The Spreading Infection

[Puck]

This is a Character fiction involving all of my characters. Tantin and Aegis Irona will play less promint roles, and chances are there names won't even be said just camos or something similar. It is actually about the spreading of Anastacia's infection, but Tsuukai is really the main character as he tries to escape her army, and Stacia herself. If your wondering all links to my characters appear in my sig.

Chapter one:see the light.

It was a dark, and gloomy night. Rain pounded on the roof, as lightning flashed in the background. This is how I would like to start a story of this kind, however this is not true. There where no rain drops drenching our hero to the bone, no lighting striking the ground further reinforcing the doom that was to come. There was no great evil with horns and talons about to invade the known earth, no dark man who sat in darkness waiting for his next victim to brutally devour. Only what looked like a small girl sitting on her throne in a room shining with light, her golden hair cascading down her back. If you where looking for a story where a shining light overcomes a great demon, green breath flowing and black bat like wings flapping turn away now, this is not that kind of story. Let me begin with the black rider our hero for the time being.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The man cloaked and covered in black opened the doors to a local bar. Unlike he had hoped his presence did not go unnoticed. The bright light from outside lit up the room, and lighted the man’s black eyes. A murmur broke the silence.

“Is that him the infector?’ A porky man asked his slim friend.

“Don’t be foolish I heard the infector was a girl,” The lanky man replied.

Tsuukai’s black eyes shot to the two men talking, he slowly walked his way over to the two friends his black cloak flowing behind him. “Who is this infector you talk about?” The master of shadows asked the two men.

“Have you not heard,” the porky man asked in surprise, “this women has some sort of power to control people, she infects there mind and makes them do her bidding. You can tell they have been infected by there blue hair.”

“I thought it was red hair,” The slim man butted in.

“No I am pretty sure it’s blue,”

“No its gotta be red,”

“You are both wrong,” Said a voice in the darkest corner, “It is gold, there hair turns a golden color.”

“How do you know,” the slim man said sneering.

“I was once caught by the infection myself,” The man said standing up silver hair shining, “I am surprised the great Tsuukai Ita has not heard, because you are her next victim.”

This caught the lord of darkness’s attention, as a black chain rocked threw the air and wrapped itself around the heavily scarred man’s neck bringing it to the hand of the black rider.” Never say my name aloud. Now tell me if you where infected, and know I am the next victim how come your hair shines silver not gold?”

“Release me and I will tell you,” Tsuukai had no choice and let go of the man’s neck. He dropped to his feet with a noticeable red mark where the black rider’s hand once was. ”A man saved me by saying some sort of incantation. I then escaped to find you, to warn you about what is to come. If you where ever to meet her face to face you must remember…” But with that he stopped for a great pain surged threw his body. Tsuukai looked around and saw a golden haired man leave quickly from the building, ”You two,” Tsuukai said addressing the men he was just talking to, “Bring this man to your hospital, I have business to take care of.”

The black rider ran out of the bar and saw a golden haired man escaping on a chariot. Not wasting anytime the Lord of shadows jumper on his black haired steed and followed the man. His horse charged forward at a blistering speed, and was able to catch the infected ones chariot. The man with golden hair looked to his shock to see the Tsuukai Ita smiling at him dagger in hand. The dagger found itself caught between two spokes of the wheel, causing the wheel to tear itself apart.

Tsuukai stopped his horse, and dismounted. Causally walking over to the golden haired man who was now laying on the ground close to death. Placing his black boot on the mans neck he questioned the man, “Who sent you here?”

“My queen,” The man barely managed to get out.

“Who is your queen,” Tsuukai said pressing his foot harder against the man’s neck.

“The light. You need to see the light only then will you be free, only then will you have the power you want.” The man said, but as he said that he slipped a dagger from out of its pouch. Whilst his oppressor was trying to make sense of what the golden haired man was saying. The infected man stabbed himself threw the heart so he wouldn’t give out anymore information.

Something more evil then me, Tsuukai thought to himself, and she is after me to make me her slave great. With that Tsuukai left the forsaken town to find more information on the one called the infector.

[Puck]

Chapter two:Across the sea.

A fresh burst of sea breeze sprayed into Tsuukai’s face. He stood at the front the ship looking for his destination, the island of Crete. The horizon was still only a blue as the black rider strained his eyes against the bright light reflecting off the clear salt water. The master of shadows turned slowly to see one of his few friends calling him. ”Your lucky we where heading this way,” the bearded man said with a smile.

“Your lucky I saved your life before,” Tsuukai replied jumping down from where he stood, and walked causally over to the man.

“Aye you only go lucky,” Said the man, “What business do you have with Crete anyways?”

“I am looking for a book. Sorry but that’s all I can say,”

“Secretive I see. Fair enough I guess sometimes you need to be.”

“I guess so. So captain when do you expect we will reach Crete?”

“Aye I’d say about sun rise tomorrow it’s a long ride so you should go down below deck and rest.”

“Good idea I have a feeling ill need it.” With that the master of shadows headed for the door to lower cabins.

* * * * * * * * * *

The sun filtered into the large throne room, threw the large draped windows. A large man wearing a fur robe approached the one sitting upon the throne. His head hung low as if he felt he wasn’t worth, but it shot up when he was only a few feet from the queen’s feet. The light shown the right side of her face, reflected by her golden flowing hair.

“Yes,” The women spoke in a small almost shy voice.

“My queen, we have followed him. He is on a pirate ship and our boat is not far behind.” The man said getting down on one knee.

“Good, send to word to attack,” The women said ”Write a note and throw it in the air, it will find its way to our ship,”

“But…”

“But what?” Questioned the petit women.

“Miss Stacia,” the large man said, ”They outman us three to one. We can’t win”

“Do not worry,” Anastacia said in a calming voice, ”They have the metal man with them.”

“Oh,” Said the large man getting back to his feet, “I shouldn’t have questioned you my queen, forgive me.”

“It is ok, you are forgiven,” Said the Stacia to her much larger slave. The large robed turned and walked away; his golden hair gleamed in the sunlight.

* * * * * * * * *

Tsuukai awoke violently as the ship rocked, a man ran to where he was his face covered in Blood. ”Sir you are needed on deck we are under attack, we have been boarded.”

“Boarded by whom?” Tsuukai asked still half asleep.

“I don’t know sir,” Said the slender man, “ But they have golden hair.” With this news the lord of shadows black eyes' grew large realizing what that meant. So it seems Stacia has followed us here. How nice, Said Tsuukai’s master. But how did she know I was here. It doesn’t matter I just need to get up and fight them off. Tsuukai replied mentally while running up the steps to the outside.

Tsuukai opened the door to see a blade flying threw the black at night head straight for his face. As if by instinct he put up his black shield reflecting the attack. His black eye’s pierced the night, they fell upon his old friend, but behind him a golden haired warrior brandished his blade about to strike. The black rider pulled out his bow, and before the warrior could blink an arrow had already pierced his neck.

Tsuukai then turned his attention to a large warrior heading his way. Even in the black of night one could see the glint of metal that was his body, but he carried no weapon. Or that is how it appeared soon his metal arm changed into a deadly blade. The lord of shadows sent a black ball at the metal man, but it merely deflected off.

“Oh,” Tsuukai said in surprise taking out his blade. In the black of night the black warrior battled the man of steel. Blow after blow Tsuukai blocked, however he could not block forever. He tried but his arms soon grew weak from the man’s brute strength. Sending out a shadow chain he latched onto a rod holding a sail intact. High above the battle scene below Tsuukai’s eye’s looked into the black horizon, he saw it the island of Crete so close, but to far away to fly to.

Sheathing his tiered blade the bow soon found itself back into the hands of it’s master. Arrow after arrow flew from the bowstring all at one target, the man of metal. All but a few arrows bounced of the man’s metal side. Only one even touched flesh as it ripped into the gold haired warriors cheek. The great warrior looked to the sails to see a worried look on the lord of shadows face.

From the sky a great kick from the master of darkness landed on the giant man’s face sending him staggering backwards. One of the golden haired warriors feet just edged over the side of the boat. A smile went over the master of Darkness’s face as his shadow chain swept the legs of his opponent. The large man went head over heels as Tsuukai turned to help the others. If he had been more careful the black rider might have noticed that there was no splash, for the metal man was able to grab the side with his strong metal arm.

Tsuukai rushed over to the captain who was now lying on the ground injured. “get away from here, there after you. We can hold them off, but you must leave now.” The man said coughing from his wounds.

“What about you, you will die if you stay here,” Tsuukai said in actually concern.

“Don’t worry about me, if she catches you then the whole world could be in trouble,”

“So you know then,”

“I had a feeling. Now go you haven’t much time. Hmm I never would expect you to be someone to try and save the world.”

“Neither did I, but I can’t take over a destroyed planet now can.”

‘I guess not,” the bearded man said with a hint of a smile. Tsuukai shoot one last arrow killing a golden haired man before he flew away. As he soared threw the air a pillar of fire fell from the sky onto the pirate ship, however Tsuukai did not notice he was to focused on getting to the island.

[Puck]

As you can tell this one will recieve alot more updates then my last one. Also I forgot to mention any comments are welcome at any time. Now on with teh story.

Chapter Three: The Forgotten Hero.

The moon reflected off the clear sea, as a great fire raged out on it. The chilling screams, and burning bodies crept onto land. During this all a ragged figure floated to shore, a broken body one that once went by the name Tsuukai. A voice screamed out on land and started its frantic run to the all, but empty beach.

“There’s one over here daddy,” Screamed what looked teenaged girl, her blond hair covering her face, and flowing in the winds of death.

“I see him, go get the cart and bring him in,” Shouted and middle aged man’s voice from across the haunted beach.

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Do you know? DO YOU KNOW?” A voice screamed in the colorless room.

“Me?” Asked the warrior still confused about where he was.

“Yes you, Tsuukai Ita Do you Know?”

“Do I know what?”

“What will happen,” The voice strayed off then continued, “Happen if Stacia succeeds? The whole world will die.”

“I know,”

“Why do you care?”

“What?!?” The master of shadows said surprised at the question.

“You hate the world, and everything in it, You even hate yourself yet you still care for these people these ingrates these peasants. WHY?”

“I don’t…I don’t know.”

“You are no hero you are a villain, why,”
.
“I do what I want, No classification tells me what to do,”

“If you do this people will no longer fear you, no longer fear you blade,”

“Let them I will teach them to fear again,”

“LIAR you like it, you have had enough of this pain always pain. You have had enough of the hate the fear you wish for the title of hero to be on you. To be loved.”

“…”

“You want to be loved once more before you die, you wish to finds your family, your friends you once had and make peace so you will feel like you belong. That’s all you want any more to belong. But you can’t face them after the countless sins you have committed you could not see them eye to eye.”

“QUIET, no…no. Your just trying to get to me, to make me fail to evoke some emotion I long did away with.”

“Did away with, or hide?”

“What,”

“Is it truly gone or did you just hide it from view so no one will know the GREAT Black rider has fear.”

“I fear no man,”

“LIAR,”

“Who are you to tell me MY emotions?”

“Have you not guessed it yet? I am you we are Tsuukai. I am the voice you so long his away, but as times grow more desperate I will return you to your senses. I will make you fear once more as you always should have.”

Tsuukai jolted upwards, and looked around franticly. His vision still hazy he could see only bare outline. The Teenaged girl standing in the far corner of the room smiled at her awakened guest.

“Your awake,” the girls voice sang.

“Who…what…where…when…Stacia!” Tsuukai said as he regained his vision.

“No the names Maria you where on the beach knocked out, you must have come from the ship that was on fire.”

“The ship, on fire?”

“Yes I’m sorry you where the only one found,” The girl said walking over to the counter and picking up a glass of water. Walking back her blond hair flowing she handed the water to Tsuukai, “Here drink you must be thirsty,”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The dark clouds struck with the sound of thunder filled the massive throne room echoing throughout. The large robed man walked down it once again, staff in hand. As he closed in on the petit women sitting upon her excessively large throne he went to one knee, and bowed showing his allegiance.

“Miss Stacia, the ship was destroyed, the metal man called a pillar of fire in his rage,” the large man said with a look as fear in his eyes, “There where no survivors.”

“And the man in black,” Anastacia said sweetly.

“We believe he has died as well, I have failed you.”

“No,” She said standing up not is disbelief, but as a reassurance, “I can still feel his presence he is still alive. “You have not failed me,” she finished placing her delicate hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you my Queen, I will have the troops scour the island of Crete we will find Tsuukai.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Where is your library?” Tsuukai said remembering why he came to the island.

“Huh that was burned down months ago,”

“Where all the books burned?” Tsuukai asked in distress.

“All but one book, for some reason it was found in the ashes unharmed, It was trasnfered to a library far away,” She said worried, “This is about the Infector isn’t it’s about Stacia.”

“How…how do you know about her?”

“I have heard tales, your looking for the book because it holds the key to defeating her doesn’t it.”

“You’re a smart girl how old are you?”

“27,” Said the girl with a smile, “And I’m coming with you,” She finished as she started packing her things.

“What you can’t, you could get hurt,”

“My dad taught me everything he knows about sword fighting,” She said as she finished packing her small bag, “Besides I am your only way off this island.”

“You own a ship,” he said mockingly.

“Not exactly,” she said with an unusual grin.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Are you sure you know where your going,” Tsuukai said in a cough from the dust of old stone stair case which seemed to be leading into the center of the earth.

“Don’t worry I come down here often,” She said. She was in the lead and held an old torch that was barely able to light up her face. “Here we are,” She said finally when the reached there destination. Placing the torch on a rope it flew up the rope, which split, into four parts each leading to a torch in a different corner of the room lighting the whole room.

‘WOAH,” Tsuukai said is shock his eye’s set sight on a large black dragon that occupied the room, “You mean to tell me we are going to travel around the world and back on that beast.”

“Hey,” Maria exclaimed, “he is my best friend and the fastest means of travel. If you ever hope to stop Stacia you’ll ride him.”

“Fine then have it your way,” Tsuukai said with a scowl, “Where do we fit on that beast,”

“Stop calling him that,” Maria replied, “We fit on his back don’t worry it’s actually quite easy to stay on,” She said jumping onto the large creatures back motioning for Tsuukai to join her. This is madness why are you trusting this girl you hardly know her. Tsuukai’s master said to him. I have a good feeling about this girl, and she is right it is the fastest way to travel he replied causally. You have had a good feeling in year so why now. the evil one replied chillingly. I wouldn’t expect you to under stand now pipe down if you don’t have anything good to say. He replied whilst mounting the winged dragon.

“You know,” Maria, said as they where about to fly threw the underwater river to the sea, “You haven’t told me your name,”

“The name is Tsuukai,” He replied coldly as they lifted into the air.

“Oh ok,” She said with a smile as they blasted out of the cave into the twilight sky. “Don’t be so glum,” She said leaning back into Tsuukai’s lap.

“Umm,” The black rider said a little embarrassed

“Because I’m a cheery gal,” She said with a smile getting up and turning around to face Tsuukai, “And I don’t wanna see any sad faces OK,”

“Umm sure,” Tsuukai replied wondering what he got himself into.

[Puck]

Chapter 4: A slow unveling

The midnight moon wavered in full bloom. The two warriors where fast asleep upon the slow moving dragon. Maria slept pleasantly even amidst the chaos Tsuukai brought into her life, but the dark warrior tossed and turns with dreams of the past, and the future.

He stood there speechless watching the younger version of himself, reading the book that would change his life. Learning about the great power that was so close. As a smile crept upon his face as he descended into the chaos he chose to embark into. For what? For power. He betrayed his family, his home for a power he thought he could achieve. He was tired of being the model citizen always doing the right thing, always being a hero. He saw as he took all order away from his life, for something he had yet to achieve. What he saw was a boy taking the road less walked, and that made all the difference. Watching this it hurt him, to see the innocence be corrupted by a promise of power.

“Is this how my end began,” Tsuukai said in a sigh, “is this how I became what I once hated.”

“Yes,’ A voice hissed into his mind,” This is how you achieved ultimate power,”

“NO I am still weak defenseless against Stacia and her ever present army.” He snapped back at his dark master.

“The power you seek is so close,” The dark wizard by the name of Tuzal replied back with a hiss.

“I have had enough of looking for this lost power,” The black rider replied, “I will never find the eternal tower, and you know it!”

“You will at it will take is time,”

“LIAR you only wish to plunge me faster into the shadows I embrace. To the eternal dark, I can’t go back to where I was once at now even if I tried. But if you continue to poison me I won’t even be able to begin to pick up the shards of my former life.”

“You are mine, your power belong to me YOU CAN”T ESCAPE”

Tsuukai jolted up in a cold sweat, his sudden movement awoke Maria who was only a few feet away. “Huh what’s that matter,” She said seeing the disturbance on Tsuukai’s features.

“Nothing to worry yourself over,” The black rider replied harshly.

“Fine be that way then,” She said looking of the side of the dragon, ‘Hey it look’s like we above land, we should let Hidarian rest.”

“Who? Oh the dragon,” Tsuukai said momentarily confused, “What the story of the dragon anyways.”

“It’s not much of a story, but when I was young he saved me from an erupting volcano. We have been friends ever sense.’ She replied in a cheery tone.

“You say that so calmly, can’t say I’m surprised,” The lord of shadows said rolling his black eye’s.

The young women kept watching the ground ignoring his last remark, “Hidarian stop!” She said loudly to her dragon. It did as his friend asked and hovered high above the ground. “Over there in that valley we can rest for the night and leave at sundown tomorrow.

“Why sundown?” Tsuukai asked confused.

“Well you gotta train me on sword fighting, I am ok, but I could always be batter,” She replied with a wink.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The queen sat upon her throne with a look of confidence, confidence in the plan that was slowly unfolding as she watched threw the eye’s of others. The world began crumbling at mere mention of her, and her new “friends” would provide useful. Just as the thought went through her head a shadowy figure appeared before her.

“Is everything going as planned,” The dark one said swiftly.

“Yes the Black one is about to find the book which he believes holds my secret.” She said with a twisted smile,” then he will come here expecting to kill me, when he does make sure you hold up your end of the bargain.”

“We will be here do not worry about that,” The dark one said with a smile, “ Then the great Tsuukai Ita will fall and join us then…”

“Then we go from there,” The girl said in a small voice, “Do not get ahead of yourself Shinu.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“What are you doing up,” Tsuukai asked groggily waking from his peaceful slumber.

“Cooking,” Maria said flipping eggs over the new fire, “there done want some.”

“Umm sure,” He said almost reluctantly taking a plate of wild eggs from her small hands.

“When your done we can start,” She said with a smile.

“Fine then,” Tsuukai replied dropping his plate and drawing his saber,” You do have a weapon don’t you?”

“Of course,” Maria replied taking out the blade she kept on her back. It was long and slender, but stayed straight unlike Tsuukai’s blade. The ends of the hilt curved up slightly, and the entire hilt was made of fine gold. The sword although large was made light for the fairly slim swords women.

“ Ok then show me what you got,” He said getting into his fighting stance, ‘I wont hold back because you’re a girl,” He said with a smile.

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Maria said charging in with a downward attack. Tsuukai blocked the attack with ease as Maria’s sword swerved to the side. The two blades struck again as Maria’s blade was knocked away. Tsuukai lunged forward, which cause Maria to jump back and fall. She quickly picked herself back up a little embarrassed. She got up, and smiled showing she wasn’t backing down so easily.

She came forward again and sliced for the abdomen, thought the black rider just backed away almost mocking her. “You’re ok, you need to work on your reflexes though.” Tsuukai said calmly blocking several more blows, “ Also you need to try to be a little less aggressive. Go into a fight blocking for a while to get a feel for your opponent’s strategy then start attacking. If you go in without a clue you are almost always going to fail.”

This continued for several more hours. Maria, and Tsuukai would duel every once in a while the black rider would spit out advice then they would continue. After a few hours where done they decided to take a break, and get a drink.

“So,” Tsuukai said taking a gulp of water from a jug, “ Next I think you are ready for some basic magic.”

“MAGIC?!?” Maria said spitting out the water she had in her mouth,” That stuff is real I thought it was just a myth.”

“Oh it is real alright, and very useful.” Tsuukai said whipping the water droplets from his mouth.

“And I am going to learn magic,” She said trying to understand it.

“Dark magic to be exact it is the only kind I know at the moment.”

“Ok,” She said trying to reassure herself.

Standing in the middle of the field the dark warrior, and a runaway girl started the art of magic. “Ok it is actually simple, first we are going to start with a basic shadow ball technique. What you have to do is focus on one emotion, bring up memories of this emotion if you have too. It can be any emotion, but it must be a strong one present in your life. Control that emotion into a ball in your mind then release that emotion. Like this,” He said sending a black ball of energy at a mountain.

“O…ok I’ll,” She said unsure. She managed to form a small ball no bigger then dime. When she let go the ball dropped to the ground doing almost nothing.

“Well,” Tsuukai said trying to be comforting, “It was a good first try?”

* * * * * * * * * *

The large army began marching up the cliff side. It’s leader was a large man with red wings, his gold color hair was long and down to his was down to his waist and cascaded down his dragon like wings. His army began marching around the mountain range that separated the valley from the rest of the world. Out of the sky a similar warrior burst out of the clouds only his wings where white.

“Sir Stacia has said to commence with the attack once the troops are in position.” The white dragoon said to the fire dragoon.

“It shall be done,” The golden haired dragoon said without emotion, “Tell Stacia the attack has commenced, and that everything is going according to plan.”

“Yes sir,” With that the white warrior flew away and the army began to attack from all sides. Back in the valley Tsuukai was trying in vain to teach Maria black magic.

“Ok lets try it again,” he said head in his hand he was getting aggravated She tried to, but as she did the flame dragoon swept in from the mountainside. In a sudden burst of fear a black power flew from her hand temporarily disabling the red warrior.

“What the?” Tsuukai said noticing the invading army from all sides.

“What are we going to do, if we try to fly away the will just shoot us out of the sky,” Maria said extremely worried.

“Don’t worry I will handle them just get your pet ready,” He said sternly as darkness started to cover him. His entire features where that of a shadows as he rose menacingly into the air. A great ball of power formed around him pitch black, and cold as ice. He sent out his great dark power in every direction killing or disabling all who stood to see what would happen next. He fell to the ground quickly, and started sprinting to hi ticket out.

He got on the dragon but as they began to rise a golden haired minion jumped out at them. He managed to grab Maria, and take her off the side of the rising dragon. “MARIA,” Tsuukai shouted more concerned then he would have thought and dived out grabbing onto her falling hand.

“Good catch,” She said smiling as the dragon raced forward in space.

“I will never understand you,” he said pulling her onto safety.

“That was a close call lets not do that again,’ She said playfully.

“It’s not over yet” The lord of shadows said taking notice to there dragoon follower. He was gaining on them fast and shot a ball of fire shaking the dragon. “This is not good,” Tsuukai Ita said as the flying warrior looked to be charging an attack. “Hold on,” The black rider said hoping his plan would work.

The flame dragoon powered up, and shot a massive fire beam. It burned the sky up, but as it reached it destination a giant shield surrounded the dragon sparing it. The black rider smiled slightly as he shot an arrow at a support of the dragoon’s wings snapping it. The dragoon twirled endlessly into death as the “heroes” crept off at a remarkable speed.

“Back there,” Maria said slowly, “What was that, what did you become?"

“It was a dark magic attack,” He replied looking down, slightly embarrassed at what he had become.

“When do I get to do that?” She asked playfully noticing his distress.

[Zorolo]

Awesome, I love the cameo, thanks. Back to waiting, when I get the answer, I'll PM ya first. The pieces of the puzzle are all falling together. All that remains now are a few... loose ends.

[Puck]

Chapter 5: From Bad To Worse.

“I know this place,” Tsuukai said to Maria who was sitting in front oh him.

“So?” She said sarcastically turning her torso around.

“There is a small, but dangerous town up ahead. Only swine live there, but they usually have interesting information,” Tsuukai said grimly.

“So that’s our next destination?” She replied in a smile.

“Yes there is clearing in the forest up ahead the dragon can hide there,” He not telling Maria that he wasn’t planning on her to join him. Maria only nodded a reply as she climbed up near the large beasts head. Whispering softly he told her friend the plan. How does that dragon understand her, I didn’t know dragons could be taught the words of men, Tsuukai thought to himself staring at what was going.

The dragon landed softly on the green grass in the forest clearing. The two warriors hopped off the dragon Tsuukai in front. He walked over to the woods knowing the path he had to take. Taking notice to the girl following behind him he addressed her quietly.

“You can’t come,”

“And why not, I am not a child I am almost as old as you,” She said scowling hands on hips.

“You don’t know this place like I do you could get hurt.”

“I thought you didn’t care if I got hurt?”

“What, I never said that.”

“You implied it,”

“Will you just stop already. Your not coming and that is final if something happened to you,” he choked on his words for a second but his chain of thought came back,” if something happened to you I wouldn’t be able to escape on the dragon.”

“That’s not all,” She said staring him down intently, “Aww you care about me. I feel so warm.”

“Enough!” He said almost screaming, “Listen,” his voice lowered,” You don’t know what they will do to you if the find you alone. They would rape you on the spot then kill you without a second thought I am not about to take that kind of chance I cannot defeat Stacia without your help you know that. Just stay with the beast I can handle this on my own.”

“Listen I can take care of myself. I am coming I am old enough to make my own decisions.” She said in a tone that made Tsuukai know there was no changing her mind.

“…” he stared intently hoping to find some sort of doubt in her eyes he could work with, but she was determined and almost fearless,” Fine,” he scowled turning around walking briskly towards the lush forest. Maria jogged behind trying to catch up.

* * * * *

The queen sat on her throne a deep evil slowly advanced to her. “Ah you have back,”

“I have to check up on my plan,”

“I assure you everything is in order,”

“Are you sure,”

“Yes the one we seek is on his way to the village. We have our spy planted there to relay some false information.”

“That’s odd,” He said his voice showing a hint of anger, “I didn’t know there was two,”

‘What do you mean. Speak Shinu”

“I don’t remember that girl being part of the plan, why was I not informed the master of shadows had found himself a partner.”

“Why should you be it won’t interfere with our plans.”

“How do we know this girl wont come wise to us, I know Tsuukai well enough to know he wont but she could be a problem.”

“If the girl steps in the way to much we will deal with her like we would any other bump on the road.”

“You had better make sure she doesn’t. I will be back soon.” With that he turned and walked away almost disappearing as he walked.

* * * * *

“Are you sure you know where we are going?” Maria asked breaking a long silence.

“Yes,”

“You sure I could have sworn I have seen that tree before,” She said point to an old looking tree.

“Maybe you have tree’s have ways of getting around you know,” He stated blankly.

“What?”

“You will see far weird things then moving trees by the time we are done,” He stated chuckling a little.

“I don’t think I want to.”

“It does not matter we are here,” He replied as the reached the edge of the forest. The shining light blinded them for a second before the vision focused on sign. ‘Welcome to…’ the rest was scratched out or broken off. They walked threw the dusty streets Tsuukai paid attention to every person on the road gawking at Maria as if daring them to try anything. Maria herself did not look afraid just sad that so many people lived like pigs in such a place.

“Charming place they have here,” Maria whispered into Tsuukai’s ear.

“I have seen worse,”

“I don’t want to know,” She finished as the reached the town bar. Without even thinking Maria barged ahead slamming open the twin swinging doors. The brown wood opened fast as everyone in the bar’s attention turned to the beautiful women entering it.

“Eh what do we have here,” A dirty bearded man san said standing up his hand reaching for inappropriate parts of Mari’s body. Before he could touch anything a cold steel was at his neck ready for the kill.

“Touch her and I slit your throat!” His voice showed he was not bluffing.

“Well if it isn’t the great Tsuukai Ita, back from your usual killing spree,” He said in a laugh that was cut short as Tsuukai’s blade began to press into his flesh. “Protective about your girlfriend eh, don’t be she is to good for ya anyways.”

“Another word from you, and it will be your last,” He said his eye’s narrowing. The man said nothing after that knowing full well the anger of the Master Of Shadows. “Now that that is done,” He said throwing the man to the floor and walking over him. Maria just watched the scene until these words as she slowly followed the Black Rider. “I…We have some for information, I know you have some.”

“I don’t know nothing,” I drunk man said standing up, but fell on his face a moment later.

“As I was saying we need information about someone known as the Infector.”

“Ill tell ya for one night with your friend,” A man said in a laugh. His laughter was over a second later a dagger was imbedded into the wood right beside his head.

“Next time I wont miss. Now I know someone her knows something.”

“I do,” A old man said standing up, “I have heard tale of an old book that tells her secret on a mountain castle far, far north form here. I would venture up there myself, but I am to old.”

“Tell me old man why should we trust you,”

“I know the ways of Stacia the world will end if I don’t help you me with it. I have no reason to lie.”

“Very well, you know what will happen if you are lying I assume,” The old man only shook his head. ”Good then we will be on our way,” Tsuukai said motioning for Maria to exit. “One more thing,” Tsuukai said turning his head,” Tell no one of our visit it must remain a secret.” Where his final words

When they where final out of the bar Maria took that chance to speak. “A lovely bunch in there,”

“I told you they are slim,”

“Then why are we following their lead,”

“Because it is the only one we have! If we don’t we will be as lost as we where before we have to try.”

“I suppose you are right,” She said a sound catching her ear. ”What’s that?”

“Huh” The master of shadows replied confused when he heard it to. The whole ground seemed to be shaking “RUN!” He said taking off into a bolt Maria right beside him.

“Why…what is it,” She said trying to keep up.

“Forest trolls friends of Stacia no doubt,” His voice almost over shadowed by a hard stomping behind him. The creatures where about fifteen feet tall ugly, and green, their teeth rotten and hair a shiny gold, seven of them found there way into town and where Tsuukai and Maria where. They where fast on there tail as they ran into the woods unbeknownst to worse dangers that lurked ahead.

[Puck]

Chapter 6: Trapped

“How…how many are there,” Maria said in a trying to catch her breath.

“Ten…at least I didn’t get a good look,”

“To many to kill?”

“No I could kill these, but there are many more on our wake by the time I kill these hundreds more would be in our midst.”

“Oh,” She said getting back to our feet,” We just need to find our way back to the clearing this is the same path isn’t it.”

“Yeah, we must go now they are catching up.” Tsuukai said running down the path again, the lovely Maria right behind him. Behind them trees shook as an ugly face peered threw the trees a giant club in its distorted hand. With a sickly yellow smile it gave chase.

“Damnit one’s found us,” Tsuukai said looking over his should for only a second, “Whatever you do don’t stop running,” The speed quickened down the forest path Tsuukai, and Maria began taking distance from the lumbering beast, until the path was stopped short by a group of trees.

“What these weren’t here before,”

“The trees,” Maria said slapping herself in the forehead,” The trees must be on Stacia’s side she planned this.”

“Of course…” But his sentence was cut short by loud footsteps. The Troll was upon them Maria was first in line, but the troll merely used its giant hand to throw her away she was not what its master wanted. The master of shadow’s tried to draw his blade but it was knocked loose by the giant primitive weapon. Flying threw the air in landed far away.

The giant club was raised into the air ready to crush the warrior. Before it fell the Troll’s attention was turned away from a sharp pain in it’s back. His deformed head turned all the way around followed by his body. Orders or not he was angry this girl would pay. With a massive hand Maria was sent flying backwards onto her back. The troll ran forward as a glowing hand touched the ground a way’s behind him. The troll was about to stomp out the girl in a run if a wall of rock hadn’t risen from the ground that second. He stumbled backwards trying to catch his balance, but two well placed arrows brought the best to his knees.

The dark warrior walked causally up to the best grabbing the hilt of a sword protruding from its back. His face was hidden by the shadows as he stabbed the blade into the deranged beasts neck ending it. Maria walked around to see the troll laying dead a look of surprise across her face.

“How…did you?’ Glancing towards the rock wall that rose to save her life.

“That is a lesson for another day,” Handing Maria’s blade back to her,” You will need this if we are to survive,” Nodding her head she placed her weapon at her side.

“Where too now? The path is blocked”

“I know,” He said going into thought.

“Why don’t you just blast the trees away until we reach the center?”

“No…” He said in a wave of his hand, “Even my power has its limits and we don’t know how thick these are if I start and are unable to finish we wont be able to escape,”

“Well standing here isn’t doing any good either we have to do some thing,” A sound of distress in her voice.

“Ok I have an idea. This forest is like a maze with connecting paths there must be more that lead to the center so all we have to do…”

“Is follow the path till we reach the center,”

“Exactly. Here lets take this one,” He said pointing to a small path, loud footsteps almost drowning him out. “Fast!” He said running Maria not far behind. They speed threw trees and brushes with a pair of yellow eye’s slithering behind them. Waiting watching for its moment to strike. Soon they where at a cross roads it found it’s chance.

Tsuukai let out a vicious scream as it attached itself to his arm. Twin pincers protruding from its slimy mouth it drained him, and left it’s job done. The master of shadows feel to the ground limp Maria at his side.

“What was that thing? It isn’t poison is it?”

“Worse,” He barely managed to say.

“Worse!?!”

“An ancient snake…it drains energy,” He said trying to get his bearings. “ He drained it all I cant use magic,” A horrid look was all Maria could do to respond. “We must move now, we haven’t much time,” Struggling to get to his feet he motioned forward.”

“You can barely walk just rest for a moment,”

“No! the more we wait the close they come I cant fight in the condition we must make hast lest they find us.” He took off in a halfhearted run. He was breathing deeply Maria could sense that he didn’t have much left to run on.

“Are you sure your going to be ok?” Her voice sounded worried almost afraid.

“Ill be fine,” Wheezing he managed to get the words out, “Turn here,” he said motioning to a path to there left. The ominous sounds of many heavy footsteps sill filled their minds. The more they ran the farther the footsteps sounded, but with each step Tsuukai’s breath grew harsher. If we can’t rest soon he’s going to faint, but if we do they will catch us, and I know I cant take them on alone. thoughts ran threw the female warriors mind. She had to do something, she just didn’t know what.

“We need to rest you can’t run forever.” Slowing her pace to a light jog.

“We have to this maze has to lead to the center sometime,” He barely was able to make the words.

“Listen if you faint well both be dead the best thing we can do now is rest.”

“I can make it, just a little further then we be able to leave this dreaded forest,”

“You can barely speak,”

“ I told you I am fine,”

“And I don’t believe you.”

“You don’t have to believe me. In either case we aren’t stopping,” As if on cue something made them stop, a giant one-eyed spider found its way into their path. It seemed the whole forest was against them. They skidded to a halt searching desperately to find a way out, with no luck the spider knew what it was doing and there was no place for them to run. Maria tried turning around the other way but a group of trees blocked her path.

“This is not good,” Her face blank as she her eyes met with the thing that stopped them. With a swipe of it’s giant claw the great Tsuukai Ita was flung lifelessly into the forest . A loud crack filled the air as he met with a tree. The sickly yellow eye found a new target, a helpless girl. Her blond hair tied back shaded by the thick impenetrable forest. Her face showed horror as the beast approached poisonous fangs oozing green open.

[Puck]

Chapter 7:Stand and Fight

The deep green ooze dripped slowly from the menacing pincers that drew ever closer to Maria. She drew her blade, but it was no use the spider merely knocked it out of her hand before continuing its course. Maria closed her eye’s waiting for death. A death that never came, she opened her eye’s to see a black ball of energy send the over sized arachnid flying. It screeched in pain as it bent around a tree eye enraged.

“Pick up your blade. Kill it!” Tsuukai’s voice screamed as he fell against a tree drained. The great spider ran fast at Maria who leapt to the ground where her sword lay. Turning to lay on her back she say the beast fly threw the air talons aiming for her head. Using all her strength she threw the blade at the arachnid, and rolled out of its way. The spider landed on its feet letting out one final cry of pain before falling to the ground below.

Maria breathed heavily as she returned to her feet the master of shadows limping to her side. Her face was splattered with blood from the beast, but she didn’t notice she was just happy to be alive. “Good job,” Tsuukai said a weak smile across his face, “Take your blade we must keep going, if they didn’t know our where we are they do now.”

“Are you sure your ok?”

“I'll be fine we just need to keep going.” He smiled a weak smile, his face was noticeable paler and his eyes looked weary.

“I think we should…” her voice overshadowed by loud footsteps, lots of them. Without a chance to think Tsuukai bolted off Maria right beside him as the faces of there pursuers began to show themselves. They ran forward into the darkened forest. A Troll burst out of the forest right in front of them reds flaming, and rotten yellow teeth smiling.

“This way,” Tsuukai said grabbing Maria’s hand and pulling her into a side path narrowly escaping death. They ran for what seemed like hours threw the intertwining forest paths. Slowly the foot steps behind them began to grow softer, and softer till there where nothing more then a whisper in the wind.

“Rest,” Tsuukai panted slowing to a stop.

“Good idea, you cant keep this up much longer that thing drained most of your energy.”

“Don’t worry about my well being for the moment. We have more pressing issues.”

“Your right,”

“We need some sort of plan. We cant run forever especially in my weakened state.”

“If only that snake didn’t drain you, you could fly to the center, get the dragon to save me.”

“We don’t have time for ifs, we need to find away out of this forest.”

“What can we do, if we run we will die from exhaustion, and the forest is too thick to maneuver threw without a path.”

“We could fight them off.”

“Are you crazy, even if you where at full power we are out numbered.”

“What choice do we have? If we run when they find us we will be too weak to fight, and I think we don’t stand a chance at finding the clearing like this.”

“What you’re suggesting is suicide.”

“But it is our only chance, if we can fight them off long enough for my power to regain…”

“But if your fighting it could take hours,” She cut him off.

“Maybe so, but what chance do we have. The way I see it is that either way we are going to have to fight either way. So why not rest while we can. We are rat’s caught in there trap if we are going down we are going to go down fighting,”

“It is too risky…”

“It is our only hope, I refuse to die running like a coward sooner or later we will fight them this way we at least have a punchers chance.”

“Its crazy…”

“That’s why it will work, trust me if we don’t fight now they will over run us and kill us with ease, we have to fight to the bitter end win or lose we should at least give them hell.”

“…”She was silent her face showed fear, fear of loss, fear of death, fear of losing more then her life, “Your right,” She gulped, “We should fight, but you don’t even have a blade.”

“Actually,” His voice trailed off as he unsheathed his saber, “I saw it sticking out of a tree when we where running”

“So what do we do now?”

“Sit and wait,” Tsuukai said with a pale smile as he sat upon a rock awaiting pain. The seconds drew on for what seemed like forever both warriors sat in silence listing for the footsteps, which signaled death. The ground shook as large feet stomped on the ground watching looking. The two stood wordlessly their eyes met. Tsuukai nodded his gently reassuring as he drew his blade.

“You ready?” A pale smile still across his face.

“No,”

“Too late,” His words pierced the darkness as the first of the beasts burst out of the forest weapon a blaze. It roared a disgusting roar, before he could finish his voice was cut short by an arrow. It cut threw his throat choking him. Stumbling back it gave one last gasp for air before it toppled over the life sucked from it. Two more emerged for the depth of the forest, taking only a glance at their fallen comrade the continued.

A massive club fell down where Tsuukai was standing, but he moved in time to dodge the weapon. Dust flew into the air covering the air shrouding the sight of all around. The beast’s eye’s where just above where the dust was. The last thing he ever saw was a sharp blade emerging from the clouds of dust. Tsuukai landed gracefully to his feet to see the other troll lifting Maria up with its massive hand.

A dagger from under the black riders cloak imbedded itself into the troll’s wrist causing it to let go and scream in pain. Maria landed on one knee with her blade in hand. She thrust upwards into the stomach of the ugly beast. Its face twisted with pain before it fell over, not dead but close.

“This is too hard,” Maria said with a smile as four more burst out of the greenery. One swinging for the master of shadow’s head narrowing missing if he had not ducked. Rolling under the things legs he slashed out the back of its knees causing it to drop to them. Tsuukai jumped off its lower back, and using all his weight drove his blade into its neck. One down three to go, He thought warrior instincts getting the best of him. Tsuukai’s black eyes surveyed the area, and to his surprise Maria managed to defeat one by her self. His smile crept away as he saw another rising from behind. Without so much as a second thought he placed two arrows into its exposed neck. Another appeared as the first fell, Tsuukai’s hand reached for an arrow, to his horror he was out. Almost as fast he reached for a dagger, but he had no more of those left either.

He ran to help as the troll grabbed her from behind beginning to squeeze. The instant pain was too much and Maria’s blade fell to the ground useless. Tsuukai was stopped in his tracks as a half dead troll grabbed onto his leg. He was able to fight its gripe, but as he turned to see the other a club connected with a sickening thud sending the black rider into the sky. As soon as his back met with the hard wood everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.

The beast slowly squeezed the life out of Maria her face growing paler and paler. He was helpless to save her, He had too he had to make sure she survived to protect her. He…he knew what those emotions where. He felt something that he hadn’t felt for anyone before he knew that he had to save her, somehow. The pain of a thousand knifes rushed threw him as he saw her life fade. As if he had been given a new body one that had been spared the pain he had just received he rose to his feet using all his might he threw his bloody blade into the air.

It spiraled threw the darkened forest air, cutting the wind. For what seemed like hours it flew, but only a second later a blade was embedded into the deranged beast head. It’s fingers loosened dropping the warrior like a doll. With a thud it fell to the ground, dead. Tsuukai rushed to where Maria lay dropping down to one knee he cradled her head into his arms. Her eyes where shut closed thinking she was about to die, slowly as she noticed death had not come her eyes open filtered light blinding her view.

“Are you alright,” A sweet voice no longer harsh, and evil called to her. His face shined bright even with most of his power drained he looked full again.

“I’m…I’m fine, I think,” She managed to get out, “What happened?”

“That beast was crushing you I thought you where dead,”

“Are there more,” She said sitting up quickly as she remembering what was going on.

“Not yet, but there are some close,”

“We must fight,” She said struggling to get to her feet.

“I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up,” His voice lost as three more Trolls burst into the scene clubs in hand they where ready to kill.

[Puck]

Chapter 8: Into the Shadows.

The armies emerged from the blackened depths of the forest. Yellow teeth smiling as they had found the ones they had searched for. Blades drawn the two warriors awaited the worst possible situation. Stray rays of light lit up their faces, no worry, and no fear, only courage. Courage to the bitter end, fate it seemed worked in odd ways. They refused to fear, they accepted their fate and faced it head on. Above them a single raven flew across the sky unnoticed below.

“That’s the best you’ve got, we have been running this forest for hours from a few trolls? I was hoping for a better challenge.” The master of shadows grinned.

“You always where a one for words,” A voice shot out of the darkness, surprisingly familiar.

“It can’t be,” Tsuukai’s eyes grew wide as the man’s voice pierced through him bringing forth a long lost memory.

“But it is,”

“Ralph,”

“Ah you remember,” His voice heavily accented as he walked into the light, golden hair shining.

“My old childhood friend, what happened to you? You have become a prisoner.”

“Me you think I have become a prisoner,” He chuckled, “Look at yourself Tsuukai Ita, what are you now the Master Of Shadows. Long ago you where a good man, kind, and considerate. You gave it all away for power, now look at yourself, you are held by the chains of your own greed forever locked into the shadows you love.”

“Long ago I fell to temptation, like all of this world. I let my greed control me into things I normally couldn’t do. Do you honestly believe I like that I wanted power to change this world, to stop war. But to stop it I became a part of the problem a shadow of what this world really is.”

“You became evil corrupted by the hatred of this world. My queen seeks to end this hatred why stop her?”

“You are wrong she seeks to not get rid of hatred only control its power. I am not evil by any means I am merely a shadow of all people.”

“People are evil by nature, my queen will be the end to the evil,”

“Wrong again, old friend people are not evil. Once I believed as you do that the world is full of evil, but it seems my eyes are no longer blinded by greed. I see the love and kindness of this world that intertwines with the evil.”

“Sure now you see the kindness, where was thins when you betrayed our village,”

“Lost, I refused to see both sides but with some help I do now. You have not come here to argue with me on the nature of humans I know that. Tell me old friend why do you pursue me?”

“I seek to bring you peace,”

“You seek to imprison me with lies.”

“Its not like you had a choice,” An unearthly smile crossed his face as he drew his blade, “One more battle for old times sake,”

“It will end the same,” Tsuukai charged as the trolls surrounded the two leaving Maria on the outside looking in. Tsuukai swung high, as Ralph slashed low. Both blades missed there mark, but met together in the after swing. Ralph broke the connection with a push of his blade bringing the two to a stand still facing each other.

Ralph tried for an upward blow, but Tsuukai blocked at the bottom of the attack. Tsuukai raised his boot kicking the infected warrior away. Ralph spat on the ground, and grinned again. “Seems you still can’t beat me,” The master of shadows smiled.

“Seems you underestimate me,” The warrior raised his unarmed hand, a smile more devilish then the before across his face. A flash of light from a bolt of lightning lit of the forest. The shock sent Tsuukai flying into the air smashing into one of the motionless trolls surrounding him. The shadow raised himself to his feet with an odd smile.

“Nice,” He chuckled, “I didn’t see that one coming care to try that again when I’m expecting it,”

“You will learn the meaning of pain,” Was the infected warriors reply as he shot another bolt at Tsuukai. In a flash of a millisecond a cold blade was in the way stopping the attack to hit. The yellow energy swirled around the blade lighting up the face behind it. Pointing down he drove it into the ground rendering the attack useless.

“Metal conducts electricity, care to try again,”

“I am just getting started,”

“That’s good, I was afraid you would quit.”

“Impotent scum,” His face twisting into anger as he shot a ball of fire at the master of shadows. Calmly Tsuukai dodged the attack causing the ball of fire to hit a troll in the stomach. The angered troll lifted his heavy weapon in response hoping to crush the master of shadows. As he did his eyes grew wide, and his face tortured by pain as he stumbled backwards falling hard. Where the troll once stood Maria was present her sword drenched in fresh blood.

“What is going on? Who is that guy?” She pointed at the infected warrior.

“I’ll explain later,”

“There is no later,” Ralph, said smiling, “Only the light,”

“I wont kill you, I want to but its not your fault it’s Stacia’s she will die and you restored.”

“You wont defeat her she will win,”

“NO, she will fail you cannot change that,”

“I am growing tired of this, you die today,” He said pointing his sword at the two signaling the attack. The army of troll’s by that time about thirty strong surrounded the two blocking all light. Into the shadows, The one trapped spoke for the first time in a while. What about Maria I can’t leave her here? Tsuukai replied mentally. Take her with you.

Your crazy I barely have enough power for myself, and we don’t even know if I can take another Was his distressed response. What choice do you have, you could stay here and be infected or try this either way there’s a risk. Which one is worse is the question, . Fine your right I have no alternative

“This is the best you’ve got, you believe you can trap the master of shadows,” Tsuukai said in a laugh.

“What are you doing,” Maria whispered urgently into Tsuukai’s ear.

“Don’t worry I have a plan.” He whispered surprisingly calm. “Tell your Queen that the Master of shadows is upset with her. He expected better then this. Make sure she knows she can’t trap a shadow and that I will seek presence with her shortly. Now I must be going, another time we shall finish this.” He said aloud a stale grin across his face.

Grabbing Maria by the far shoulder he pulled her close, she was a little shocked at the action, but figured it was part of his plan. Grabbing his cloak he pulled it over both of their faces covering them almost completely. In a second the black figures hidden by the cloak shrank and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Oddly enough Ralph did not look surprised he looked pleased like part of a plan had just unfolded.

* * * * * *

The two emerged from a shadow as if they where coming out of water, that shadow itself was that of a lone tree in the middle of the clearing. “Did we just...” Maria started to speak.

“Travel through shadows? Yes,”

“You knew you could do this,”

“Yes,”

“Then why didn’t you just do that in the first place?” Her voice showing signs of anger.

“It is dangerous I can only go to places I have seen, and I didn’t know if it was safe to take more then myself.”

“But…”

“We don’t have time to argue we are not out of trouble just yet. We’ll talk about this when we are safely away on your dragon…” He said turning around expecting to see a dragon. All he saw was a plain green field with a small yellowish piece of paper where a great dragon once was. “What the.” He shouted running up to the paper. He grabbed the paper harshly from the ground his eye’s scanned it quickly as he did his hand tightened to a fist.

“What…what is it,” Maria asked tentively expecting the worst.

“See for yourself,” he said passing her the piece of paper.

Dear Tsuukai

It seems I have underestimated you for you to even read this. If you had not guessed it is I Stacia’s messenger Ralph. Your little dragon put up a brave fight but we have captured him he is now on his way to my castle to the north. If you expect to get him back come and meet me, you where coming this way any ways. I will be waiting so we can finish this battle. It’s only a three months walk you’d better get started.

Your friend
Ralph

“I guess this means wither that old man was lying or not we still have to go there,”

“It seems that way,”

“But how will we get there? We can’t walk it will take too long,”

“I earlier days I was called the black rider, I wasn’t given that name by chance,” He placed two fingers up to his mouth and gave a high-pitched whistling sound. A brief rustling sound was heard, followed by soft stomping. Soon it grew louder, and louder till two figures burst out of the bushes. The black horses stopped in front of them fully saddled and ready for a journey.

“Well…that’s convenient.”

“I assume you know how to ride,”

“Of course,”

“Good we must make hast,” he said mounting his steed, Maria doing the same behind him. The two rode the dieing light to there side. From the side Tsuukai heard a faint voice almost covered by the loud footsteps of the fast moving beasts.

“Tsuukai,”

“Yes,”

“Thanks, you know for saving me back there all those time I must be helpless,”

“No you have just yet to unlock your full potential.”

“I guess, I will repay the debut before we finish this and go our separate ways,”

“Yeah,” Tsuukai said going into thought, “yeah,” he repeated, “Separate ways,”

[Zorolo]

The whole Conversation between Ralph and Tsuukai seems famillar. I think Zorlo said similar things to what the master of shadows said when we battled, but I'd have to check. Personally, I love this story.

Edit: Oh, sorry, and don't forget, we have the Alliance of aura's to finish when you get a moment. Pounding C-link will be greatly fun.