Step Inside the Circle Part 17
Relena ducked again and shuddered as a second cold, foreign spirit brushed past her, only barely missing her. Mariemeia's Formore spirit had finally caught up with that of her mother. There simply was not enough space in the ritual room to contain the two spirits that had broken in without breaking the circle, though.
"How the bloody hell did they get past the wards, Druid?" she barked, glaring in Gwydion's direction.
Gwydion grimaced, backing up to the nearest wall. "I don't know, Lady. I just... No, do not break the circle!" He darted forward to catch a priestess as she shrieked, the spirit... thing darting down at her menacingly.
He was too late.
Even Relena started to curse as the Circle disintegrated. In the centre of the Circle, Leia pulled her child into her arms and held her close, whispering something into her ear-
The two were torn from each other as the spirits flew in past druids and priestesses alike and slammed into them.
The Aspects formed up around Relena as Bean Sidhe and Zechs took their places at Trowa's side. "What can we do?" Hilde asked in a small voice.
Zechs reached out to take Noin's hand on his left and Trowa's on his right. "We can not stop the transformation now. I'm sorry."
"So... what?" Quatre asked, his eyes gone completely blue. "They're just going to turn into daemons?"
Relena shot him a look as Trowa's face went ashen. "Do not say such things! There is a way - there has to be a way to help them!"
They all shuddered, though, as both mother and daughter began to scream and shake, and Trowa silently began to weep.
~*~
Three other creatures had crept up on them, but neither Duo nor Dorothy spared them a glance, knowing Heero would take care of them. They stayed focused on the skeletal-looking woman in front of them. "Scathach, a little information?"
Dorothy sneered as she continued to stare at the woman. "Carman. A witch of the old world. I can only assume those creatures that attacked Heero are her sons."
Duo snorted. "So we have to throw water on her, or what?"
"If you can not be serious, my Lord, at least be original," Scathach said with a roll of her eyes. She leaned over and pulled a sword out of a nearby victim, twirling it expertly. "We can't kill her - not while her sons are still alive."
The witch screamed, high-pitched and piercing, and dove at them both in a whirlwind of claws and barbed spikes that seemed braided into her wild hair. Both warriors blocked her attacks, and Duo's eyes widened comically as even Fragarach was not enough to slice through her talons. "What the hell?"
Dorothy winced as she touched her face and her fingers came away bloody. "Goddess - where is Bean Sidhe when you actually need him?!"
The witch screamed again, and Duo shouldered her out of the way as he hefted Fragarach, his eyes hard. "Look - go help Heero. I'll keep the Wicked Bitch, here, busy."
"But..."
"GO!" he yelled, bringing the sword up in a series of blocks.
Dorothy had no choice but to obey, but as she ran towards Heero's battle, she couldn't help wondering where Wufei was.
~*~
Trowa literally felt his blood running cold in his veins as he watched his sister and niece in the centre of the chamber. He was vaguely aware of Zechs and Quatre on either side of him, holding his hands tightly in their own, and yet...
"Goddess help me, I don't... I can't..."
"Trowa," Relena intoned.
"She's... they're..."
"Gwydion," Relena called sternly, her voice ringing though his mind. He looked up into her eyes, and she continued, "You can and you have to, my friend. They are family, and we all owe them as much. Look carefully, and remember them as the people they are."
He shuddered, and clung to Quatre and Zechs like lifelines. "I can't lose them, I just can't."
Zechs' ice blue eyes narrowed as he watched the two Formorii in the centre of the room going still, the screams over with. "You do not have to, Gwydion. Remember the legends and have faith in them."
In the middle of the room, Leia stirred and sat up, blinking eyes that had gone a sickly yellow colour. Trowa's breath caught in his throat -
"Eithlinn?" she called.
Mariemeia looked up at her mother with the same wide, yellow eyes, and smiled widely to show a mouthful of small, pointed teeth. Leia had never called her that before and she's never wanted to answer to that name, but she really could not remember why. She felt dreadfully off-balance as she got to her feet and stumbled over to the woman. "Mama."
Trowa couldn't help himself from calling out, "Leia? Red? Are you okay?"
The two turned to look at him. Leia's lips drew back in a snarl. "My name is Cathlionn, druid." She stood and faced him down. "Let my daughter and me go and there will be no need for bloodshed."
Trowa shook his head. "Don't you remember me? I'm your little brother, Trowa."
"You are the High Druid, Gwydion, I know who you are," she snarled back.
Relena stepped forward. "You are Leia Barton. The memories are there - you have to try and remember. We can help you..."
"Mummy?"
Everyone turned as a small voice made itself known. "Red," Trowa murmured.
The little girl stared up at her mother. "Who are these people, mummy?"
Leia's feral yellow eyes narrowed. "They are our enemies, child."
"Okay, then." Without warning, Red sprang to her feet and charged at them, heading right for Quatre.
Quatre flung himself sideways, shuddering as he fought down the urge to give in to his power - he'd kill her if he did it, he was sure.
With a cry, Trowa caught the girl around her waist and attempted to subdue her, but Leia was only a second behind the child and back-handed him so hard that he slammed into the wall and collapsed to the ground, panting to breathe beyond the pain. "Don't you dare touch my child, druid!"
Zechs caught her arm before she could strike him again, though, and snarled back at her, "And don't you lay another finger on your brother, either." With a flick of his wrist, Leia was sent flying back into the circle.
Mariemeia flew at him, as well, but he side-stepped her and propelled her towards her mother. "Gwydion, on your feet," he said in a low voice.
Leia snarled as the group formed up around the Prince. "Let us pass, or face the consequences."
Relena's eyes hardened as she stood at her brother's side. "You are not going anywhere until you remember who and what you are. You may be Cathlionn, but you are Leia, as well."
With a scream, Leia launched herself at the Priestess, and all Hell broke loose.
~*~
Heero stumbled as he attempted to block yet another hit from the ogre-like creature he was fighting. Dear Goddess, but the things hit hard. He'd managed to take down one of the creatures already, but given the hard time he was having with this one, he couldn't help thinking that kill was more luck than skill. From the sound of it, Scathach was having just as difficult a time with her foe.
He did not dare to turn to watch as he heard Duo yelp and the witch Carman give a high-pitched cackle of delight. His heart was in his throat, though. And where in all this mess was Balor?
It was at that moment that the wind changed.
Heero gathered his wits and attached with renewed fervour as smoke billowed into his enemy's face and choked it. With a strangled yell, he drew his arm back and threw the sword in his left hand with all his might-
The creature fell dead, as though hit by lightning, and Heero permitted himself a small smile of victory. Only one more creature to go before the witch's immortality would be spent-
The smile faded almost immediately as two other figures became visible just beyond the smoke. "Oh, hell."
He jogged to the creature he's just defeated and yanked his second sword free, gripping both blades tightly as a wave of terror went through him.
Wufei was fighting Balor, and could not hope to survive. There was nothing else for it.
He was going to have to face the demon again, and hope that Duo could get to him quickly.
As he ran for the distant fight, he could see Zechs' battle with Balor playing over again in his head. Cold terror filled his mind, and he fought to quash it. He'd lost Zechs...
He could not bear to lose Duo, as well.
He'd have to make sure of that.
~*~
Wufei spat blood as he backed away from his enemy, breath wheezing in his throat. The charmed sword was heavy in his hands, his shoulders aching from the effort of swinging such a huge, heavy piece of metal. Absently, part of his brain wondered at Duo's ability to use Fragarach so easily.
The rest of his brain, however, was focused on staying alive. He was only too aware - the man he was fighting was Zechs' murderer. His resolve strengthened, he charged the Formore again.
Treize-Balor laughed, though his eyes darkened as he was forced to dodge and parry. "You have some skill, young man. I was afraid I would get bored with this fight too quickly."
Wufei's arms ached as Balor attacked, and he stumbled backwards. "Damn it - this creature was toying with him, and he knew it! He'd always known he lacked the power to fight any of these people on their own level, but if it would give Duo a chance...
Yellling in his anger and frustration, Wufei used every drop of energy he possessed as he spun under the larger man's guard and struck.
Balor yelled as the sword bit into his side. His shriek of pain was so shrill and terrifying that Wufei almost dropped the sword in his hands to cover his ears.
He definitely dropped his guard and, in that moment, Balor struck.
It took a second for it to register that the sword in his enemy's hands was stabbed through his shoulder, but Wufei knew the exact moment his brain caught up and the pain broke through. Screaming, he fell to his knees. He gripped at his shoulder as his sword fell from a hand no longer strong enough to lift it, and he looked up.
Balor wore a sickening grin. "I hope you already said your goodbyes, my friend." He took his sword in a double handed grip and swung.
"NO!" Power slammed into Balor from behind and, cursing under his breath, he turned just in time to block Heero's strike, though the force of it sent him to his knees.
Balor rolled to the side and came up to his feet easily enough. "Little Greine! How fortunate - I was losing interest in your friend, here," he said, kicking Wufei to the side like a sack of potatoes.
Heero's eyes narrowed. "I owe you a death or two for what you have taken from me, you bastard."
Balor's smile turned feral. "Then come and get me, if you dare."
~*~
Duo wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow as he darted from the witch yet again. This was getting old VERY quickly. His entire right side ached from where Carman's claws had caught him, and his head was aching from the acrid smell of smoke. Someone was calling his name, and his heart swelled as he recognised Heero's voice-
Carman's attack caught him full in the chest and knocked him back several steps. He swore angrily and shook his head to clear it. His chest ached from the blow. But Fragarach was pulsing in his hand, and he was distantly aware of Scathach's cry of victory.
The witch screamed in pain as she felt the last of her sons die, and she turned on him with hatred in her eyes. "My boys gone - all because of you!" she cried, and she lunged for him-
Without a second thought, Duo plunged his blade into her heart. "Join them, bitch." He pulled the sword free and kicked her aside, watching with blazing eyes as she fell and did not rise.
"Lord Nuada!" He turned as he heard Scathach's approach, and he took a moment to give her a once over. "My lord, are you..."
"I'm just fine, Dorothy, thanks," he said with a half grin. She returned his smile.
He glanced around them quickly. "Where is Heero? I thought I heard him a bit ago..."
Her face took on a look of confusion. "But he's... oh, Goddess, you didn't see..."
"Didn't see what?" Duo asked, his blood freezing.
"Nuada... Duo. He is here," she said softly. "He has been here all along, and Wufei is fighting him."
"WHAT?!" His aura re-ignited around him as he cast about. Of course Balor was there! How could he have been so stupid? "I swear by everything holy, if he's harmed either of them..."
Scathach gripped her sword tightly. "They are both strong, my Lord."
"There!" He took off running, and she trailed along behind him.
~*~
Zechs grimaced as the Formore woman got in another hit on him. She was well and truly livid, but with good cause.
Little Mariemeia had been much easier to catch and hold, and Relena and Quatre had quickly given the girl a Truth vision. She was asleep now in Relena's arms, but Leia had no way of knowing what was wrong with her.
Trowa darted in from the left as Zechs moved on the right; they grabbed her arms and pinned them. She sank her teeth into Zechs' forearm, and he yelled as he kicked the back of her knee, forcing her down.
Quatre wasted no time as he darted in. Both clawed hands reached out to grasp her face and force yet another vision -
The woman shrugged off the two men restraining her and struck.
Quatre Bean Sidhe fell backwards, clutching at the blood streaming from his throat. Trowa cried out as their eyes locked, and words bubbled on the blond man's lips, panic and pain in his eyes.
Leia was upon them again, striking out at both the Druid and Tuatha De Danaan prince with inhuman strength.
Morrigan caught the blond as he sank to his knees and pulled him back away from the fight, and Trowa spared a second to give her a tight nod. She nodded back to him, her eyes straying to the tall blond man fighting at his side.
The pain of forcing Quatre from his thoughts was almost as great as the feeling of his sister's claws raking across his chest. He felt tears on his face, but he forced his mind clear with the strength of will that had made him the High Druid. His eyes went cold in his face, and he reached for power-
Leia staggered as she was again hit by the combined power of the Prince and the Druid, and she was unable to fight as a green haze descended over her vision. Gwydion-Trowa's voice reverberated in her head, "You are going to listen to me, Leia. Hear my voice and let me be your anchor."
Zechs' ice cold aura surrounded her and held her immobile. Leia began to tremble, every fibre of her being struggling against the instinct to obey, to listen to that soothing voice and the cool green calm that seemed strangely familiar to her.
Trowa grasped her shoulders with both hands and brought them face to face, eyes locked, and he was only dimly aware of it as Zechs disengaged from the battle and was replaced by the Aspects, surrounding the siblings.
"Leia, please, remember who you are."
She shook with the effort of resisting that voice. "My daughter..."
"She is my blood, too," Trowa said softly. "My niece. My family."
"She is MINE!" Leia shrieked, and she shoved the druid from her, the green haze over her vision tilting wildly. She felt something tearing in her mind, and she struck out wildly-
The Aspects struck as one, and Trowa, watching helplessly, could only cry as his sister slumped to the ground, her blood pooling around her.
There was no time to grieve, though. Zechs and Relena were both bent over Quatre's still form. Trowa forced himself up on shaking legs, and did not know who it was who caught his arm to hold him steady as he moved to join them.
He sank down next to the siblings, trembling. "Is he..."
~*~
Balor gasped and clutched at his breast. He knew what it had to mean, and his eyes narrowed in fury as he continued to circle around Greine. He struck out without warning.
His face spread into a parody of a smile as he watched Greine slipping as he dodged the thrust. The Tuatha De Danaan prince fell to one knee.
Balor yelled as he lifted his sword for another strike-
The blade flew from his hand as he was struck, and he caught a glimpse of blond hair as he whirled. He scrambled after it, only vaguely aware of the fires glowing brighter around him and around Greine.
He knew it when Nuada joined them, though, his anger and pain a palpable things even from a distance. What was more surprising, though, was that he knew the Tuatha De Danaan was not alone. He turned to look.
Scathach was on Nuada's left and Greine had backed up to his right. Gwydion was next in line, and Wufei limped up to the Druid's side, pale but resolute. The Morrigan stepped up next to Scathach, and standing at her side -
Balor laughed as Zechs-Lugh joined the circle, ice blue eyes narrowed in pure hatred. Balor continued to laugh as he turned back around to face Nuada, who had stepped into the circle, himself. "You stupid boy! Ignorant fool! Do you honestly think you and your little band of warriors can destroy me? Your circle is incomplete. I do not see your Banshee, and your Priestess does not dare leave her domain. Because of me!" Trowa shuddered, but somehow managed to hold his peace.
Duo shook his head. "Bean Sidhe lives, Balor. And with the Mother's help he will continue to do so. Just because you do not see him here does not mean he is not with us. The Lady, either."
"It does not matter, Little King," Balor sneered back at him. "I am a God of the Underworld, fully reincarnated and pulled back from the hell to which I was banished. You cannot kill me and you will never be able to truly destroy me." The dark, pulsing aura that sprang to life around him was almost sickening to behold.
Duo laughed as his own aura burned into existence, pulsing a clean blue colour that seemed to wash away the evil touch of his opponent. "But didn't you know? Death is just another part of life, at least according to this new religion I've been learning about. And in that case..." His grin took on a predatory gleam. "In that case, I own you."
~*~
Relena and Badba still worried over Quatre, though the worst of his wounds had been attended to. The damage had been so severe, though... Relena wished she could say she knew he would recover, but she couldn't say it, not even to erase the horrid, empty pain in Trowa's eyes. He had yet to regain consciousness, but the others had left in a hurry, feeling it as the combatants at Stonehenge began to circle in on their prey. They had dragged Trowa along - whatever it took to get him away, just in case the worst should happen. Relena darted a look across the room to Maeve, who still held the sleeping Mariemeia in her arms, crooning softly to her. "How is she?"
"She still sleeps, my lady. Poor little thing," Maeve said softly, finger-combing the child's hair. "she will be heartbroken to learn her mother is dead, when she wakes."
Badba opened her mouth to speak, but she closed it almost immediately as all three priestesses felt the circle drawn together under the Stones. It was happening, and they could not be there when Duo needed them the most. And yet...
Relena smiled as she felt more than heard the words being spoken. 'The Mother's Blessings go with you, Lord Nuada.'
~*~
The combatants circled each other warily. In Duo's hand, Fragarach positively gleamed as he swung in a wide arc. Balor attempted to block the attack, but was completely unprepared for the left hook that followed behind the blow. Wufei smiled proudly as he watched his friend and pupil using the skills they had worked on together, back what seemed like a lifetime ago when they were just two normal guys.
Swords were ringing in a series of blows as the enemies danced around each other. The smoke once again threatened to engulf them all, but Trowa had it all blowing in the opposite direction with little more than a thought. Balor managed a hit that made everyone wince as they watched Duo staggering backwards, but the man somehow managed to retain his footing. He dodged the next two blows and then waited until the last possible moment on the third - just as Balor's reach was extended, he struck at the Formore's elbow. The sword flew from his grasp, and Duo followed up with a kick to his lower back that landed him face first on the ground. Balor scrambled for his sword as Duo closed in on him, Fragarach raised high-
Heero cried out in concern as Balor somehow managed to launch a counter-attack. Slippery as an eel, the Formore was swinging at Duo with all his might. He felt his blood run cold as Duo reached down to block the blow with his bare hand.
CLANG!
Across the circle, Zechs winked at him. He should have remembered. Nuada Silver Hand - Duo knew what he was doing. He wrenched the sword from the Formore's grasp and flipped it around in his hand.
Balor froze where he was, on his knees and disarmed before his opponent. "So what now, Nuada? You send me back down to the Shadow Realms? I will return for you, rest assured of that. They will get me out again, and I will come after you and everyone and everything you have ever cared about."
Duo shook his head. "They will, huh? And here I though the Big Bad God of Death didn't answer to anyone. If I was a Death God, I wouldn't have someone else pulling my strings."
Balor flushed an angry red. "Hold your tongue, boy! You do not understand the power of Chaos," he hissed. "They do not give you a choice but to do as you are told. Even if I jumped at the chance to get back here and to bring the same pain to you and yours that you brought to me and mine so long ago."
"Maybe I don't understand Chaos, but something tells me I will learn very quickly," Duo responded. "But as for you... No one will be getting you out of anywhere ever again."
Zechs' mouth dropped open as he realised what the other Tuatha De Danaan had in mind.
Duo stood over the Formore and crossed the swords in a V-pattern around his throat, and tried to ignore the smug and ever-so-slightly insane grin the creature was wearing. "I speak for both the Dagda and the Great Mother Danu. You may be a God of Death, but you are not and never will be THE God of Death. That person would be me. If I control life I control death as well, and I do not need you. I therefore condemn you to a true death and removal from the circle. You quite simply will cease to exist entirely. I hope it was worth it."
Balor finally seemed to get it - it made sense. Zechs was dead, and yet he stood among them on THIS night of his return because the God of Life willed it to be so. And if he could do that... "No, please..."
"Goodbye, Treize," Duo said softly. "And for what it's worth, I'm sorry to have to go this far."
His aura pulsed so brightly blue that it blinded them all as he struck-
As the light dimmed again, everyone watched in fascination as Balor-Treize seemed to crumble into dust.
Duo dropped both swords and hung his head. He could feel Heero's approach, and he trembled as he allowed the other man to pull him forward and into his arms. He held on for dear life.
TBC...
Epilogue to follow - I hope everyone enjoyed the Big Battle!
To The Next Chapter
Back to Ashkara's Fanfictions Page