A Lover's Strife

Ooc: ok this battle is for the recently formed couples of HH's Altra and Chari's Kika, & my own Sudran and Rising Light's Lyra. Story is we are all waiting for our GF’s to appear, but they have all been side tracked by a bunch of super powerful men and women.

Bic: It was nearing midday in the town, and the people were decorating their houses with pictures of Cupid’s and hearts, it was nearing Valentines day and the whole town was in the mood. There was love in the air. The only place not touched by love was the bar directly in the middle of the town, where a young man with dark red hair and orange eyes waited.

Where is she? It’s nearly twelve and she isn’t here. Maybe she isn’t coming, maybe she forgot. I can’t blame, after what I let Fira do to her… Sudran thought to himself. There was a sudden clang and the door opened, making him turn round immediately, but turned back round as soon as he saw it was a man, dressed in a black trench coat. The flame warrior reconized him instantly, he had fought this person only a few days back.

“We meet again,” the ninja muttered and took a place next to Sudran. The flame warrior smiled, he didn’t want a fight.

“Aye, that was a fancy trick with the poison needles you pulled. The marks still remain. What are you here for?”

“I am looking for someone, a woman, how about you?”

“Same here. Look’s like we can wait together,” The flame warrior tapped the bar, ordering a bottle of red wine.

Altra rolled his eyes. Did Sudran get in so many fights that he can't remember them all? He turned back to the door, waiting for Kika. He remembered when they first met. He thought through everything that had happened since that faithful day. The ninja looked down at the scrubbed wood of the bar.

Running his fingers along the grain of it, he thought about when he and Kika had last left one another. Kika had recieved a letter from a group of friends, urgently asking for her help. Altra had wanted to go with her, but she said that the others might not like it.

So, after making her promise to stay safe, he had agreed to meet her here when she was finished with whatever her friends needed her for. He looked up as the bar door swung open again. He sighed as the young couple walked past the bar to a table.

He hoped she would be here soon. It had already been so long since that day. He prayed she was safe.

Kika walked along the road with a hood sheilding her face. 'It's been a long time Altra' Kika thought as she thought about him. She looked to the sky and saw birds fly above. She held her staff tight, which was given to her by him. She looked back to the road. 'It must be close' she thought. She stopped to streach a little. 'God.........how long have I been walking today?' Kika thought. Once her and the Knights were done she walked and haven't stopped.

She kept walking. "Am I even going the right way?" Kika muttered to herself. Kika saw many figures ahead. She formed some water and drank it. She was surrounded by a vast forest, the only way through it was this stone path. Kika got her map out. She was going the right way. Soon the figures were right in front of her. They were a few men and women, blocking the road. They wore rags for clothes, they had weapons made of wood.

"Can I move through?" Kika asked them. They looked at her and still stood still. Kika looked for a way around them. The forest was pitch dark. She could make out nothing in the dark. 'I shouldn't risk going in a pitch dark forest' Kika thought, remembering her promise to Altra. She needed to stay safe.

"Excuse me......pardon me" she said as she started to squirm through the people. She was grabbed by one and was pulled away. Getting angry, she put a fire sheild around her. She rushed to them, they moved out of the way. As soon a she put her fire sheild off, multiple hands grabbed her.

"Hey, let go of me!"

Lyra walked down the dirt road, kicking up some of the dust, only to regret doing so a moment later. She sneezed, and looked around to see if there were any signs showing her if she was heading in the right direction or not. She had agreed to meet Sudran at noon, and she was already running a little late. While she still hadn’t completely forgiven him for what had happened with Fira, she understood why he had done it. After all, he did save my life, she thought.

The Hylian looked ahead, and saw that some sort of commotion was taking place just a bit ahead. She ran to see what was going on, and saw a bunch of people grabbing a tall, cloaked girl who carried a staff. “What the…” Lyra ran towards them, trying to think of a way to help her out. What to do… Lyra walked up to one of the people and tapped them on the shoulder. “What’s going on here?” she asked him, none too politely. In response, he grabbed her arm. “Hey!” she yelled at him. She stepped on his foot, and he loosened his grip on her enough that she could get away from him.

Lyra tried to get away, but she had inadvertently drawn attention to herself, and the people grabbed at her. “Hey! Let go!” she yelled as she tried to fight them off. They grabbed her arms, and they wouldn’t release her, despite how much she tried to kick them. Eventually, she found herself next to the other girl. “Do you know what the hell is going on?” she asked her. The girl shook her head. Lyra sighed. “I’m Lyra, by the way.”

“I’m Kika,” the girl replied.

Downing the last of his red wine, Sudran went back to watching the door.

Where is she, Lyra’s either been waylaid or not coming, probably not coming, after the incident at the bar… Sudran thought to himself, his head dropping. There was a sudden burning sensation on the back of his neck, and Fira entered his body.

Can you two never keep apart? I know you said you were in love, but this is ridiculous, The volcanic god said, his voice filled with mild digust.

“What are talking about Fira, Lyra’s nowhere near here,” Sudran said, making Altra turn round.

If I can sense her, then you should be able to.

Looking around, he could see nor sense anything that would even be Lyra.

My sense are much more acute than your, she’s somewhere nearby, though she is in distress. I will contact her,

The last remark made the flame warrior stand up. He threw several gold coins onto the bar.

“Do you wish to help me, or just sit there till I get back, I could do with help if the people im about to go against are to strong,” Said casually to Altra, who nodded silently. Sudran threw some more coins down, paying for the other man, and ran out the door, the ninja following him. After a few minutes they came to a forest, the entrance clocked by a crowd of people. A sudden sense of Fira made Sudran stop, it was originating form the crowd.

“Lyra!” the man shouted, and pulled out both his swords, running for the crowd.

As Sudran ran towards the churning mass of people, Altra caught a glimpse of a black robe. Kika! Oh, no, they aren't! Not while I draw breath! Eyes flashing dangerously, Altra speed up past Sudran, pushing him to the side. Forgeting completely about alchemy, the young man rushed in, flailing wildly with his fists.

Knocking the ragged people every way, he finally, reached Kika. garbbing her arm, he kicked out at the man clamped onto her arm. The ragged man let go, and Altra pulled Kika out of the crowd, practically dragging her along. Breaking free of the mass of flesh, he pushed the mage behind him and transmuted his arms, long blades growing over each hand.

"Ok, just what the hell is going on here?!" He yelled furiously at the crowd.

The crowd all faced to Altra. Silence swept over them like the wind. Kika tried to stay hidden behind Altra's back. She saw the crowd draw breathes at once. The crowd looked like they were to speak. They caught sight of Kika and the crowd swung their heads to her. Kika backed away from everyone, even Altra. She couldn't figure out what happened. She remembered people yelling about something. It started with an 's'.

One of the crowd members walked out and stood away. Kika also saw Lyra sneak out of the crowd. The crowd member let out a great yell. The rest of the crowd surrounded Altra, Kika, Lyra, and another who seemed to have known Altra. The crowd yelled and ran to grab the closest. Kika was grabbed by many and they started to chant something she couldn't make out. She heard Altra fighting them, but with no luck in hurting any. Kika wanted to fight, but was held firmly by many people.

OoC: eh, short reply...but I guess it's better than no reply.

BiC:
Lyra had managed to get out her sword before the people surrounded her. She fought off the people who were trying to grab her, slashing her sword at them. She managed to scratch them, but they didn’t seem to notice any pain at all.

“What the hell is going on?” she muttered as she tried to stab one of the strange people.

She stabbed him in the stomach, yet he didn’t flinch. Stunned, Lyra tried to back away, but was grabbed by some of the people. Lyra struggled to get away, but found no luck. She looked around and saw the man who seemed to know Kika was still fighting, and Kika seemed to be muttering something.

“Lyra!” a voice called out to her.

Lyra looked around and saw Sudran. His swords were out, and his face was filled with anger at the people.

The crowd of people were trying to from a barrier between him and Lyra, but before they could the flame warrior had hacked his way threw to her, and now stood shoulder to shoulder.

“Guess I can’t blame you for being late,” Sudran chuckled, slicing wildly at the people who were holding Lyra. After several fingers being chopped of they let her go, though they still kept trying to grab at them.

“Ok what’s with the people that feel no pain,” Sudran said, stabbing furiously at the people around them.

“I don’t know, ive sliced at them yet they still keep coming,” Lyra said, swinging her sword above her head. They men and women didn’t back away, but instead they walked blindly into the blade, killing most of them instantly.

Swords are useless against woodland spirits; they won’t stop attacking till they get what they want, which is probably one of the girls. Fira said dryly, his voice ringing inside his and Lyra’s head.

“Who do they want?” Sudran shouted aloud, kicking at several women with one foot. Fira didn’t answer, but the flame warrior got the feeling that he was saying something to Lyra. There was a sudden bang, and a parting appeared in the people, and Altra and the other woman came running threw it, attacking the people on each side as they went. As soon as the other two reached them, the hole in the people closed up, trapping them there.

“Nice to meet you,” Sudran shouted to the woman, trying to break his sword free of a man arm. The four formed a tight circle, keeping the people away from them.

“What did Fira say to you?” Sudran shouted, moving forward and attacking several people at once.

Ooc: sorry for the crappy post, ive got a headache and a broken leg.

Altra swung wildly, his blades cutting through flesh, but dealing no damage. He sliced off any limb that dared reach for Kika, but it seemed as if they were regrowing the moment he turned away from them. Finally, he'd had enough.

He didn't like to do this, but these people weren't leaving him any choice. Clapping his hands together, he slapped a man in the chest. Kicking him out into the crowd, the alchemist waited for the explosion. But none ever came.

"What?! They're not human!" As he cut open a woman's arm, he noticed that his blade came away free of blood. "Yes, they're definatly not human!"

Letting out a primal yell, he clapped his hands together and placed them on the ground. The ground heaved as a wall of rock burst forth to surround the four.

"Ok," Altra said, his eyes still furious. "I've bought us some time," He was interrupted by the sound and hammering and scraping. "But not much. So, what do we do?"

"Fira says that they're wood spirts and they're probably after one of the girls." Sudran said, fingering his swords' hilts.

"You mean that guy who possessed you? Huh, well if he's right, I'd like to see they try and take Kika, spirts or not." He said, jerking at the hammering spirts outside with his chin. How dare they try and take Kika from me! I will not have only just regained her to lose her! I swear that as long as I draw breath, they willl not harm a hair on her head!

A new energy flowed though Altra's body as the spirts started to break through the wall. Clapping his hands together, he touched the spot where the wall had cracked. With a flash of blue light, the wall exploded outward, sending stone shards flying into the milling crowd.

Kika saw the stone shards fly into the crowd, not blood came. She saw the spirits pour around them. Many of them were trieing to grab Kika and Lyra. Altra stayed in front of Kika and kept her nearby. Kika couldn't see Lyra or Sudran anymore. She got out her staff and started to cast a variatey of spells. Even her strongest, Light Ray, made no mark on the spirits.

"What are you planning to do now?" Kika said with a little fright in her tone. She waited for an answer, none came. She looked to see her next to a spirit. She backed away in fear as the spirits closed in.

"A-Altra?!" Kika called desperatley. She dodged some people and was soon grabbed by more of them. Clutching her staff tightly, she let go all resistance and closed her eyes.

OoC: Yeah, I know I’m not great at posting replies. This is what I get for taking honor classe…

BiC:
Lyra looked around at all the people who were around her, thinking about the words that Fira had said to her.

“They want either you or the girl named Kika,” he had said to her. “for a ritual of some sort. Just protect yourself from them, and make sure they don’t take you.”

Lyra looked towards Sudran. “He said they needed us for some sort of ritual, or something along those lines. He didn’t really go into detail about it.” She kicked at one of the woodland spirits who lunged at her. “Anyway,” she continued, “they don’t seem like the nicest crowd. Dammit, if only we knew a way to defeat them. Physical attacks only seem to distract them.”

Lyra saw that a large group was advancing towards them. She cursed, and clenched her fist around her sword. She swiped her sword at them, but they didn’t notice, as she expected. She tried to think of something that she could do to hurt them, or at least caused some damage, but her mind was empty.

“Sudran!” the Hylian called out. “Do you have any ideas as to how to defeat them?” She turned towards him.

He shook his head. “No, they seem to be extremely strong. Or really determined to capture one of you girls.”

Lyra dodged behind Sudran as the spirits advanced towards them. “Why didn’t Fira help us out?” she asked him as she fought at the grabbing hands.

The words from Lyra echoed in Sudran’s mind, instantly reaching Fira, but before he could say anything, Sudran butted in.

No, you are not going to take control, you may be able to take care of these beasts but you will not stop at that, ive seen what happens when I give you free reign, Sudran thought, silencing Fira before he said anything. With a quick moment the flame warrior sent both his swords into the stomach of the nearest people, but it still didn’t have any effect. The numbers of the people were swelling, growing.

You know that the only way is too summon me, it’s either me or perish, along with Lyra… Fira said, his voice filled with spite. At the last part of the sentence Sudran turned to look at Lyra behind him. She was battling bravely, but the attacks were beginning to show, cuts were appearing and she was slowing down with her attacks. Bowing his head low, the flame warrior resigned himself.

Do it then, the control is yours, but hurt Lyra or the others and I swear you will pay dearly…

Lyra won’t be affected, she is another embodiment of my power, and so my power will have no affect on her. Now let the fireworks begin! Fira laughed manically, and Sudran’s vision went dark red, a symbol that the volcanic god was in his body. There was a sudden cracking sound and the ground under the flame warrior’s feet opened, making him fall into the newly formed hole. There was a shout from Lyra as he fell, and Sudran hit the molten lava, its touch doing nothing to him. Suddenly the lava started to form around him, forming thick bands of still liquid lava, and after a few seconds he was trapped in the middle of it.

Not as comfortable as my old body, but it will do… Fira muttered, and with a sudden movement stood up. There was a cry from overhead and Lyra fell into the pit, but with another movement he caught her. She looked shock at the sight of the monster, but as soon as she saw Sudran in the middle of it, she looked amazed. Smiling, the monster jumped with ease out of the hole, landing with a thud on several of the men and women. But instead of not making a sound they screamed, thrashing about wildly, their bodies disintegrating after a few moments. Putting Lyra in a tree, Sudran and Fira set to work, punching and kicking at the group, killing the people with ease.

Altra was grabbed from behind and pulled away from Kika. Another spirit jumped on top of him, keeping him from yelling out. Grabbing the spirit, he tossed him off and brought his legs up and wrapped them around the woman dragging him.

He locked his ankles behind her neck and launched her forward over him. The ninja leapt to his feet and looked around. He couldn't see Kika or Sudran's friend, but Sudran himself was now completely changed.

"Oh, no." Altra said, noting the change in Sudran and remembering the last time he had seen the warrior change. Grabbing a spirit, he hurled the man into a group of other spirits, knocking them to the ground. The alchemist clapped his hands and touched the ground.

Large, long spikes exploded from the ground, stabbing and lifting several spirits into the air. Disappearing into the trees behind him, Altra transmuted his left arm, forming a crossbow. Next, he transmuted needles out of a tree next to him and loaded them into his arm.

Stepping back out into the fight, he shot several men and women in the head. The needles didn't do any damage, but they knocked the people back with enough force to let Altra get by them to look for Kika. The alchemist finally saw her in the clutches of several spirits, eyes closed.

An unholy rage filled Altra at the sight of his love unconcious in the hands of such monsters. He began to shake with a fury and a powerful arura surrounded him that practically ignited the trees around him. Tears sprang from his eyes, running down his face freely.

"LET GO OF HER YOU B******S!!!!!" He yelled in rage and fury, transmuting his left arm back to normal and his right into a massive blade at least as tall as he was. He ran forward, holding the blade above his head with the help of his left hand. He brought the blade down skillfully, slicing off the arms of three of the spirits grabbing Kika.

He brought the collosal blade around and sliced several more horizontally, seperating them at the waist. Slicing the last of the spirits down the middle, he caught Kika in his free arm and backed up with her cradled against him. He layed her gently down on the grass and looked at her closely. Her face was as white as paper and cold to the touch.

"Damn you.....damn you....damn you...." He whispered, fresh tears pouring down his face as he looked at the only woman he had ever loved. "DAMN YOU!!!!!!!" He yelled, standing up, blade ready to destroy those that had taken the life of Kika.

Kika felt nothing. She couldn't move at all. She wasn't breathing either. Kika opened her eyes all the way and saw nothing but darkness. Have I been unconsuis? Kika thought. She couldn't see any figures in the darkness. She then could move, but it was useless to move in utter darkness. She turned everyway untill she got dizzy. She tried to hold her head, it passed through it. What the-? she thought. Suddenly, she saw another. It was a girl, about 10 years of age. Kika floated to the girl and the girl turned to her.

"Hello" the girl said, she was not moving her lips. Kika opened her mouth to speak, she couldn't hear anything.

"Don't try that, think it" the girl said. Kika then realized it was a sort of magic lost long ago. It was a telepathic communication.

"Where am I?" Kika thought.

"You are in a place the spirts keep the ritual girls unitll the ritual starts" the girl thought.

"Ritual?" Kika thought suddenly.

"Yes, I do not know any details, but a ritual is held every thousand years, I do not know the details though" the girl thought, "After all, I'm the next one"

"You are? Why did they take me?" Kika thought.

"They like to get new ones when the ritual is near, I've been waiting for a thousand years" the girl thought, "You never age here, I wonder if a thousand years in the future is different."

"........but......" Kika thought. She thought of Altra for a moment, but realized it was being sent to the girl.

"You love that man in the images, don't you, well that is a good cause to get out" the girl thought.

"Do you know how to get out?" Kika thought.

"No, but for reference in the future, the ritual makes us spirits visible, they don't use us in bodies" the girl thought and floated untill she was out of sight.

No, I