The amulet fell to his neck and connected with the other scythe symbol crossing the two weapons. Cloud feels warm glows to his body and Alisianna gasps at him starting to emit a weak white light. Suddenly a shadowy angelic echo emits from behind his body mimicking his every move, and like having invisible latches it attaches to his own form. It causes upon his head a ghostly hood with a misty white light appearing and on his back drapes forth a cape over his own in the same light. Puzzlement is his only expression as he waves his hand about, like moving in front of a candle his hands shadow itself with a misty echo that dissipates quickly. Cloud moves his hand to his throat and suddenly drops his head acting dead, a second passes having him regaining life in moments. He looks to Colossus who is in puzzlement as well in belief of what just happened, Cloud then spoke.

“Hello Colossus” in a commanding deep voice of shuddering power

“Cloud” Colossus question the holy looking figure, pulling his blade from his side whirling it around in an recognizable motion Colossus backed up for the first time in over twenty years with a hint of fear. “Dalamar…”

“You may have killed me but I now return with my son as my greatest ally and strength Colossus, you’ll never be rid of me as long as our blood line remains, and this time you won’t win”

Colossus pulls his blade from its resting place yelling to him,

“Ghost or not I will this time kill you indefinitely Colossus concludes as he charges Cloud’s body and smashing their swords together causes women to scream and cover the children. Dawn in such deep concentration doesn’t know of the event unraveling around her and seeing her in the midst of the battle Elanee and Alisianna run to her.

“Will moving her break the bond” asked Elanee gripping her under the arms

“I don’t know,” replied Alisianna watching the battle closing her eyes every time the blades collide “Is that my husband or my father in law”

“Right now a bit of both I think hum” replied Elanee dragging Dawn to a corner watching her facial expressions hoping not to do any damage.

“I want that stone,” repeats Colossus trying to reach it with their blades locked,

“You’ll never win Marcus” says Cloud’s body driving a fist to the face of the great bull and doing a back flip Cloud kick’s Colossus to a corner wall, hitting it hard he drops to the ground. Snorting away dust and dirt as he got to his feet Colossus drew upon a dark energy and blasted it at Cloud, his body creates in his none sword arm a silver shield in the shape of a kite. Being pumped by the force of his incredible spell power Cloud’s body holds itself at bay, not moving front or backwards Colossus stops his assault seeing nothing happening, “This…this is impossible my power is absolute”

“But not godly Marcus and if I can help it will soon only be a memory”

“NEVER!!!” shouted Colossus charging at him again.

They start combat with Colossus throwing spell upon spell during his charge and having them batted away just as easily as they were cast, Dalamar matches Colossus with every move he threw upon him,

“Elanee, Alisianna get the women and children out of here” he says while he and Colossus grind blades together, the girls then show all the women and children in the cavern to the rear and as far away from the battle as possible. They give the baby adopted by Elanee to Penelope to hold in trust while the girls watch over Dawn’s position. The two warriors battle it out throwing spells at each other and slamming each other hard to the ground and walls, the swords smash together with an energy bolt repelling their power away causing spark to spark where ever the clash.

Getting to his first position and seeing Rain get there too, Artanis tosses the spear shaped shard to the ground and hitting the soil it lights up with a green glowing tinged. Rain does the same and the same result occurs,

“One down, one to go” says Rain seeing Sephinroth barring close to his position he bolts off, for his next stop is a far distance away.

Artanis gets to his second stop and tosses the shard down to the ground again he looks to seeing Rain still moving and taking a judgment call decides to help in the battle field, he charges into the plains and spots the horse fight with Straud and Logan raging wildly in the air. Artanis squints his eyes to line up the shot for a dagger throw, he pulls the golden blade from his belt and staring at it he looks to Logan’s back which has been exposed to his sight,

“Block this Logan!” he says letting it lose towards him, the dagger makes no sound at all in the air cutting the wind to cover the sound of the battle to cover it closing in on the target.

To the sky the blades ring loudly, the generals to the armies lash out in continuous heated battle, swooping and climbing to the air with maneuvers rarely seen in a horse and rider. Logan in chase to Straud`s steed tightens his feet, he leaps from his steed flying in the air baring straight to the helm of Straud. Straud`s blade moves for the sighted impact, Logan`s light agile form lands his legs to the shoulders of the holy friend…Logan locks a leg hold to Straud`s chest plate as his arms thunder down a viscous strike to split Straud’s skull in two.

Logan`s metal grinds, sparking against Straud`s. Logan`s strength is great, he presses the blade harder with Straud on full resisting defense. Straud’s blade was crossing Logan`s and lined up to his own neck, Logan`s pours on the strength like flowing water pushing the blade back in attempted for the holy knight to sheer off his head with his own sword. A thrust to his back occurred, Straud backs up and watches as Logan looks to his hands and body that turns a black shadowy haze, the haze leaves his body and swirls into the air.

“My immortality” Logan cried out in a panicked state as he gave chase to regain it but the floating figure raised much faster than he did to the night sky and then imploded into a small explosion.

“What? My invincibility Nooooo!” he screams in the air and looking around to see how it had come to pass he spots Artanis baring a smirk to his face “You disloyal ingrate, I’m going to rip you apart” interrupted by Straud throws him off his mounted steed to the ground. Jumping off his mount in midair Straud goes to bare his holy blade to Logan’s chest knowing that something made him mortal again, Logan seeing the blade coming down upon him disappears in smoke and Straud’s blade buried it’s tip deep in the dirt. He pulls it out and looks to see he hit nothing, closing his eyes in shame. Knowing that their conflict is not yet over, he then looks to his aiding partner Artanis who nods, he nods back and motions for him to get clear of the impending wave, complying Artanis takes retreat.

Littered to the cold stone they lie dead, Cynn’s personal guard. Bodies mangled and beaten cut and carved by the viciousness of blade combat with the Matriarch. Spells and power flicker not far from the gruesome scene as Cynn and Sophie face off; immunity to each other’s powers well known to them. However, the power to apply their skills also well known, influencing the environment they fight to, hoping a result to give them an edge.

Sophie`s mind power is put to nearby men fighting, dominating them to mindless slaves she puts them up against her sister. Forcing Cynn to engage her allies and friends, Cynn extinguishes spells from her repertoire to subdue and incapacitate them breaking the mental connection.

Cynn counters the compliment, moving the very stones and pillars they build not long ago placing Sophie on an acrobatic evading defense, adding to ground tremors Cynn floats to the air weapons of the fallen around her, making Sophie block against multiple blades.

They know each other well, countering the tactics as they come up. She lifts her head from a vicious hit and the blood drips from her mouth, she gets to her feet and looks to her and stares deep cold look as she wipes the blood from her mouth.

“See I told you, you bleed” said Cynn and retaliating against her bloodied up sister they continue their battle, Sophie looks to the scene, at a ledge opened on the mountainside they fight. Dodging attacks and using martial skills the sisters drive shots to one another`s body, Sophie ever changing position to guide her sister backward to the opening. Losing her grip Cynn drops her sword; falls to her back nearing the edge of the tower and the view of the crushing cliffs to her eyes.

“This ends here Cynn” Sophie says lifting her blade to a final strike, Cynn in a last attempt rushes to her feet and grips the blade baring to her open chest. They spin around in the single spot trying to move the blade position one way or another, moving so Sophie now faces the open water. They grunt tiredly and pull the blade higher in the air their bodies grow closer together, finally they touch and the amulets swing abruptly past each other during the strength struggle. Amulets touch to one another and glow a deep red color when it happens, but separating again, they dissipate the glow. They hit again this time cauterizing on impact, and they again glow. The power builds, and instantly both sisters begin to loose strength, feeling weaker with great haste. Sophie attempts to free them by her mind power with no success; Cynn tries to the same end.

“My powers, they`re weakening”, Sophie replies “Mine as well”, the two buckle under the strain of the drain. Dropping the weapon they both fall to their knees still stuck to each other,

“We must…break…free” Cynn spoke, Sophie extended out her leg to Cynn`s torso, Cynn does the same.

“Cynn push” Sophie yells at her, no effect happens as the amulet still glows brighter “Push free you weak harlot” Sophie snaps again overwhelmed by complete exhaustion.

“I am, nothing is moving” Cynn replies in panic, they grunt one last time pushing off from one another; the amulets begin to recede in color, and then separate fully.

They fall to the ground hard, away from the edge both are slow to replenish. They feel once more their powers returning slowly. They then glare at one another with heavy breath,

“What the hell was that?”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“An enchantment to the amulets I think” replied Cynn “Mother must have placed it upon them, aimed for a moment like this one”

Sophie glared at her, blood again flowing fast to her veins. Her sister is greatly weakened, venerable and within her grasp. The words of her sister were heard, if they got close it would probably again happen…but she didn`t care.

Sophie finds enough strength to rise to her feet “You Bitch!” sparked Sophie bolting at Cynn, both without weapons, barley powers and again engage. Sophie leaps onto her sister like a pouncing cat, slapping Cynn across the face she sees the open cheek and bites into her sister like a hungry predator, Cynn screams as the skin peels from her face. Blood running down Sophie mouth and neck she spits it to the ground again taking to the assault, both claw, slap, kick punch and bite one another in a vicious ground tumbling brawl. Moving again closer to the edge of the open stone, Cynn tried to watch the sway of the necklaces but is was no use, they again collide, this time molding to a single unit.

Cynn was on the bottom as Sophie reefs on her necklace almost to a stand, the buildup was fast, Cynn passed out…the necklaces explode apart sending Sophie helplessly off the cliff side miles in the air, pounding into the waves below. From the rupture of the blast, Cynn`s body jolted off the boarder walk down into the midst of rebels below. Landing hard to a tumbling roll men baring her signet flock to her side noticing her out cold, maybe dead. The Rebel leader held sight to the missing skin on her face, scrapes to her body and soul as if mauled by a tiger, forming a protective circle around her some cast wards, as the rest get ready to transport her to safety.

The cave wall shook from the violent hit Cloud’s body received from Colossus’s body check, holding him tight only for a second Colossus grips his chain shirt undercoat to toss him away and into the air. Cloud’s body rolled to a stance in supporting the throwing fall as Colossus rushes towards him with a hateful rage; taking a mighty swing but missing Colossus leaves his back wide open for a counterstrike that Dalamar took full advantage of. With a spinning kick to his muscled bonded torso side Colossus is blown off his feet to the ground several feet away and his evil sword companion dislodged from his grip.

He brings it to him again summoning it to his hand it floats into the air towards him again; but charging his own blade with holy energy Dalamar spins Cloud’s body and delivers a massive hold bolt centered to his abdomen. Hitting him square on; it blasts Colossus almost to the entrance of the cavern as his dark doom blade misses its target and goes clanging to the floor skidding to the ground near a wall. Shaking his focus back to his head Colossus sees Cloud’s body sprinting toward him with a ready swing in his eyes, growing a quick idea to his mind Colossus using a massive amount of spell power dislodges the sturdy rock ceiling from above Dawns area shielding all the girls and having it come crashing down towards them. Dalamar comes to a skidding stop to witness the horrible sight as well as a sudden halt in the stones movement, screams echo from the girls with the giant rubble debris grinding a dusting to a stop in midair.

Dalamar looks to Colossus holding his arm extended toward it and shaking a bit from the heavy hold.

“Let’s see about your loyalty now, give me the stones” bolted Colossus with blackmail command

“Never” Dalamar thundered righteously, and from the response Colossus releases the boulders again, stopping them slower than before from a drain in his magic he shouts again with his arms strained even more.

“It’s getting very heavy, probably can’t stop it again, the stones NOW! Or they die” Thinking for a second Dalamar looks to Clouds belt to see the glimmering stone residing in its tight holdings, pulling it from its spot he holds it out to him.

“Throw it to me” Colossus shouted, and doing as he was told Dalamar tossed it in the air but higher than needed, and concentrated on its flight path Colossus reared his eyes from Dalamar who spin around charging his blade again and blasting a bolt toward the hovering dooming debris. The bolt hits it blasting it apart leaving only a fine blinding dusty cloud in its existence. Dawn comes to reality for the explosion over her head caused her to jolt out and seeing nothing she starts to cough waving her hands like the other girls.

Seeing it still floating in the air for Colossus cannot seem to summon it to his hand. Cloud’s body spun again slamming his blade to the floor drilling the point into the stone, saying a word known only to paladins Dalamar sends forth upon Colossus a ground rolling running wave of holy energy moving fast toward him. It connects with his boots blowing Colossus off his massive heavy greaves and bringing him pounding to his back. Bolting fast as the crystal stone hits the ground Dalamar scoops it up and then Cloud’s body leaps into the air with his arms raised over his head in a spectacular leap to reach Colossus quickly. Raising his head to bear witness the impending doom at blade point from Cloud’s sword, Colossus waves his hand to force Dawn to his position. Dawn was flung into the air helplessly between Colossus and Cloud’s descending blade, screaming in her free floating state and hurling fast paced toward them, Dalamar saw the danger and acted.

Dalamar released his swords grip letting it fall to the ground and extending his arms catches Dawn in midair. He embraced her fall but as they over shadowed Colossus location he spotted Dawn’s stone tucked in her back side pocket, gripping it from its rest Colossus smiles and disappears into darkness as the two land where he just was. Cloud’s body lands to one knee and opening her eyes Dawn beholds to the holy angelic sight, hard brightness hits her eyes from the deep stare and squinting a bit she gazes further to him.

“Cloud?” she inquires “Is that you?”

 “You are so beautiful Dawn” says Cloud’s voice caressing her cheek

“Father?” said Dawn even more freaked but was moved from his lap to look at an empty floor, Cloud look to the corner that held Colossus blade and that was gone to.

“What happened” said Dawn feeling herself for wounds when she had a ghostly look come to her “The stone, my stone it’s gone!” Dawn panicked and touching her again Cloud said “It’s ok Dawn, I still have mine and he can’t do anything without it”

“Are you my father?” Dawn asked and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek Cloud lowers his head as he stood to her presence Cloud’s mind came back to his normal self and back under his body’s control. But getting a fierce hug from his wife he held a comforted smile to his face that only he could fully understand as the amulets lost their intense glow and the holy shroud around his mortal form faded away.

Like the wind Rain races to beat the Dragon on his tail, Artanis sees the pursuit and leaping to his horse he tries to get to Rain’s aid. Sephinroth bears down to his location, flying to his right swooping down baring her great teeth to the rider and strafes sideways to snatch him up. Rain calls his mother’s blade to his hand and as the mouth was over him he slashed at her jaw line skin cutting it open, yelling in pain Sephinroth regains height and distance from the rider from the foiled attack.

Rain makes it to a cliff side and riding alongside it towards the bridge, he views the great red dragon anticipating the move, and she flames up the bridge causing it to lose structure and collapse to the deep cradled ocean stream below. Rain stops to think as she comes around for another pass; growing an idea to his mind he backs up and pets his horse,

“You have to trust me girl, I promise we’ll make the jump” Rain comforts as he sees the dragon coming up on his back ready to breathe, Rain gives the signal to bolt to the edge of the cliff and leaping into the air as Sephinroth blankets the cliff side with flame. She looks to a missed shot with no target, reappearing from his teleport Rain lands with the horse alive and trotting away with haste.

Angered by his annoying evasion she takes high to the skies to give chase. Dodging bolt after bolt of fiery flame from her throat, his cloak and hair blowing in the passing winds he sees her baring down for a close up attack and judging the distance behind him as she open for a deadly flame strike Rain beats her to the punch and sends an icy backward impacting deep on her throat. Driving nose first to the dirt Sephinroth crinkles her body like an accordion from the impact, lifting her head she sees him speed off and slamming her claws to the ground with an intense anger blazing hot steam from her snout she rips a load of soil from the ground; squeezing it through her hands like melted butter and launches like a rocket to the air again. Rain sees his target area up ahead and holding the shard tightly in his hand he waits till he is in range. Seeing the act Sephinroth knows she must finish the rider now, and judging the shot she takes aim just as Rain does as well.

She fires the ball from her right snout hole blasting pebbles and rocks into the air from the explosion, but emerging from the unsettling dust he crawls out. His horse that was incinerated by the blast blew him to distance of where he needed to be and placing the shard into the ground with a knife throw does the ancient device activate. It starts enveloping all demons within the globe of blue color instantly; Drow all over the battle front stop their fighting to see the event who are confused for a second are signaled for retreating regroup at Shadowell city, cleaving them down as they run Straud makes the command not to follow but to attend to the wounded.

Colossus sees his army engulfs in flames and lets out a yelling “NOO!” Of utter defeat from a hillside where he retreated himself as he shimmers to his tower scorned from flesh to soul.

Lying near death and with burns scorned to his under tissue Sephinroth gazes upon the rider’s face, and with a gasp she whispers.

“Rain”

The wounded and the victory chant came to the refugee cavern and soldiers came to their wives hugging as well as embracing sorrow filled sadness to the ones who lost their loved ones. Dawn was gathered by other healers from the battle fields to perform the heals that they could in order of seriousness, Cloud, Alisianna and Elanee help organizes the wounded as they came in and the ones with having only minor cuts they helped as well.

Penelope franticly worried for the sight of her husband wasn’t seen for a time, she saw Stark alive and well approaching with the sword of her husband strapped to his belt and the cat Anubis at his side, Penelope screamed out loud at the sight not seen but her voice was lost amongst the others in mourning, running with her son held in her arms toward Starks location she then saw a arm draped across his neck and having the crowd move to her clear vision she then saw Tristan limping but alive with a severe gash to his leg.

“TRISTAN!’ she yelled to him and as he looked up she brought her arms to his face, kissing him with the enfant between them he kissed his son’s head and smiled to both of them.

“Oh my god” said Tristan losing his joy at the sight of Straud carrying Cynn limp and lifeless to the room.

“Dawn, come here quickly!” he shouted and seeing who it was parted the Drowish crowd in a saddened silent rustle, she came running “CYNN!” she shouted sliding to her side and checking her pulse

“She’s not dead right, Dawn please tell me she’s not dead,” Straud pleaded with tears to his face

“She’s alive” Dawn said relaxingly and went to heal her with a full heal but nothing changed, her wounds were cured and burns were removed but she didn’t wake up.

“What’s wrong?” Straud asked

“I don’t know, it worked, she’s healed but she’s not waking up” Dawn says, Elanee came to their side and touches her forehead and confused she pulls her hand away.

“This is weird, she’s not communicating with me in her mind, conscious or not she should be able to do it” Elanee says looking to Straud with a worried but wondered look   “I don’t get it, it’s like she’s…brain-dead” and looking to his love Straud bows his head with grief,

“Has anyone seen Lalandra?” he asks and with no one answering the paged question Cloud speaks up,

“She’s a silver Dragon uncle she’ll be alright; she’s just probably making sure that the enemy is disposed of from her land, I’m sure she’ll be home by nightfall”

“I hope your right Cloud, nice work with Colossus, with that amulet power we now might have a chance again,” Straud says standing to his feet again and carrying Cynn to a more private location.

“Has anyone seen Rain or Artanis” asked Elanee

“Not yet” said Cloud and helping the group with resituating the men wounded and repaired for close to yet another hour, the men had stopped coming in and with no sign of Artanis or Rain Cloud begins to worry, as does the rest.

Finally, he comes stumbling in to the chamber, bloodied and scathed from battle he walked slowly to the room’s center, his head buried in his wet sweated hair and hearing Cloud’s concerned voice he lifted his head. His eyes and face wet with past tears not long made and his expression showed to all what no one wanted to hear or question, Cloud’s sword echoed throughout the chamber from hitting the ground as a guard removed Artanis’s cloak to find Artanis’s hand gripping the Blade of Cloud’s mother, Rain’s blade. Cloud hit the ground to his knees and Alisianna went stiff with no thought. Elanee’s face iced over like a glacier not moving, just watching Cloud’s reaction. Dawn stopped mid phrase at a cure she was casting to a footman’s broken leg and she went pale, almost sick from the sight of the horrified news.            

Rain was dead.