52. Fire-Forged
A/N: This chapter contains a plot development from the most recent season of RWBY released. Before reading, make sure you're caught up or you don't care about spoilers. Also, a bit more gore in this chapter than usual, so be on guard for that.
...
Yzma and Zevon walked into the lobby of the spa feeling completely rejuvenated. "I would say this day went resplendidly," Zevon said in a tranquil tone.
"You have very fine taste," Yzma complimented. "If there was any doubt left that you were my son, it is gone."
"Even if you weren't my mother," Zevon replied, "I would adopterate you into being her anyway."
The two deliverymen shuffled into the lobby, placing the mirror down in the center of the room and effectively bisecting it. "They didn't want it in the massage parlor," one groaned. "They didn't want it in the salon. Who ordered this mirror?"
"Now," Zevon muttered, "if only that guy I met were worth pursuiting."
"Guy you met?" Yzma repeated. "What guy you met?"
"An attractionive young man who also has very fine taste," Zevon explained. "Unfortunatively, when we really got into conversationals, he admitted that the biggest reason he would want an empire is to…HELP PEOPLE."
"Disgusting," Yzma hissed. "I wouldn't worry. You'll find the right man someday. One who doesn't care about the peasantry."
"He's probably long gone by now," Zevon said. "Not worth worrying about and definitely not worth building a shrine to."
"…Shrine?"
"Don't worry about it."
On the other side of the mirror, Cadance, Ren, and Xander exited the spa, sighing in delight. "I'll admit it," Ren said, "we really needed this."
"Doesn't that just feel so much better?" Cadance asked.
"Yeah," Xander replied. "Though I can't help but wonder about that guy from the sauna. You think he's still around?"
"It's not likely," Ren told Xander. "If you tried to find him, you'd probably just be wasting your time."
"You're right," Xander admitted.
From only a few feet away, Yzma and Zevon turned to see the mirror blocking their view of the three heroes. "Is it my imagination," Zevon asked, "or are we glowing?"
"We're definitely glowing," Yzma confirmed. "No imagination about it."
"So what shall we do with the rest of our day?" Zevon asked.
"Want to go back to base and use our potions to turn Snipe into silly animals?" Yzma suggested.
"That's a capitalized idea!" Zevon agreed, and mother and son skipped out of the spa in synchrony.
The deliverymen decided to give up on finding who had ordered the mirror, hustling it out the front door. Cadance, Xander, and Ren followed. "I wonder how everyone else is doing," Xander mused. "They're probably having all kinds of fun without us."
...
Riku, Kairi, and Luna sat on the ground outside the Terra Atmosian tower, racking their brains for how to solve their current situation.
"With the Aurora Stone in place, we've done a lot of good here," Riku pointed out. "Soon, we'll have done all we can, and everyone will want to go separate ways."
"It almost makes me wish we'd taken longer to find the stone," Kairi sighed. "But I know better than that."
"We must have faith," Luna reminded them. "You of all people know that friends will always find a way back to each other."
"We still can't just rely on fate to fix everything for us," Riku insisted. "We have to figure it out for ourselves."
Approaching footsteps alerted the trio to a newcomer. They looked to see Jaune walking tentatively toward them.
"Uh…hey," he greeted.
"Hi, Jaune," Riku replied.
"So, uh…" Jaune scratched the back of his head nervously. "After the big argument, when everyone was yelling at each other and we all went our separate ways, I thought I heard another voice. It said I was a coward who couldn't control my own fear." He looked Kairi directly in the eye. "And it sounded like you."
"Jaune," Kairi said desperately, "I would never, EVER – "
"I know," Jaune told her. "That's why I'm here. It got me thinking that maybe there is something to this whole idea that we're being sabotaged. Because I just…can't believe you saying things like that about me. So I'm here to help figure out what's going on."
"Someone or something knows we're more powerful together and less powerful divided," Riku said decisively. "That's why they're doing this."
"It just helps to know that the four of us, at least, don't buy it," Kairi added.
"Riku!" Sadira's voice echoed across the distance of the Terra. "Kairi! Luna! RIKU! KAIRI! LUNA!"
"Again?" Jaune sighed.
But this voice was accompanied by the real Sadira, barreling toward the quartet at top speed, a book clutched in hand. "You HAVE to see this!" she insisted, skidding to a halt before the group. She looked confusedly at Jaune; "Hey, are you on their side now, too?"
"Yeah," Jaune told her.
"Good," Sadira said, "because it's the right side." She cracked open the book to a spot she'd marked with a finger. "I think I figured out what's messing us up."
Riku, Kairi, and Luna immediately stood. They and Jaune crowded around Sadira to look over her shoulders at the book.
"This is the book of elemental magic Dilan was reading," Sadira explained. "This page is all about wind spells. And THIS spell lets you put words in the wind to make it sound like someone else said them, so long as it's a voice from your memory. The wind carries the words around for a while, then brings them back to the person you intended for them to hear it. I think it's supposed to be used for tricking enemies and sending long-distance messages, but it's being used against US to make it sound like we're all insulting each other in our own voices."
"That's exactly it!" Kairi realized.
"Now we just have to figure out who's casting this spell," Riku stated.
"Uh…isn't it obvious?" Sadira turned around to face the others. "Listen, I know right now, everyone's accusing everyone else of everything bad, and that's what's messing us up. But you can take this one from my mouth directly: I'm pretty sure it's Dilan who's casting this spell."
"No!" Kairi argued. "He wouldn't! He left all that behind him!"
"I found it in his book," Sadira said, "which he didn't want me to read. And he's a master of air magic. I don't know that anyone else here is even at the level where they could cast this spell."
"Dilan got insulted by the wind too," Jaune pointed out.
"To throw everybody off!" Sadira insisted. "Of COURSE it would look weird if there was ONE person who wasn't getting insulted! He set up the words to come back to him later! He just would have needed some time alone, and nobody's been able to watch him the whole time!"
"I hate to say it," Riku sighed, "but it sounds like Sadira's right. The evidence stacks up."
"But…he isn't like that anymore," Kairi said weakly. "He cares about us now."
"We haven't known him that long since he came back as Dilan," Riku reminded her. "I know you want to trust him, but he hasn't even had all that much time to prove he's worthy of our trust."
"We should let everyone else know," Jaune suggested.
"I agree," Luna said. "If we confront him together, he will be forced to admit what he has done."
"But what if he didn't do it?" Kairi asked softly.
"I hope he didn't," Jaune said. "For your sake. But I really think he did."
...
Dilan stood at the edge of the Terra, looking out over the wasteland, taking in every ridge of rock, every pool of magma that burned and steamed in the distance. His quiet reverie was broken by a host of footsteps. He did not turn around until they stopped; he knew, as he looked, what he would see. Riku, Kairi, Jaune, Luna, Aladdin, Sadira, Nick, Chip, Vida, Madison, Genie, Moana, and even Carpet had thronged together, giving him an accusatory stare.
"I noticed," he informed the group, "that my book was missing."
"You've been the one behind the insults, haven't you?" Riku snapped. "You're the one trying to tear us apart!"
"Dilan, please," Kairi said desperately. "Tell us we're wrong."
"No!" Riku said sharply. "Tell us why! Why you did it!"
For a moment, Dilan considered lying. But if he did so, suspicion would always cloud around him as the others tried to figure out what had come between them on the whispering winds. He would never be free of scrutiny. But even more than that, he wanted his audience to know the name of the one responsible.
"Riku," he addressed, giving the silver-haired boy a direct look. "Do you not miss it?"
"Miss what?" Riku asked, genuinely perplexed.
"The thrill," Dilan told him. "Manipulation. The ability to tear apart bonds, taken into your own hands. Sowing discord. I had thought that once I regained a heart, I would have no need for such pastimes anymore. But I was wrong. Once I gained the ability to feel, I realized I craved it all the more. I wanted to manipulate as I had done in the past, but this time, I wanted to feel what it was like." His lips curled into a smile. "It feels every bit as satisfying as I had ever hoped."
Kairi gasped, feeling as though she had just been shot in the heart.
"No!" Riku barked. "I don't miss hurting people! I regret it every day! I'm still trying to make up for what I did when I gave myself over to the Darkness because I care about my friends! And I care about the people I can help! How can you look at those same people and think that you want to hurt them instead?"
"It seems we are at an impasse," Dilan told Riku. "And here I thought you would be the one to understand me. After all you did to the girl beside you, just to strike at the heart of Sora."
"I'll never hurt her again," Riku growled. "I made mistakes." Then he shook his head. "No. Not mistakes. They weren't accidents. I did terrible things. Things I'm never going to do again! I understand why I did them. And I thought I understood why you did what you did as Xaldin. As part of Organization XIII. But your heart is free from Xehanort now! You had a second chance! What you're doing now is something I can't understand!"
"I can't believe you!" Aladdin spat. "You went to all this trouble to make us hate each other?"
"And it almost worked!" Vida added. "You almost split us up forever!"
"You made some of us listen to the things we're afraid of most about ourselves!" Moana added. "How COULD you?"
"I can't believe we all fell for it!" Nora chimed in. "You're just a big jerk!"
"We're never going to fall for it again!" Chip insisted. "Now we know exactly what to look out for! Well, listen for. You know what I mean!"
"Is that so?" Dilan raised a brow. "That is unfortunate. If I can no longer manipulate you…I must find other ways to relive the thrill."
The only warning anyone had was when his lance shimmered into his hand. He rushed the group, striking; Kairi and Riku crossed their blades in the air, intercepting the fall of the lance. Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal. "You're outnumbered!" Riku grunted. "You can't fight all of us!"
Nora decided she had had truly enough of Dilan. Watching him physically attack Riku and Kairi was the last straw. She slipped through the crowd, hefting up Magnhild. Hardly making a sound, she approached Dilan from the side, breaking into a run as she swung the hammer back to knock him away from his targets.
She registered in Dilan's peripheral vision. He leapt back, the lance floating on the wind. A rough current of air blew it, spinning it in midair and jamming it directly toward Nora.
Nora let out a gasp as the lance's blade found its mark.
"NO!" Jaune screamed. "NORAAAAAAAAA!"
Nora was halted, the lance having pierced directly through her, its blade staking into the ground behind her as its shaft protruded from her front side. She made strained, choking noises, unable to form words.
With a flick of the wrist, Dilan called a current that withdrew the lance, letting Nora fall to the ground in a small pool of red blood.
Immediately, a cage of heavy iron bars and a thick roof slammed into place around Dilan. Genie floated in front of the cage, arms folded. Though he barely had it in him to make a joke after the events that had just transpired, he had just enough sass in him to crack one "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time," though it came out stony-cold.
Dilan merely smiled at him. Genie hadn't bothered to create a floor for his cage. Dilan formed a Corridor beneath his feet, sinking down into the Darkness on the ground.
"NO!" Aladdin yelled. "HE'S GETTING AWAY!"
Riku ran toward the cage; by the time he reached it, Dilan was gone. Riku rattled the empty bars and gave a wordless yell.
Jaune and Kairi rushed to Nora, kneeling by her side. Jaune pulled Nora's head and shoulders up onto his thighs, frantically brushing the hair from her face. "No," he muttered. "No, no, no…we couldn't lose anyone else, damn it! WE COULDN'T LOSE ANYONE ELSE!"
Kairi stretched a hand out over Nora, casting a bright green Curaga. She knew even then, as the spell washed over Nora, that it wasn't going to be enough. "Is…she…"
"She's still breathing, right?" Chip panicked as he stood over the scene. "SHE'S STILL BREATHING, RIGHT?"
Sadira and Moana gasped, holding their own breath in.
"Yes," Jaune said shakily. "She's…breathing." For she was, but it was a labored breath, and though her eyes were wide, she didn't seem to be aware of her surroundings at all. "Nora…please…you have to be okay…you have to…"
The others abandoned the prospect of chasing Dilan and surrounded Nora in concern.
"Genie?" Sadira asked. "Can you…?"
"Not for a wound that bad," Genie responded. "That's too close to…well…rule number two."
"NO!" Sadira shrieked. "SHE'S NOT GOING TO DIE!"
"J…" Nora stammered. "Jaune…"
"Hold on, Nora." Jaune swept her hand up into his. "You're going to be okay. You HAVE to be okay."
"Jaune…I'm…"
Kairi took Nora's free hand in between her own, tears beginning to flow freely from her eyes. Blood was soaking Jaune's pants completely through.
Silence washed over the group as they faced the horrible prospect that they were about to lose one of their own.
A soft pink glow washed over Nora. It started out faded, then grew brighter, enveloping her completely. Nora gave a gasp, unimpeded. Her breathing began to stabilize.
"Ka…Kairi?" Jaune asked softly, his eyes traveling to the laceration where Dilan's lance had pierced through Nora. "What are you doing?"
"I'm not doing anything," Kairi said in surprise, sniffling away her sadness to be replaced by shock. "I think…you're doing it."
"Jaune?" Nora said weakly. The laceration was closing, the flesh mending itself.
"Nora," Jaune responded. "What's happening?"
"I don't know!" Nora said, flummoxed. "I was out of it, and I was pretty sure I was going to…you know…but now I feel pretty much fine! It still hurts, but I think I'm gonna be okay!" A broad smile broke out over her face. "I think you're HEALING me, Jaune!"
A collective sigh was released.
"I can't be healing you," Jaune stated.
"Sure you can!" Nora told him. "It's your Semblance!"
Jaune shook his head. "Our Aura heals us," he informed her. "I think…I'm using my Aura to amplify yours."
Nora flinched. "Aren't you afraid of running out?"
"Well," Jaune said with a grin of relief, "Pyrrha did say I had a lot of it. Just stay with me. You're gonna be fine."
"She's gonna be fine!" Chip cheered.
"YES!" Sadira and Moana yelled as one.
Genie mopped a wet-sweating brow with a large sponge he conjured from thin air, then wrung the sponge out over the ground, creating a wet patch of sweat on the dirt. "That's a relief!"
"Here." Kairi cast another Curaga over Nora. "That should help speed things up."
Riku cast one as well. "Can't be too careful."
"I can't believe you guys," Nora said with a smile. "Were you really all gonna be that depressed about me?"
"You're our friend," Aladdin told her. "You have a spark to you that we'd miss."
"You make people smile," Moana added.
"You guys!" Nora blushed. She squirmed slightly; "Jaune? I think I'm good."
Jaune and Kairi dropped Nora's hands, letting her stand. She hefted up Magnhild, collapsing it to wear at her side. "I can't believe that jerk got away," she grumbled.
"He could be anywhere," Riku realized. "On any world."
"Like we didn't have enough to worry about," Nick groaned.
"This won't be the last we see of him," Riku went on. "He'll come back for us. Now that we know what he wants…he'll want to feel what it's like to finally overcome us. He thinks it'll make him happy."
"Well, next time, I'm gonna break his face," Nora insisted, patting Magnhild at her side.
Jaune and Kairi stood. "We should finish up business here," Kairi stated.
"I agree," Luna said. "There is not much left for us to do before we can return to Radiant Garden and plan our next move."
"And this time," Vida insisted, "if we hear any voices saying mean things, we'll know not to buy it."
"Unless it's mean things about Dilan," Sadira rebutted. "In that case, it's probably actually me talking. Because I have a LOT to say about that guy."
Everyone else had to agree.
...
Inside the ice cream truck, Joker and Harley made comments on every single move made by the infiltrators of Blackmoor Manor, quite glad they had not had to run the gauntlet of puzzles themselves. Scar watched bitterly from over their shoulders, not saying a word.
Then the entire group filed into the passageway leading underground, and as Joker, Harley, and Scar waited, the silence punctuated only by the yips of the hyenas, Snatcher's company did not come back up.
"They ain't on any camera," Harley observed.
"They've found something," Joker snarled. Then, in a much more singsong tone: "I do believe opportunity has just knocked!"
Scar fitted a set of metal claws over his knuckle. "Let us all hope your strategy has paid off."
They donned a triad of head lamps and made way.
...
"Okay," Roman sighed as Snatcher and Scarlet guided him, Neo, Rémington, Grany, and Herb through the labyrinth of moving rooms, all making sure the entire group had entered one chamber and closed the door behind before opening the next. "We opened up all the pillars with those keys we found and fixed the pipes so they run to this forge you supposedly found. We touched the gargoyles with the wand and lit up the hole in the floor. And we figured out that stupid FUCKING connection with the coats of arms and how they lined up with that one incidental picture in that one book that we would NEVER have found if Sour Apples didn't turn to it by ACCIDENT in order to put those plus signs in place for that key. We are currently moving through a maze of rooms that change position every time we close a door, and DOES ANYONE WANT TO DISPUTE THE FACT THAT WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS PLACE IS A SADISTIC FUCK?"
"No one is arguing, Torchwick," Snatcher assured him.
The final doorway was opened to the forge. "Cozy," Roman remarked as the seven spilled into the chamber.
"It wasn't this warm when we left it," Scarlet observed.
"A simple explanation, my dear," Snatcher told her. "Our work upstairs was to light the forge. It is now lit."
Rémington and Grany were the first to peer over the forge's lip and note the suspended cauldron full of bubbling molten metal. "Don't touch it," Grany warned.
"I wasn't going to touch it," Rémington huffed. "I'm not stupid."
"I can never tell what I need to warn you not to do these days!" Grany huffed.
Snatcher shoved them both aside, setting down the mold. "Now, let us see if our efforts paid off."
He settled the mold in place, pouring the metal into it. It took some time to cool, but it eventually hardened into a piece that was exactly the right size and shape to fit in the wall's keyhole.
"Open it," Scarlet said excitedly. "Open it, open it, open it!"
"In a moment, my dear!" Snatcher practically laughed.
"If there's another puzzle behind that lock," Roman groaned, "I'm going to shoot someone in the face."
Rémington pointed at Herb. "It should be him."
"Hey!" Herb snapped. "Rude!"
In fact, all had brought their weapons this time, having learned their lesson from Wickford Castle. No one expected a fight, but it was best to be prepared anyway. Roman's Cudgel, Neo's parasol, and the lava gun lay up against the wall, ready if need arose.
Snatcher led his six onlookers to the hole in the wall, inserting the key and twisting it. There was a groaning screech and a resounding click. The metal in the wall parted, revealing a small alcove beyond, upon which rested –
"A ROCK?" Roman, Rémington, and Grany yelled as one.
It was indeed a chunk of stone: pitch black and lumpy.
"After all we went through," Snatcher muttered, "there must be something about it. Something out of the ordinary."
"That looks like a space rock to me," Herb observed.
"It was rumored to be magic," Scarlet added. "Maybe it is."
"Or maybe the Penvellyns saw it fall out of the sky and assumed it was actually magic," Herb suggested.
"Well, we've come all this way," Snatcher reminded them. "We're taking it, even if it turns out to be worthless."
He reached for the meteorite, taking it into one hand. There was a sound of metallic rumbling from above.
Roman gave a start, but Scarlet and Herb beat him to the punch, acting as one unit to shove Snatcher out of the way of whatever trap had been activated, placing themselves where he had stood. A metal box of considerable size dropped from the ceiling, directly before the meteorite alcove, trapping Scarlet and Herb inside.
Immediately, both Overkills started banging on the interior of the box. "Let us out!" Scarlet cried in a panic.
"This thing's airtight!" Herb added. "Not much to breathe!"
Rémington and Grany gave each other a knowing look and a nod. As one, they said "Let's go" and turned to stalk out of the forge.
"Where are YOU going?" Roman yelled; Neo's jaw dropped.
"We got what we came for, didn't we?" Rémington reminded them. "Snatcher has the space rock. Now we can ditch the dead weight and get back to the WHAM ARMY with all our prizes."
"Dead WEIGHT?" Roman repeated; Neo's jaw fell a little further. Snatcher simply stared at the Smisses as though caught in a spotlight he didn't expect.
"Well, we liked them at first," Grany stated, "but there's obviously something about them Snatcher doesn't like."
"We still like them well enough, actually," Rémington admitted, "but saving them would be a chore. Why waste the time when we can leave them behind and take our loot? You don't really seem to want them around anyway."
This last statement was directed at Snatcher, whose gaze drifted from the Smisses to the fallen metal box, from which the pounding of fists still sounded.
"Well?" Rémington asked. "Are you coming or not?"
Snatcher clicked his tongue. "Monsieur Smisse," he scolded "Is that any way to treat our sister?"
He turned to the box; there was a metal railing running around the center. "Should we contribute the strength of every last one of us," he announced, "we should be able to lift it!" He dropped the meteorite to the floor and seized the railing, heaving upward. With Snatcher's strength alone, the task was fruitless; the box refused to budge. Roman and Neo immediately seized the railing on the other side, doing the same. They were able to lift the box an inch or two before it crashed down.
"Get over here," Roman strained through gritted teeth, "or Neo will kill you both in her sleep when we get back to base."
Neo nodded to affirm that she would definitely do it.
Rémington and Grany approached the box, seizing the front-side railing and adding their strength to the lift. Grany in particular was able to contribute a veritable amount. The box lifted just high enough that both Overkills could drop to the ground and crawl out from under it, which they proceeded to do. Once they were both free, Snatcher, Rémington, Grany, Neo, and Roman let the box drop, shaking their now aching hands.
"You totally saved us!" Herb cried.
Scarlet strode toward Rémington and Grany, fixing them with a murderous stare. "Did I hear you two say you were going to DITCH US?"
"No!" Rémington waved his hands in front of him, palms outward. "No, no, no! The walls of that box are very thick and you were hearing things."
"We organized everyone to save you!" Grany added.
"Really?" Scarlet said skeptically. "Because I'm pretty sure I heard who called for that, and it was…" She gave Snatcher a knowing, thankful look.
"Don't look at me," Snatcher said with a shrug. "It was all thanks to the brothers Smisse."
"Right," Scarlet huffed.
Snatcher picked up the meteorite, dusting it off. "Well, we have acquired what we came for," he announced. "I declare this mission a success. Shall we return to base and show the Overkills their new home?"
"Sounds good to me!" Roman said with a nod.
"This is it, Herb," Scarlet gushed. "We're finally going to belong!"
"And no more Minions," Herb agreed.
Weapons were gathered. Neo was the first to the door leading back to the labyrinth; she pried it open, stepping into the chamber beyond and illuminating it with Herb's flashlight. She turned to beckon the others to follow. Herb stepped in after her, followed by Grany, who had barged ahead of Scarlet.
Before anyone else could enter, the door slammed shut.
"Wait, what?" Roman said in surprise.
Scarlet opened the door to find the room empty. "They're gone," she noticed.
"But how is that possible?" Snatcher asked.
"There's only one way," Rémington realized. "Someone got into the rooms from the other side and is going through them the way we did."
The door slammed shut again. Scarlet shoved it back open to reveal a new empty chamber.
Roman's grip tightened on the Cudgel. "Well, whoever it is is in for a nasty little surprise," he muttered.
"Let's go," Scarlet said decisively, holding up the glowing green rock.
She stepped into the room, followed by Snatcher. The doors closed roughly behind them, the room they had entered rotating.
"We must press onward!" Snatcher insisted. "Torchwick and Monsieur Smisse shall be all right. We must discover our foe and stop them in their tracks." He disengaged his chain weapon from around his waist.
Snatcher and Scarlet barged through the door ahead.
One chamber behind, Roman saluted as he walked into the room. "I'm not giving you another chance to fuck me up," he said as he waited for the door to shut.
That left Rémington to enter the blindingly dark labyrinth on his own as soon as Roman had moved on.
The door across from Rémington opened, and Scar strode into the chamber, his headlamp providing enough light to see by. Scar feigned surprise upon meeting Rémington; "What a surprise. I was not aware of anyone still present within the manor."
"Is that so?" Rémington countered. This man already struck him as suspicious. "And you are…?"
"An officer of the law," Scar said. "I was made aware of a disturbance and wished to ensure that the residents of this manor were unharmed."
"So you found your way past all the puzzle locks," Rémington said skeptically.
"The doors were wide open," Scar told him.
That was true, Rémington figured. Still, something didn't quite ring.
"I take it you are a resident?" Scar asked.
"I am," Rémington answered. It wouldn't do too well to blow his own cover just yet.
"And you are unharmed?"
"I am."
"I see," Scar mused. "Then I suppose I have no business here. Move aside, and I shall continue my work."
Rémington nodded, on his guard. The two men crossed the small room, passing each other.
And as they drew close, Scar slashed out with one claw-adorned fist.
Rémington was ready, leaping to the side wall; the claw ripped his clothing, but did no further damage. Rémington drew both pistols on Scar; "I think we both know we're not who we said we were."
"I had really thought that would work," Scar scoffed. "No matter." He held up his fists, both fitted with metal claws.
Rémington opened fire, and Scar ducked with only a moment to spare. He then realized exactly how unprepared he was for this battle. He'd put all his stock in being able to catch Rémington off guard. He crawled forth, slashing at Rémington desperately.
The door opened again. Grany barged in, crying, "Rémy! What's happening!"
Rémington looked casually to his brother. "This man is trying to kill me and steal our treasure," he stated.
Grany removed the sword from his back. "I'd like to see him try and kill ME."
Scar knew he was playing with forces far above his level. "This…was a misunderstanding!" he said as he backed toward the next door, the room still rotating. "You can keep your spoils!" He shoved open the door behind him, tumbling into the chamber beyond.
Elsewhere in the rotating labyrinth, Roman, holding up his flaming cigarette lighter, entered a room from one door at the same time that Harley, flanked by her hyenas, entered from another. "Well, well!" she remarked. "If it ain't the guy that killed Mr. J!"
"If it isn't the woman who dislocated my shoulder." Roman pocketed the lighter, letting Harley's headlamp do the work for him. He raised the Cudgel at Harley. "Oh, I have been waiting for this."
His finger tightened on the trigger, then hesitated. He realized he couldn't fire upon Harley Quinn for two very good reasons, both of whom would never let him hear the end of it. Realizing he had to switch tactics, he lowered the Cudgel to use as a blunt weapon.
His hesitation was enough time for Harley to give a sharp whistle. The hyenas lunged. As their paws connected with Roman's chest, the Cudgel blasted off, leaving a dent in the ceiling but otherwise doing no harm. One of the hyenas locked jaws around the Cudgel, wrenching it away from its owner.
Roman squirmed frantically beneath the hyenas, but both had him pinned. "I'd like ya to meet Bud an' Lou!" Harley laughed. "I promised them a new chew toy!"
"Get…off!" Roman growled as hyena saliva dripped in his face. He had a feeling he was in for an incredibly bad time.
That was when the doors opened and Neo came handspringing into the room, landing deftly on her feet before planting her parasol on the ground and using it as a fulcrum to lift off the ground and plant both legs into Harley's side. Harley attempted to throw a punch, but Neo's foot deflected her fist out of the way. As Harley stumbled, Neo planted both feet back on the ground, drawing her blade and rushing Bud and Lou.
"NO!" Harley cried. "MY BABIES!"
There was a sharp cry; the wounded Bud rushed back to Harley to cower alongside her. Lou needed only to see the flash of Neo's blade to know to make a retreat.
Neo offered Roman a hand, pulling him to his feet. She then rounded on Harley, Bud, and Lou, blade at the ready.
"Go easy on her, Neo," Roman warned. "I don't want her dead."
Neo turned back to look at Roman quizzically.
"If this gets back to Gar and Mister Twister," Roman told her, "and it will, we'll be on their shit list for LIFE."
Neo nodded decisively, sheathing the sword.
"We can't kill her," Roman reiterated, picking up his fallen Cudgel. "But we CAN beat her."
As Roman and Neo both rushed Harley, the latter, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by Neo at least, turned and bolted through the door, bringing Bud and Lou with her.
Scarlet held her glowing stone high as she and Snatcher found their way into the middle of the labyrinth, where the small stone cauldron marked the center. Joker was waiting for them there, headlamp shining brightly.
"Did you find any pretty new toys to play with?" he taunted.
"Who are YOU?" Scarlet asked angrily.
"I've never seen him before in my life!" Snatcher attempted.
"Oh, drop the act, Frou Frou," Joker sighed. "Or should I say…Archibald Snatcher?"
"How did you know that?" Snatcher barked in his natural timbre.
"I have my ways," Joker said enigmatically. "The one I'm not familiar with is your girlfriend."
"Whoa," Scarlet replied. "Don't get the wrong idea. There is nothing like THAT going on between us."
"Hm…I don't really care," Joker scoffed. "The only thing that interests me is whatever you found down here."
"We've found nothing," Snatcher lied. "Absolutely nothing." He discreetly passed the meteorite to Scarlet behind her back; she now held the meteorite in one hand and her glowing stone in another.
"Oh, well, that's too bad," Joker sighed. "Looks like I'll have to kill you for nothing, then."
"Then why kill us at all?" Scarlet asked.
"Oh, it won't be completely for nothing," Joker told her. "It'll be fun! And it'll get the two of you off my back for good." He reached into his jacket.
Scarlet and Snatcher slid to either side of the room as a pack of razor-sharp metal playing cards zipped through the air.
"Good reflexes!" Joker taunted.
"Better than you THINK!" Scarlet grunted as she threw a punch, hand full of meteorite.
Joker ducked the punch, grabbing Scarlet's hand and slamming it back into her own face; "Stop hitting yourself!"
Snatcher's chain wrapped around Joker's neck; Joker let go of Scarlet's wrist as she stumbled away. Joker rammed an elbow into Snatcher's stomach, then hit slightly lower; Snatcher was stunned into loosening the chain just enough that Joker could slip free. "I'm all choked up!" he laughed, reaching into his jacket for another toy.
When he withdrew a simple glass marble, Snatcher and Scarlet were momentarily thrown off their guard. Joker flicked the marble toward Snatcher, who backhanded it away into the wall.
The explosion the marble made upon contact with the wall threw Snatcher forward.
Scarlet spun at Joker from behind, readying a kick. He caught her by the leg, spinning her into Snatcher and throwing them both against the wall. Another marble was withdrawn. Scarlet and Snatcher scrambled to crawl away; the marble impacted where they had both fallen, each only narrowly escaping the explosion.
"I see it's time to test out my birthday present!" Joker now produced the pogo stick Harley had bought off Terminus, mounting it and hopping.
"Oh, you're kidding me," Scarlet groaned.
In midair, Joker took both feet off the stick, deploying a blade from its shaft. He spun the stick, blade outward. Scarlet was only just fast enough to evade; a thin line of blood trickled from where it opened her arm slightly.
Upon the next hop, Joker converted the stick to a cannon in midair, shooting at Snatcher. Snatcher aimed his own gun, incinerating the bullet in a rush of lightning. He then lobbed the mallet at Joker, who descended from ceiling height, letting the mallet pass over his head completely.
As he connected with the ground, Scarlet slammed both fists and the stones they held into the back of his head. Joker was sent tumbling head over feet off the pogo stick, somersaulting into the wall. As soon as he got back to his feet, he slid to the side to avoid a punch from Scarlet, letting her fist hit the wall. He threw his own fist at her waist only for her to slide out of range. Her knee drove upward into his chin, and he nearly bit off his own tongue as he reached out to wrap both hands around her throat.
Scarlet and Joker went tumbling across the floor, sometimes one rising on top, sometimes the other. Finally, Joker got the upper hand, pinning Scarlet down as he squeezed her throat, earning the choking noises of her losing air.
He had forgotten about Snatcher, whose high-heeled foot kicked right into the side of his head. While Joker was dazed, Snatcher seized him from above, ripping him off Scarlet and throwing him at the wall.
One of the doors opened, and Scar came stumbling in, followed by the Smisses. "This doesn't have to end in violence!" Scar insisted.
"But I like violence," Rémington told him.
Not a moment later, the opposite door opened, and Harley, Bud, and Lou barreled into the room with Roman and Neo in tow.
"Puddin'!" Harley shrieked.
"Not NOW, Harley!" Joker groaned. "Don't bring MORE of them to me!"
As soon as the door shut and the rooms rotated, it opened yet again; Herb, finding his way by the glow of the lava gun he carried, skidded into the room. "Did I miss the party?" he asked.
Snatcher, Scarlet, Roman, Neo, Rémington, Grany, and Herb stood on one side of the room. Joker, Harley, and Scar lined up at the other.
"How convenient!" Joker remarked. "All my enemies lined up to kill in a row!"
"Spare the girl," Roman commanded, "but fuck the other two UP."
Scar flinched as he narrowly ducked Grany's sword, which impacted over his head. Scarlet roundhouse-kicked Harley directly into Neo's waiting feet, which sent her tumbling and dizzied. Roman knocked Joker into disorientation with three strokes of the Cudgel; Snatcher's mallet nearly missed bashing Joker's skull in. As Joker's feet pushed Roman back, Roman turned his attention to Bud and Lou, smacking Bud away while Snatcher kicked Lou aside.
Joker dared to reach into his jacket pocket one more time.
However, an opening was left, and Herb and Rémington fired on him at the same time.
First, Rémington's bullet struck him in the thigh, bringing him down lopsidedly. But as a stream of lava from Herb's gun crossed Joker's chest, he gave a loud, pained scream.
"PUDDIN'!" Harley screeched. She twisted her way out from between Scarlet and Neo, seizing Joker by a shoulder. "We gotta get you outta here!"
"Not now, Harley!" Joker argued. He attempted to stand on the leg Rémington had shot. "We have them right where we want – "
With a cry, he fell down over the injured leg.
"SCAR!" Harley screamed. "Help me get him OUTTA HERE!"
Scar didn't need to be told to retreat twice. He and Harley each seized one of Joker's arms, lifting him to carry him away.
Joker managed to get inside his jacket once more, tearing open an inner pocket. "I may have lost the fight," he grunted, "but you're the ones who are going to LOSE THEIR MARBLES!"
He was borne out of the room by Harley and Scar, with Bud and Lou yipping all the way after them. The doors shut, and the myriad of explosive marbles Joker had let loose from his coat rolled toward Snatcher, Scarlet, Roman, Herb, Neo, Rémington, and Grany.
"THOSE THINGS EXPLODE!" Scarlet cried. "NOT ENOUGH SPACE!"
Out of pure instinct, everyone grabbed onto each other, crowding around Scarlet and cowering.
There was a brilliant flash from Scarlet's hand, and it took the others a moment too long to realize it was from the hand not holding the glow stone.
Then, just before the marbles could detonate, the seven were out on the front lawn of the manor in the depths of the night.
"What…the…fuck?" Roman whispered.
"The space rock!" Herb realized. "It was actually magic!"
The seven backed off from each other. "If it truly did fall from space," Snatcher realized, "it could indeed have otherworldly powers."
"Whooooo!" Roman sighed. "Looks like picking up that thing was worth it after all!"
The brief moment of elation the seven felt was interrupted by the sound of a voice calling out over a bullhorn: "WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
The seven turned to see the manor completely surrounded by police cars, officers thronging. "YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THE PENVELLYN FAMILY AND BREAKING AND ENTERING ON THEIR GROUNDS!" the voice continued.
"Well, at least they're British cops," Scarlet said with a shrug. "No guns."
Roman raised the Cudgel. "Cops without guns? This should be FUN."
"Hang on." Herb reached into his own jacket pocket, producing a rubbery green mass. "I've got this."
"PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN!" the voice repeated.
"Mr. Overkill!" Snatcher hissed as Herb fluffed out the green object into a spherical shape. "What are you doing?"
"Wait for it…" Herb placed the sphere on his head and tapped it, activating a swirl of colors. "Behold! HYPNO-HAT! …Actually, don't behold. Look away from it. Seriously."
"You are SHITTING me," Roman groaned.
Neo forcibly turned Roman's face away from the lights of the Hypno-Hat.
The eyes of the officers were all drawn to the flashing colors. "You're all dancing fools!" Herb called out across the lawn. "And you want to bust a move to THIS!" He broke out singing the song that he, Roman, and Neo had purchased so many plays of in the diner, doing a silly little dance to accompany it.
Mesmerized by the lights of the Hypno-Hat, every single officer began to sing along to the song, copying Herb's dance.
"All right!" Herb hissed to his companions. "Let's get outta here!"
"The space rock being magic and saving our asses, I buy," Roman groaned as the seven bolted across the lawn, "but this is too much."
"Don't overthink it," Rémington suggested. "It saved us."
"It won't last forever," Herb assured his companions. "It'll probably wear off by the time our 'friends' find their way out of the manor. That'll be fun."
"I hope we're all in agreement that this was our LAST adventure on this world!" Snatcher huffed as he jogged along. "It is most certainly time to return home!"
"No arguments!" Roman agreed.
"Home," Scarlet repeated. "We're actually going to our new HOME!"
...
Mozenrath and the Huntsman led Aghoul, Demyx, Vexen, Mim, Xayide, Wuya, Ravess, and Ragdoll up the great mountain that held the caverns of the last dragons. As they trod the path, the Huntsman remarked, "This place is well-hidden among the landscape. I am still awed you knew of it."
"I make it my business to blend in with the shadows," Vexen stated. "When you are all but invisible, you learn what is otherwise meant to be secret. For instance, the village at the base of this mountain may look deserted, but it is quite occupied. Be on your guard for intruders."
"That's what you'll be for," Mozenrath explained. "The Huntsman and I – "
The Huntsman cleared his throat. "Perhaps…since everyone present already knows my name, you could have the privilege of using it."
Mozenrath flushed, knowing he had just been given an honor. He tried to play it cool; "George and I will manage the dragons on our own. The rest of you are in charge of making sure we aren't interrupted by any outside forces while doing so."
"Do we HAVE to?" Demyx groaned.
"They're going to fight dragons while we await a threat that may never come," Ragdoll pointed out. "We have the much easier job."
"Caaaaan I take a nap?" Demyx asked.
"No," everyone but Ragdoll grunted.
"You wouldn't be comfortable on the ground here anyway," Ragdoll stated.
The path reached a cleft between two halves of the mountain. "Wait here," the Huntsman directed. "Mozenrath and I shall press onward."
"Good luck," Wuya bade them.
"We won't need luck," Mozenrath told her.
As the others hung back, turning their gazes downhill, Mozenrath and the Huntsman continued on through the fissure, entering a round arena. Above them, the mountain split completely in two with a wide gap; stairs led up to a bridge that linked one side to the other. A cavern was visible on either side of the bridge.
"Unmistakably the lairs of the dragons," the Huntsman observed. "Follow my lead."
"As you wish."
The pair ascended the stairway. The Huntsman turned to face one cavern while Mozenrath looked to the other. The Huntsman braced his staff while Mozenrath's gauntlet became ablaze with blue.
A low snarl echoed across the rock faces. In each cavern, a pair of green lights – reptilian eyes – shone brilliantly.
They erupted from the caverns: the long, serpentine firebending masters known as Ran and Shaw, brilliant red and deep blue. Their flexible bodies bent and swirled around the bridge as they observed their visitors, who had come without the eternal flame and with evil in their hearts.
"Now?" Mozenrath asked.
"Wait," the Huntsman bade him.
Ran and Shaw came to rest with their heads pointed upward at the Huntsman and Mozenrath, jaws opening wide. They had looked into the hearts of the pair and judged them to be murderers. For that, they had readied punishment.
"SHIELD!" the Huntsman commanded.
He conjured a spherical green deflection shield around himself and Mozenrath with the huntstaff's energy; Mozenrath added a blue sphere around this. Ran and Shaw's fire engulfed the shields, but could not break through them. The fire kept pouring as the dragons hoped to eliminate their attackers.
"You did this every DAY before we met?" Mozenrath laughed.
"They shall have to breathe," the Huntsman informed Mozenrath. "When they do, take the blue one and keep it out of my way. I shall handle the red."
"I think I can manage that," Mozenrath stated.
Ran and Shaw ran out of exhalation at the same time, stopping to draw air in. The deflection shields went down. The Huntsman leapt atop Ran's head while Mozenrath boarded Shaw's. Mozenrath twirled his right hand through the air, conjuring a massive collar and chain of blue energy to encircle Shaw's neck, its leash connecting up to his hand. The use of such power stung his skin in a way that was almost comforting and familiar. Shaw began to buck and struggle, but Mozenrath jerked the leash, forcing her mobility to be limited.
The Huntsman drove the point of his staff into the side of Ran's neck. Ran's tail reached around to flick the Huntsman away; the Huntsman deftly caught ahold of the tail, riding it away. He flipped himself onboard Ran's back, running up the side of it and dragging the staff the whole way, point driven in between Ran's thick scales. Ran tore away into the air, making a quick ascent in hopes of causing the Huntsman to fall away. The Huntsman was prepared for this, driving the staff further into the dragon's back and clutching tightly, letting himself be taken for the ride.
As Shaw looped round and round to try and shake Mozenrath away, Mozenrath was struck with an idea. Shaw was close to the bridge that spanned the gap between the two caverns. Mozenrath let the leash he held down, flicking his wrist to create another loop of chain that bound Ran to the bridge by the middle of her long body. Shaw thrashed; Mozenrath wobbled, but kept his balance long enough to create another chain that held Shaw's tail tight to the bridge. With one more flick, her head was also held fast.
Mozenrath vanished in a pop of sparks, reappearing next to the Huntsman, seizing the huntstaff with one hand to keep up with his flight. "Having fun?" he asked.
"The job, once done, will be its own reward," the Huntsman stated. "Though there is a certain thrill that cannot be denied."
"I take it you have things under control up here?"
"It will take but a moment to have this dragon subdued."
"Well, I thought you might want to know I gift-wrapped the other one for you," Mozenrath said slyly.
The Huntsman looked down to see Shaw, unable to break free of Mozenrath's restraints, turn belly-up. "So it would seem," he remarked. "Take us to the creature."
As Ran pulled into an inversion, Mozenrath transported himself and the Huntsman to the belly of Shaw. The Huntsman spun his staff in midair, spearing it down into Shaw's stomach.
Shaw gave a great cry, causing Ran to turn and rush to her rescue. Ran spewed forth a fountain of fire, jaws open wide as he closed in on the Huntsman.
"SHIELD YOURSELF!" the Huntsman yelled. Mozenrath did so, covering himself with a blue sphere. The Huntsman withdrew his staff from Shaw, surrounding his own body in green. When Ran got close enough, the Huntsman launched at him, the deflection shield holding firm against the dragon fire; the Huntsman landed exactly in Ran's throat.
Ran closed his jaws, thrashing his tongue to force the Huntsman into his digestive system. It was exactly as the Huntsman had wanted. He had made his fair share of kills exactly this way. The huntstaff glowed green.
Shaw watched helplessly and Mozenrath with delight as Ran's head separated from his body from the inside, the red dragon's entire body dropping to the ground. Mozenrath let his shield fall away, satisfied he was safe.
Anger and hatred filled Shaw: hatred warped from love for Ran. Power surged through her body, and this time, as she struggled, the chains Mozenrath had conjured cracked. Mozenrath realized what was happening a moment too late, and when he did, his concentration was broken.
The Huntsman exited Ran's slit throat at the bottom of the arena, ready to barge up the stairs and finish Shaw off. He watched in shock as Mozenrath's chains split apart and crumbled away. Shaw flicked her tail at Mozenrath, batting him into the air. She swatted him with a claw, and he tumbled from the bridge, speeding right for the ground.
Mozenrath prevented the fall from being deadly by cutting out a fair amount of distance with a quick teleportation spell, but that did not remove the momentum with which he hit the ground. He cried out as he stumbled. The Huntsman immediately rushed to his side.
"ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" the Huntsman yelled worriedly…but angrily. Shaw was now rising into the air, getting away, removing his chance for his shot –
"I'm…fine…" Mozenrath attempted, trying to stand. He immediately fell back down and screamed. He gasped two breaths to find his voice: "Or my leg could be broken. That's a possibility."
Shaw had learned from Ran's mistake, not daring to get too close to the ground to allow the Huntsman the opportunity to enter her jaws. Instead, she let it rain fire from above. The Huntsman quickly shielded himself and Mozenrath in green.
The Huntsman knew he had a choice to make. He could pursue Shaw, leaving Mozenrath to defend himself with magic but no mobility. It could work, he mused, but already, Mozenrath had proven that he couldn't stand up to Shaw's unpredictability once. Or the Huntsman could remove Mozenrath from the battlefield, leaving Shaw to survive. He wouldn't have to make this choice, he lamented, had Mozenrath not been so careless!
When Shaw broke to inhale, he took his chance. He scooped Mozenrath up into his arms, rushing out of the arena. Why, oh, why did every mission they undertook end in the Huntsman having to escort Mozenrath this way? It frustrated them both.
As the battle had raged between the peaks, those left to guard the mountain cleft were presented with a very good reason for Demyx not to have taken a nap. Having decided to follow up on their investigation, Sora, Ruby, Papyrus, Stork, Jasmine, Zuko, Aang, and Katara were rushing up the hill and bringing an entire troop of Sun Warriors with them.
"Aw, maaaan!" Demyx groaned. "Not THAT guy! Nobody told me THAT guy was back!"
"His name is Sora," Vexen reminded Demyx, "and he is not to be taken lightly."
"You think I don't KNOW that?" Demyx sighed as he conjured his sitar into hand and plucked the strings, sending forth a host of watery forms.
"I like your style," Wuya told him, "but let's give it a little extra punch." She drew her hands upward from the ground; a battalion of rock creatures rose up and charged down the mountain alongside the water forms.
"Whoa," Demyx squeaked. "Cool…"
"Okay," Stork cried once he saw the elemental army coming at him and his company at top speed, "what are THOSE?"
"We fought those rock things before, remember?" Ruby recalled. "Mozenrath's friends make them!"
"But what about the OTHER things?" Stork asked.
"No," Sora gasped as he recognized the water forms.
"You know what those are, don't you?" Zuko asked.
"It better not mean what I think it does!" Sora growled.
"We can hold these creatures off!" the Sun Warrior chief promised, his hands aglow with fire. "Push through and stop the intruders!"
Sora, Ruby, Stork, Papyrus, Jasmine, Katara, Zuko, and Aang darted through the ranks of elemental warriors, leaving them behind to deal with the Sun Warriors as the eight neared the guardians on the slope.
"It IS him!" Sora growled as Demyx came within his sights. "I've fought this guy before! He really ticks me off!"
"Heh heh…" Demyx said nervously, clutching the sitar tightly. "Nice to see you?"
"NOT nice to see YOU!" Sora yelled, leaping at Demyx.
A wall of water collided with Sora, forcing him back. Demyx braced his hands over the sitar. "Double dare you to do that again," he snarled.
"Water," Katara realized. "He's using water." She rushed out in front of Sora, hands outstretched at her sides.
"Oh yeah?" Demyx taunted. "Eat THIS!" He struck another chord, causing fountains to spring up under Katara and launch her into the air.
She plunged her hands into the columns of water, manipulating their shape. They brought her back to the ground while turning to surge directly at Demyx, who gave a slight "Uh-oh" before he was slammed with his own attack.
Vexen created a wall of spikes between his faction and the incoming warriors, the points aimed at his enemies. However, Zuko melted through it with a simple swipe of his hands, covering it in a band of fire. He rushed Vexen with fire in hand, striking against Vexen's shield. Vexen found himself thankful that his heart was still hidden away on the cyclonian warship, else he would have been undergoing a great amount of fear whilst thinking about the last time he had perished.
With the wall down, Ruby held Crescent Rose high, charging into the fray. It was caught from the opposite direction by Aghoul's scythe. The two scythes spun and twirled through the air, biting at each other's curve.
Mim took on the form of the badgermole once more, gouging up a great clod of dirt and stone and lobbing it at Papyrus. Papyrus held it off with a shield of bone, letting it drop to the ground before fencing Mim into a pen made of bone. She sliced her way out as Papyrus pelted her from all angles.
Aang stomped on the ground, forcing another wall to rise, this one made of earth and encircling Xayide. Xayide blew through it with a small explosion; Aang retaliated by rolling a sphere of compressed air at her that threatened to knock her off her feet. She dispelled it with a single touch.
Sora swung his blade repeatedly at Wuya only for her to duck and dodge every single swipe. She was left no opening with which to retaliate, though, between the quickness of his blows. He cast a Fire spell, and she backflipped, head over heels, letting it pass under her in midair before she landed on her hands and delicately rose to her feet. She raised her leg to kick at Sora's face and found her ankle blocked by the shaft of the Keyblade.
Ravess raised her bow, letting loose an arrow at Jasmine. Jasmine had no time to react, but the tip of the arrow stopped just an inch before her face. Stork grasped it, looking quite surprised with himself that he'd caught it in midair. He threw it right back at Ravess, where it thunked against her face and fell harmlessly to the ground. Ravess lowered her bow, leaping to kick into Stork's face from above; he sidestepped, moving behind her and striking her back with his elbow.
Jasmine then rushed Ragdoll, swinging the blunt end of her spear at him; he twisted his upper body out of the way while his feet remained in place. He then grasped the shaft of the weapon, pulling Jasmine off balance with it. She was forced to relinquish the spear, which was tossed aside as Ragdoll spun toward her; he put Jasmine in a brief headlock before she reached up and punched him hard in the face.
The WHAM ARMY was holding their own against Sora and his friends, Wuya realized. They weren't winning by a landslide, but things seemed more even than usual. Perhaps, she thought as her wrist was blocked once again by Sora's blade, a few more moments would grant them the victory.
The Huntsman burst from the fissure in the rock, clutching Mozenrath tightly. "WE MUST RETREAT!" he bellowed.
Well, Wuya thought, so much for that. Even if she argued, it looked like the Huntsman and Mozenrath were in no condition to fight. Their very presence would bring the group down.
Not to mention that their very appearance caused everyone to lose focus. Katara threw Demyx's bubbles back into his face, Zuko shoved Vexen several feet back, Aang finally knocked Xayide over with the wind, Ruby smacked Aghoul back with the back end of Crescent Rose, Papyrus had created a wall of bone that Mim scratched furiously around as she tried to reach him, Stork threw Ravess across the field, and Jasmine kicked Ragdoll in the stomach so that he ended up backpedaling to the same area the rest of the WHAM ARMY had ended up in. It was most certainly time to retreat.
"We'll see you on the next world," Wuya promised Sora as she leapt back, creating a Corridor for the WHAM ARMY to file into. Demyx barged into it first, followed by the Huntsman carrying Mozenrath, and then everyone else. The Corridor snapped shut before Sora, the first one to reach it, could enter.
Down on the hillside, the rock creatures crumbled to dust and the water forms splashed into puddles.
"You really think they left?" Aang asked.
"I'm more concerned with what they did while they were here," Zuko said somberly.
The eight heroes proceeded through the cleft into the arena, stricken with horror at the sight before them.
"No," Ruby gasped.
Sora flinched at the sight.
Stork looked on in awe and disgust. He gagged, clapping a hand over his mouth to keep from vomiting.
Papyrus trembled; Ruby and Jasmine reached out from either side to place their hands on his upper arms and steady him.
Aang's eyes watered with tears. "Ran!" he sobbed. "Not Ran!"
Katara pulled Aang into a hug from behind, wanting to offer all the comfort she could.
Zuko simply stared in horror, shaking his head, his jaw slack and open.
Blood poured from both Ran's severed head and his lifeless body. Above him, perched upon the bridge, Shaw, suffering quite a few wounds of her own, raised her head to the sky and gave a roar of mourning.