoulder and tore him off. Gerrod rolled away, stopping at the edge of the keep. He stood up quickly, intent on attacking Richard again, but a pair of werewolves were now between them. Almost a dozen more were circling around him. Their eyes were fixed on him, teeth bared and dripping strings of saliva.
"Are you injured, sir?" said a werewolf as it reached for him. Richard snarled and smacked the hand away, standing up on his own. For having his face struck by such a large man, he did not have so much as a bloody nose. He scowled at Gerrod, baring his teeth. Did they always look so sharp?
"I was planning to make your death quick," Richard growled, wiping his face. "But I've changed my mind. You'll be torn apart in front of your entire kingdom. That should send a much clearer message to the cowering masses."
Gerrod glanced over his shoulder. There was a long way between him and the ground below. He knew he was a dead man. Even if Richard and his dogs did not follow through on his promise, he was bleeding out from where the ax struck him. His arms felt like lead. His legs were almost jelly. And his head was starting to spin. Death was on her way for him with swift wings.
He might as well greet her on his terms.
Gerrod stepped back to the edge, standing tall with his chin lifted. "I won't grant the pleasure of my death to a traitorous cad like you!" He lifted his face to the sky. "My people, this is my final command as your king! Be brave! Hold fast to hope, and to each other in the times ahead! The coming nights may be long and dark, and the storms may break the trees! But the sun always rises! And the mountains…!"
Gerrod pulled hard on his chains. Veins bulged under his skin as he strained, putting the last of his strength into this one final act.
"Will never…!"
One of the chain links snapped, unable to resist the king's defiance.
"Enough of this farce!" snapped Richard. "Grab him!"
"Fall!" Gerrod shouted right as the last chains broke, freeing his arms.
The werewolves lunged for Gerrod. One bit into his shoulder as three more latched onto his arms and legs. A fifth grabbed his waist and bit into his belly as a sixth seized his head. They started to pull him back, but Gerrod had his size and strength on his side, and nothing left to lose. He wrapped his massive arms around them and then dug his feet in and stepped back, setting his heel on the keep's edge.
"Come!" he shouted, feeling only air under his foot. "All of you! I could use some company on the Dark Road! That, and pelts to hang in the hall of my fathers!"
With that and a loud bellow, King Gerrod threw himself backwards into empty space, pulling the six werewolves with him. He closed his eyes and waited, feeling the air rush over him in his last few seconds of life. There was no pain when he hit the ground. He died instantly, Death embracing him like an old friend come to escort him home. The same was not true for the werewolves, though Death would return for them soon enough.
Thus did the kingdom of Vorhaven fall to Maelstrom.
"This way!" shouted Dash, waving fish and merfolk towards one of the portals. "Hurry!"
"Let's go, people!" yelled Tip. "Move those fins, tentacles, claws, or whatever else you've got!"
By now the majority of the Atlanticans had figured out the portals were not part of Maelstrom's assault. That, and they were the safer option compared to staying in Atlantica or trying to flee into the wilds. Either of those invited capture by the swarm of bug-like machines or death by the shadow demons. They were swimming through the portals as fast as they could, escaping to who knew where. The demons kept pursuing them, slaying any who fell behind. But not one of them was able to go through the portals.
"Come on!" Tip shouted to a lingering merman. "Don't just swim there! You have to go!"
"But…my wife!" protested the merman. A panicked octopus swam into his shoulder, almost knocking him down. "And daughter! I can't–!"
A flash of light and then a crack of thunder came from the direction of the palace. Tip and Dash looked to it as they saw another flash, and then another. The shadowy silhouette of the palace was briefly illuminated by each light, revealing the damage it suffered. That, and a pair of figures darting about through the water. They both knew who one of them was. Even from this far, there was no mistaking those navy-blue scales or that thick white hair and beard. They could only guess who the black figure attacking him was.
"Do you think he'll make it?" asked Dash as Triton fired at the Master again, only to miss.
"Course he will!" said Tip as a school of wrasse swam by him. "He's the king! He'd never lose!"
Dash grimaced as yet another bolt of lightning went flying out into the dark. "Are you sure?"
A piercing scream of fright cut through the water. A pair of mermaids were swimming as fast as they could. A demon with the head of a fang fish, the body and limbs of a lobster, and the tail of an eel was pursuing them. The abomination was the size of a large shark, smashing through every obstacle the mermaids tried to put between it and themselves in their escape. Its glowing white eyes never blinked, both locked onto its prey.
"Kaylee!" shouted the merman. "Pearl!"
"Dad!" shouted one of the mermaids. The demon lunged forward and bit, its jaws snapping shut within inches of her fins. "Dad, help!"
Tip did not know what came over him in that moment. His body seemed to move on its own. By the time he realized what he was doing, he was swimming as hard and fast as he could right at the shadow demon. It lunged forward again, clawed arms reaching out to grab the mermaids. Tip tucked his head in and slammed the top of his skull right between the shadow demon's eyes. It shrieked and reeled back, pawing at its face as the mermaids swam away. They all but tackled the merman, the reunited family embracing tightly.
"You're alive!" the merman exclaimed, hastily kissing each of their heads. "Thank the tides you're alive!"
"Celebrate later!" shouted Tip, beating his feet and flippers in frantic retreat. "Get through that portal while–!"
CHOMP!
Tip's words caught on this beak as the demon's jaws snapped shut on his right flipper. It shook him back and forth violently, and then swatted him down with one of its claws. Tip rolled through the water and struck the sea floor. He quickly got himself oriented and started swimming, but he circled uselessly through the water and then crashed into the sand. He looked to where his right flipper should be, but there was nothing there. It was gone. The shadow demon bit it clean off.
"Oh…crud," he said. He knew there should be pain. He knew he should be screaming in agony. He knew he should be terrified of the shadow demon now stalking towards him. But his shock at what just happened overwhelmed any sense of it. That, or the rapid blood loss was making him too delirious to feel pain or panic.
"TIP!" yelled Dash.
The shadow demon suddenly swam at Tip, jaws gaping in preparation to finish what it started. But before it could, Dash plowed headfirst into it like a giant blubber wrecking ball, driving it back and smashing it against a house. The wall cracked through completely as the demon howled, and then its form began to fall apart. Its dying cry became garbled and warped before it burst into a black cloud, dissipating in the water.
"Tip!" Dash swam back to his partner. "Tip, are you all right!?"
"I'm missing a wing!" Tip managed to groan out as Dash tucked him under one flipper. "How all right do you think I am!?"
"This is no time for sarcasm!"
Even amidst the shock of Tip's dismemberment, walrus and penguin still tensed at Bel'al's voice shouting loudly into their minds.
"Lord Bel'al!" exclaimed Dash.
"Get through the portal immediately!" ordered the dragon. "I cannot maintain them for much longer!"
Tip and Dash looked to the portal the rescued mer-family was swimming through. The fire around it was growing weaker, and the ring itself was shrinking. They looked out across Atlantica and saw the same thing. The portals were starting to fail.
"But what about everyone else!?" asked Dash, seeing countless mer and fish folk still trying to escape the demons. Off in the distance there was a bright flash Triton continued battling the Master. "And the king!?"
"You have done what you can! Now you must go!"
"But we can't just leave him!"
"There is no other way! He knows his duty as king! It is why he fights for you all! Do not let his efforts be in vain!"
The portal suddenly shrunk to half its size, releasing a cloud of bubbles.
"Stay and you die!" yelled Bel'al. "Leave, and you will still have tomorrow! So long as you have that, you have hope!"
Tip and Dash looked to the portal, then turned and gave one last look at Atlantica. This was their home for seven years. Before then, all they knew were the cold Southern Seas and the colder scorn and ridicule of its inhabitants. For seven years this place had given them comfort, safety, friends, and even family. Now, before their very eyes, it was being destroyed.
There was a glow from the trident, allowing them to see a streak of darkness shoot out from the Master. It went past Triton and slashed through the tallest tower of the palace. The structure was still for a moment, and then it toppled over, crashing down through the building. They heard and felt the rumble as ancient stone was broken. With that, Dash turned and swam into the portal, his best friend held close. Moments later the portal wavered and then collapsed into a point of orange light before vanishing. Across Atlantica, the other portals began to do the same. One by one they went out like dying stars, until the last hopeful pinprick of light yielded to the darkness, sentencing all who remained to Maelstrom's whims.
A/N: "Duel of the Fates & Imperial March" by Samuel Kim Music
Lara panted as she flew high into the air, avoiding another lightning bolt. Her armor was heavily cracked and no longer repairing itself. Her body was in pain from both trauma and exhaustion. She was in trouble, and she knew it. And not just because Remora was about to launch another lightning bolt at her. Or because half of her floating swords were chasing after her. Or because Lara could feel her own magic starting to run low.
She was in trouble because Remora was stronger than her.
In the last ten minutes of fighting, the Maelstrom witch had turned their duel into a one-sided struggle for survival. Remora was already beyond any mage Lara fought in the east before the swords came out. Now that gap was even broader. She was hitting harder, moving faster, and attacking in ways Lara was struggling to keep up with. Her flying swords were far more dangerous than her scythe or other weapons. Her capabilities with them seemed limitless. Remora could switch them from attack to defense in the blink of an eye, or channel her magic directly through them even at a distance. They were just as fast as their master and cut just as deep as the ones she was holding. And then there was the sheer number of them. Lara was not slow by any means, and she was experienced with fighting multiple opponents. But even she could not keep up with twelve independently moving swords at the same time. Try as she might to keep them at bay, they were getting through her defense and her armor. How Remora was able to maneuver them simultaneously and with such deadly force and precision was beyond her. And Remora was not giving Lara the chance to figure it out.
Remora yelled as she sent her lightning bolt at Lara. She dodged it, but the bolt went past and hit one of the flying swords. The sword absorbed it and then sent it shooting out the tip to another sword. The bolt raced between the blades too fast for Lara to follow. She swung to intercept it but missed, the bolt blasting off its final sword and into her side. Lara screamed in pain as it blasted her into the side of the palace, knocking her through the wall and into another hallway.
She was barely on her hands and knees when Remora came flying in after her. The witch laughed loudly as she stabbed at her. Lara knocked her sword aside and rolled away from the second stab and onto her feet. Remora pressed her attack forward, not giving Lara time to counter. Her floating swords were now flying all around Lara, slashing and stabbing at her from all angles. Lara dodged, blocked, and parried as fast as she could, but she found her armor and herself getting cut up by the second. She grimaced as one of the swords sliced her below her left eye, only for Remora to then dart in and punch her in the same spot. Lara swung her sword blindly as she fell back, Remora easily stepping out of range. Lara quickly rolled to her feet as she inhaled and then breathed fire at the witch. Remora's swords zipped in front of her, reforming their spinning shield. A moment later Lara had to leap back as one and then another lightning bolt shot at her.
"Come on!" shouted Remora as she started firing bolts repeatedly. "Come on! Is that really all you've got!?"
Lara grit her teeth as she used her sword to block a lightning bolt. The vibration from it made her arms numb for a moment.
"Where's that anger!?" spat Remora as she sent another bolt at Lara's head. Lara ducked and it struck the wall behind her, blasting out shards of stone and plaster. "Where's that hatred!? You were going to avenge your mom, remember!? You were gonna make me pay! Or was that all talk!?"
"Shut up!" Lara yelled. She inhaled and then spat a fireball at Remora. Two of her swords immediately intercepted, cutting the fireball to smoke before it could reach her. Four of her swords went flying through the haze at Lara. She knocked a pair of them aside and evaded the third, but the fourth buried itself through her armor and into her right calf. Lara screamed, dropping to the ground. Her scream intensified when Remora sent a lightning bolt directly into the sword. Cracks spread even further through her armor, pieces of it flying off.
"Too bad she isn't here to see you fail!" shouted Remora as she called her swords back, the weapons arranging themselves behind her. "She'd be so disappointed!"
She let go of her swords, clutching her hands to her cheeks as she spoke in a sweet mocking tone. "Oh, Lara baby! Why couldn't you do it? Why'd you let your mommy down? Didn't you love me?"
Rage blossomed inside Lara's chest, pouring heat and power into her body. The wound in her leg immediately closing over. Heat exploded off her, igniting the hall around her. Her hair and eyes glowed brightly as she stood up. Faint glowing orange lines appeared on her plating and skin. Her armor started spreading across her like ink, smoke rising from the edges.
"I SAID SHUT UP!" bellowed Lara.
"Or maybe you never loved her?" Remora touched a finger to the mouth on her mask. "Is that why you let me kill her?"
Lara roared so loud she caused the hallway to shake. Her hair and eyes took on a reddish hue as she blasted at Remora, destroying the hallway behind her. Remora sent her swords flying at Lara. She made no effort to evade or deflect them. They cut all across her body, but Lara was too enraged to notice or care. She swung her sword at Remora, the blade releasing an explosion as their weapons clashed. Remora was blown backwards and went tumbling down the hall. Lara seized the back of Remora's head before she could get up and drove her face into the floor, dragging her through it as she rocketed down the hall. Then Lara lifted Remora as they reached the end and threw her, sending her flying out into the tower stairwell. Remora flipped over in the air and landed on her feet against the wall, hanging there like a spider. Her mask was cracked and her hair was tarnished with debris.
"Claymore…!" Lara flew out into the middle of the stairwell as her sword ignited. "ROAR!"
Remora launched herself up just as Lara swung. A massive beam of fire erupted off her sword, blasting out the side of the tower. Blazing timber and molten stone went cascading forth as the tower shuddered and then began to collapse. Remora's swords quickly came flying to her, anchoring her bare feet to one so she hung upside-down in the air above Lara. She drew her right hand back as she crouched, and then shot down at Lara. Lara looked up right as Remora swung, punching her hard right in the face. There was a crack like thunder and then Lara went shooting straight down and slammed into the tower floor. The roof gave way, chasing after Remora as she fell. Lara looked up and saw the incoming witch and falling debris. She scrambled upright and darted out of the tower right as Remora landed, the two fleeing back into the ballroom as a crushing pile of palace came crashing down. Melody, who had been hiding over in a corner, screamed and covered her head at the crash.
A cloud of dust chased after the pair, masking Remora from Lara's view for a moment. Then Remora came flying out at Lara, weapons and lightning ready. Lara yelled and swung hard, causing Remora's feet to skid as she blocked. The clash of their weapons sent a wall of air shooting out, blowing the women's hair back. Lara spun to attempt a counterstrike, but Remora used her other sword to deflect that as well. Remora then slashed at Lara's right arm as two of her flying swords slashed across her thighs. Lara let the strikes hit, cutting over her bicep and legs as she swung at Remora's face. Remora jerked her head back, the tip of the sword cutting into her mask. But as she did that, Lara reached in and grabbed Remora's neck, lifting her off her feet and then slamming her against the ground. The marble broke from the impact, and then again when Lara punched Remora in the chest. Remora spat out blood as she lost her wind for a moment. Her floating swords went still, starting to sink as she lost her train of thought. Lara leaned into her face and roared, blasting hot air as she gave Remora an up-close look into the furnace that was her mouth.
"That's better!" laughed Remora as Lara drew her arm back to strike again. She shot her hands up and grabbed Lara's face, ignoring the pain as her palms burned. "You're making me work for this!"
Electricity burst over Remora and onto Lara, filling the ballroom with flashes and momentary shadows of the two women. Lara's enraged roaring became screams of pain as Remora's magic continually assaulted her, replacing every thought and sensation she had with pain. The red left her eyes and hair as the lines faded, her armor rapidly falling apart. Remora kept the electrocution going, laughing the entire time. Then she stopped, Lara swaying limply above her. Smoke rose off her body, her armor gone safe a few lingering pieces. Her faceplate was missing and her eyes were half closed. Remora brought her legs in and kicked Lara off her. She flew up, hit the ceiling, and then fell to the floor. She lay still for a moment and then slowly moved, groaning painfully. Her sword burst into flames and shrank, returning to its slimmer form.
"Lara!" shouted Melody. "Lara, get up! You have to get up!"
"Yes you do, brat!" said Remora as she stood, rolling her jaw under her mask. "You better get up! Because if you don't, you know what'll happen to your precious princess over there!"
Lara was not sure where she found the strength to stand again. She could not feel her body. Everything was either numb or painful. She was exhausted physically and magically. But Melody and Remora were right. She had to get up. She had to stand and fight. Melody was counting on her. Ariel was counting on her. Eric was counting on her. They were all counting on her.
"This…" Lara started to lift her sword, but then swayed on her feet. She caught herself, shakily raising her sword again. "This…isn't over yet."
Remora chuckled. "No, it isn't. Not while you're still alive." She took a breath and readied her swords. "It's time to wrap this up."
The shadow beam struck Triton in his chest, blasting him backwards and through the roof of the palace throne room before pinning him to the floor. He thought it would crush him flat until it let up. He was in too much pain to move. All he could do was lay gasping for water. His body was covered in wounds, and his crown was gone. His bracers cracked and then crumbled to pieces, their limit finally reached. The trident flickered in his right hand as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
"It's over, Triton."
Triton weakly lifted his head. Just that act alone was a herculean effort. The Master stood over him, glowing blue eyes looking down from his hood. Triton started to lift the trident, but the Master calmly walked around and then knelt on the weapon's shaft, pinning it and Triton's hand down.
"You are defeated," said the Master. "You, your kingdom, and your Alliance. Just as I promised."
Triton grimaced. He knew the warlock was right. The portals were gone. The shadow demons and those machine insects were scavenging the city for the last Atlanticans. His soldiers and citizens were dead, captured, or fled. And he no longer had the ability to fight. His body had nothing left to give. But that stubborn streak of his persisted still.
"This…will never *cough* be over!" he said weakly. "Not…so long…as there's–!"
A shadow tendril sprung off the Master, slashing Triton down his fins.
"So long as there's what?" said the Master over Triton's pained cry. "Hope? The trident? Or lives to feed my war machine? No. You have nothing, merman. Nothing to stand against me with. Today is the end of Atlantica. And the end of your reign."
The Master stood and went to the edge of the throne room, clasping his hands behind his back. He looked out over the now conquered city. "An ending that's long overdue."
Triton turned his head to see the Master. He had his back to him. But even if he had the strength to do something, Triton knew it would be futile. Nothing he did was able to hurt this man, much less faze him. He was indomitable.
"What…are you going to do…with my kingdom?" Triton asked.
"That is not your concern," said the Master, not turning to face him. "Just know that I intend to put it, its people, and that trident to far better use than you or your predecessors ever did."
Triton grasped the trident firmly. He had to do something. He could not allow the Master to take the trident. The man was already too powerful. He would become infinitely more dangerous with the trident in his hands. Even more so if he killed Triton. The Atlantican kings were always able to command a certain level of "loyalty" from the trident by right of succession. It was a valuable and necessary rite, given the number of individuals who wanted it for themselves. If the king were to die before that, however, the trident would be without a master and "pledge" itself to whoever took possession of it next. And given Triton's current state, the Master could make that happen at any time. Triton needed to stop him. But how? He barely had the strength to hold the trident, much less keep the Master from taking it or his life. Triton turned his eyes to the hole in the ceiling, seeing the dark water above him. He could send the trident far away, but that still meant it–.
No…there was a way. It might not stop the Master entirely, but it would at least buy time. That would be worth something.
For some reason, Triton could not keep himself from chuckling. The Master glanced over his shoulder, and then turned to face him as Triton continued. "Is there something amusing to your annihilation?"
Triton shook his head. "I just realized…that you're right."
The Master strode over to him. "Oh?"
"I should have passed on the crown years ago. But I was *cough* too afraid. Afraid that Attina wouldn't be ready for it. That none of them were ready. Afraid I wouldn't…" Triton paused to take a hard swallow. "Wouldn't be able to protect them anymore. But…you know what the humans say."
"And what is that?" asked the Master.
Triton turned his face to him, a faint smile under his beard. "There's no time like the present!"
He grasped the trident and squeezed his eyes shut. "Trident, flash!"
Before the Master could do anything, the trident let out a blinding flash. The Master shielded his face and recoiled, momentarily blinded. The vibration of the ancient weapon hurt Triton's entire arm, but he did not let go.
"I, King Triton of Atlantica, hereby abdicate my crown, my throne, and this trident!" Triton yelled. "And do pass them to whomsoever be most worthy and capable of their powers and their burdens!"
Mustering what strength he could, Triton hoisted the trident up. "Let it be so!"
The trident glowed with a golden light and then rose out of Triton's hand, hanging in the water. Then it pointed up and shot away, flying out the hole in the roof and towards the surface. Up it rose like a firework and then struck the dark blanket covering the sea. It pierced through, allowing a beam of daylight down into the dark, falling across Triton's face.
"Goodbye…old friend," said Triton, watching as the shadow covered the hole over.
The Master looked up to where the trident flew, and then back to Triton. "So…this was your final plan? To surrender the trident to your next of kin in your final moments? A most futile effort, Triton. We will have your daughters in our possession shortly."
"Don't *cough* be so sure," Triton said. "She may not have it."
The Master narrowed his eyes. "What?"
Triton chuckled, even though doing so caused him pain. "You should have listened better. I never said…it would go to Attina. Or to any of my daughters. I only said *cough* that it would go to whoever was worthy."
"And who is that?"
"I don't know. Maybe it is Attina. Or maybe it's another of my girls. Maybe it's some other merman or mermaid. Or maybe it's a human or some other race. Maybe they're in the Alliance right now. Maybe they're on the far side of the world. Or maybe they haven't even been born yet."
Triton lifted his head, managing a triumphant smirk. "I don't know who or where it went to any more than you do."
The Master stared down at Triton in silence. Then he sighed and closed his eyes. "I swear…"
A black tendril of shadow shot from the Master's hood and seized Triton by the neck, wrenching him off the ground to hang in front of the warlock. Triton did not have to see the man's face to know he was angry. His glowing eyes said it all.
"I used to believe the ability of your youngest and her offspring to inconvenience me was inherited solely from their mother," said the Master, the tendril wrapping tight enough to choke off his breathing. "Now I realize at least part of that annoying trait comes from you."
"Trust me, the whole family's like that."
Triton's eyes widened. That voice was…!
The Master glanced past Triton. "Ah. I was wondering when you'd be joining us."
"Apologies, Master. It took longer than expected to get ready." There was a pause. "Where's Sebastian?"
"Dead," said the Master. "One of my minions disposed of him."
"That's a shame. I was hoping to kill him myself. Along with this worthless slug."
Triton looked hard out the corner of his eyes. He knew who that was, but he hoped he was mistaken. Please let him be wrong.
"I cannot allow that," said the Master. "Ursula has claim to this one. Just as you have claim to yours. And he has not outlived his usefulness yet."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Well…" Triton heard the sound of a blade being unsheathed. "Since I can't kill him, I'll make do with this."
Suddenly a heavy force struck Triton's lower back, knocking the water out of him. There was a brief moment of painless shock, and then the agony exploded through him. Triton howled as the knife was twisted in him and then ripped out. The Master dropped him and he fell to the ground, unable to move. He could not feel his fins any longer.
A shadow loomed over Triton, its features blacked out by the trident's light magic still hovering above the kingdom. But there was no mistaking the fins of one of the merfolk. Or the knife in its hand. Or the voice that spoke to him.
"Sebastian never did know when to shut his mouth," said the figure. "Same as Ariel never knew when to quit. And same as you never knew who you could trust, Triton. But that's what you get when you turn your back on someone. It's what you all get."
The figure flipped the knife over and then brought the pommel down on King Triton's head. He felt the heaviness of the blow, and then everything went black.
Thus did the kingdom of Atlantica fall to Maelstrom.
As Lara and Remora's fight reached its close, Melody was faced with one undeniable certainty.
Lara had lost.
The princess was unable to tear her eyes away as Remora slashed Lara across the back again. Lara cried out and spun, swinging her sword weakly at the witch. Remora easily blocked it and then kicked Lara in the gut. Lara gagged and doubled over, almost falling down till she caught herself with her sword. It only gave Remora the chance to kick her again, knocking her over. Lara started to get up when Remora stomped on her back, blasting her with electricity. Lara screamed as her body spasmed with voltage. Remora was laughing as she stomped her again and again.
"That's it! Scream!" shouted Remora. "Scream for me, brat! Scream!"
"Lara!" yelled Melody as Remora lifted Lara by the hair and then sent her rolling with a punch to the face. Lara lay sprawled out on the floor, her chest heaving and body riddled with cuts. She no longer had her armor to protect her, and she was healing too slowly to be of any benefit. She struggled to stand up, having to lean on her sword to keep upright.
"Come on, then," said Remora. "Give it one last try!"
Lara scowled at Remora and wiped her mouth. Then she took her sword in both hands and started towards her.
"Lara, no!" pleaded Melody. "She'll kill you!"
Lara ignored her and broke into a staggering run. She raised her sword and swung at Remora, but she was too weak and hurt to be any threat. Remora dropped her swords and seized Lara's wrists, throwing her over her shoulder and slamming her into the ground. Lara cried out as Remora lifted her and did it again. She stood over Lara, staring down at the woman as she lay gasping and bloodied.
"Much as I've enjoyed this, you're starting to bore me," said Remora, all but one of her swords breaking into shards and returning to her body. She reached down and seized Lara by the neck, hoisting her off the ground. "Time to put you out of your misery! Any last words?"
Lara responded by punching Remora right in the cheek, leaving bloody knuckle marks on her mask. Remora gave her head a shake, and then she pulled Lara in and slammed her forehead into Lara's face. Lara's head whipped back and she went limp, blood leaking from her nose. Her sword fell from her hand, clattering on the floor. Remora wiped her mask with the back of her hand, smearing the red across it.
"A fighter to the end…why am I not surprised?" Remora raised her sword, placing the tip at Lara's chest.
"No!" screamed Melody. "Lara! Lara!"
"So long, brat!" said Remora, drawing her sword back as she prepared to thrust.
Panic welled up inside of Melody. She had to do something! Anything! But what could she do!? She did not have magic! She did not have a sword! She barely even knew how to make a fist! But she had to act! Lara was going to die if she just stood and watched! Out of desperation she grabbed a piece of stone off the floor and ran towards Remora, almost tripping on a crack.
"Stop!" Melody shouted right as Remora started to thrust. She halted and hefted the rock. "Let her go!"
Remora glanced at Melody and then at the rock. She gave a loud, derisive snort. "Seriously? A rock? Just what do you think you'll be able to do with–?
Suddenly there was a crashing sound from above, and then part of the ceiling exploded. A streak of golden light shot into the ballroom and landed in front of Melody. Remora and Melody were first blinded by the glow and then by the gust of wind that blew out. The light rapidly faded, allowing Melody to see through her squinted eyes what caused the disruption.
It was the trident. The weapon was buried forks down in the floor barely an arm's length from Melody.
"That!?" exclaimed Remora, as shocked as Melody was by the arrival of the legendary weapon.
Melody stared at the trident. Was she imagining things? Was that really the trident? Here? In front of her?
A better question was, why was she just staring at it?
Remora's eyes widened as Melody reached for the trident. "Don't you–!"
Melody was already pulling it out of the ground as Remora tossed Lara aside. She quickly aimed it at the masked witch, closing one eye as she sighted down the shaft. "Trident…!"
Lightning snaked down Remora's arm to her sword as she prepared to fire. But Melody was a second faster than her, and that made all the difference.
"Shoot!" shouted Melody.
Melody thought the trident would glow yellow and lightning would come forth, just like every other time her grandfather gave the command. But instead, the trident gave off a blue glow. Water appeared out of the air and spiraled into a ball at the tip of the trident. It swelled to the size of a large pumpkin and then shot off like a cannonball. The recoil knocked Melody off her feet, smacking her spine painfully on the floor.
The force Melody experienced was nothing compared to what struck Remora. Her lightning bolt shot a split instant later, colliding with the water ball. The water smashed through it and then into her with enough power to blast her off her feet and through the wall behind her. Melody heard more crashes as Remora was driven through wall after wall, the magic carrying her into the palace. She looked at the trident, seeing the blue glow fade away.
"What was that?" she breathed.
A groan from Lara pulled Melody away from her puzzlement. She rose and ran to her, grasping her shoulders. "Lara! Lara, are you okay!?"
"No," groaned Lara as she tried to sit up, only to fall back. She tried to lift her head with no more success, settling for turning her face to Melody. "Where's…Remora? And…?" She paused as she realized what Melody was holding. "Why do you have that?"
"No idea, but I have it! Hold still! I'm gonna try something!" Melody held the trident flat above Lara.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" exclaimed Lara. "Do you know how to use that thing?"
"Sort of," said Melody. "But it's either this, or we wait and see how long it takes Remora or those machines to find us again!"
Lara looked at Melody for a moment, and they nodded. "Trident it is then!"
Melody took a breath, holding the trident firmly. It was a bit of a white lie to say she had an idea of what she was doing. She could count the number of times she held the trident on both her hands. All she had to go on was what she saw her grandfather do.
"Trident, uh…help Lara?" she said, more of a request than a command.
The trident's forks glowed blue again. Laminar streams of glassy water fell from its forks onto Lara, then rapidly spread to envelop her entire body. A pale blue glow came from the water as Lara's wounds rapidly closed and healed over. Even the tears and stains on her clothes were removed. Then the water evaporated, leaving Lara as a cloud of vapor before disappearing.
"Lara?" Melody said, leaning over her. "Are…are you okay now?"
Lara slowly started to sit up, propping herself on her arms. Her expression was one of both amazement and bewilderment as she looked herself over. She clearly expected to still be severely injured.
"Uh…yeah." She stood up carefully. She opened and closed her hands, then looked behind as she swung her tail back and forth. "Great, actually! Even my magic's back! How did you do that?"
"I don't know!" said Melody. "I just asked for the trident to help you and…well, it did!"
Lara looked at the trident, and then around the ballroom. She knelt down and picked up her sword. "Again, where's Remora?"
Melody nodded to the hole Remora left. Lara's eyes widened when she saw it. "You mean…you did that?"
"Not on purpose!" blurted Melody, not sure why she was feeling defensive about it. Or was it apologetic? "She was going to kill you! But then the trident came and she got distracted so I grabbed it and then…wait."
"What?" asked Lara.
"If the trident's here, then…?" Melody's eyes widened. "What happened to my grandfather?"
"I don't know, Mel." Lara gave a sharp whistle and her sword flew to her, landing in her hand. "But whatever happened, we won't find out if we don't get out of here."
The metal steps of approaching clockmen reached Lara and Melody. The two ran over to the broken windows and looked out. More than two dozen clockmen were entering the garden, and there were another ten coming the opposite direction. One of them looked their way, causing the pair to duck down.
"They're coming!" said Melody.
"I noticed!" Lara put a hand on Melody's back, keeping her low as they ran back into the ballroom. "Come on! We gotta find another way!"
Remora groaned as she opened her eyes. Where was she? Last thing she remembered was Lara dangling like a hooked fish from her hand and tasting victory. And then…the trident! Melody!
She bolted upright, then hissed as pain wracked her body. She felt as though someone dropped a ship on her. Whatever Melody shot her with, it was nothing to sneer at. There was no resisting the power that water struck with. It might as well have been solid steel. She looked up and saw the hole in the wall where she was blasted through. And the hole in the wall beyond that. And the hole in the wall beyond that. And the hole in the wall beyond that. She looked around and realized she was back in the throne room! Melody blasted her halfway through the palace! One more wall and she would be outside the palace!
She saw her mask lying on the floor nearby. She reached out with one hand and it flew to her. She placed it back on her face and stood up, staggering as she clutched her stomach. How that weak little princess managed to damage her she could not fathom, but she did. No doubt helped by Lara softening her up first. She might have beaten the brat, but that did not mean she was not hurt from their fight. Lara was powerful in her own right. She really did have to go all out to crush her.
"Melody!? Lara!? Where are you!?"
Remora looked up. She heard running footsteps approaching. A moment later Ariel came sprinting into the throne room. "Melody!? Melo–!?
The shock, confusion, and fear that went across Ariel's face in that order were so delicious that Remora wished she had some way to preserve those expressions forever. Ariel stopped so hard that her feed slid out from under her. She screamed and fell backwards.
"How about that?" said Remora, turning to her. "The little mermaid herself!"
Ariel turned and scrambled to run, but Remora was faster. She drew a hand back as her shards became a length of chain. Then she flung it out and wrapped Ariel, binding her arms and legs. Ariel fell down, knocking the side of her head on the floor. Remora gave the chain a sharp yank, pulling Ariel across the floor till she stopped her with her boot. The queen was out cold.
"I would've preferred having that brat's head in a bag!" said Remora, the rest of the chain breaking into shards. They crawled up her skin like ants, interlocking over the golden patches in her skin. "Hers, and your daughter's after what she just did to me! But you'll make a decent consolation prize! The Master is going to be very happy to see you!"
"To see who, exactly?"
Remora spun around as the Master emerged from a black portal by the doors.
"Sir!" Remora dropped to one knee and bowed.
"You've been busy, Remora," said the Master as he approached, looking around the trashed throne room. His eyes stopped on Ariel. "Very busy. How many of Triton's descendants do you have?"
"All except the one named Arista and her kid," said Remora. "And the grandchildren. Or any children. For some reason, we aren't–."
"Able to find any children," said the Master. "I'm aware. There seems to be a noticeable lack of offspring throughout these human kingdoms."
Remora lifted her head. "Did they know we were coming?"
"No. It seems someone intended to spare the Alliance's next generation from us. It is of negligible concern. What of Princess Melody and Anclagon? Are they dealt with?"
Remora tightened her fists, causing a few electric arcs on her skin.
"Oh? This is a surprise," said the Master, looking Remora over. "She bested you?"
"No, sir," Remora said though gritted teeth. "I bested her! And I'd have the brat's corpse right now if it hadn't been for the trident flying in out of nowhere! That, and the princess shooting me with it!"
"The trident is here?" said the Master.
"Yeah!" Remora stood up, grateful her mask hid her pained expression. She was more damaged than she first thought. "Dropped right in front of this one's daughter! Used it to fire off some sort of water magic!"
The Master chuckled, folding his arms into his sleeves. "Interesting…but in the end, his effort amounts to nothing."
"Sir?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Where are the princess and Anclagon now?"
"Wherever they are, they won't get far," said Remora. She cricked her neck to the side, releasing several loud pops. "My clockmen are scouring every inch of this place. They'll flush them out!"
"That won't be necessary," said the Master. He waved his hand at Ariel and she floated into the air. The chains fell apart, the shards returning to Remora. "Have your clockmen assemble the princesses and the king at the pavilion. It's time to bring this invasion to a close."
A/N: The fight has ended, but the knight of Seahaven does not stand victorious. A dragon's strength and a human's courage prove no match for decades-old barbarism and savagery. Only a last-second intervention by fate robs Remora of triumph. But defeat is still a far more certain outcome for our heroes. For as sword and scythe crossed in the name of revenge, the kingdoms of the Alliance have fallen in the name of invasion. Two kings are dead. Two find their lives left vulnerable to Maelstrom's whims. And one has turned against his fellow allies. Only Seahaven remains standing now, gasping for desperate breaths as Maelstrom's iron grasp squeezes down on its throat. Can Lara and Melody manage a miraculous comeback? Or is this merely a momentary delay before the end?
I've been looking forward to writing this fight for so many years! Can't believe it finally came! Hope you all enjoyed reading it, and are as hungry for the next chapter as I am! And if any of you have suggestions for musical accompaniment, please do share! Till next time!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. I do not own the listed song(s). Everything else, however, is mine =)
