Sword of the Stars Part 26
The Winds of Fate
As the wind sent waves of pain throughout his body, he forced himself to concentrate. He drew upon the power of the Star Sword, calling it forth to help him. A white aura surrounded him protectively, taking away some of the pain and allowing him to focus. He stood up and placed the Sword in front of his chest, holding it with both hands, his eyes closed, and his head lowered.
The Star Sword began to glow white. A transparent, white dome spread over him and expanded, combating the Dark Lord's black wind. Heero blinked in surprise, but quickly recovered. He halted his wind and thrust his hands in front of him, sending a black bar of energy toward him. Duo kept the dome up, and at the same time pointed the Sword at the advancing bar of blackness. A beam of light shot forth from the Sword and clashed with the Dark Lord's black beam. The collision made Duo's body jolt, but he kept the light coming. Heero's black beam was quickly pushing Duo's back. Duo fought hard to keep Heero's beam at bay, but it slowly kept moving toward him.
Duo was sweating from the effort of keeping his beam strong. /Why hasn't he killed me yet?/ He wondered. /Here, he has the advantage... why am I still alive?/ Duo opened his eyes and looked past the conflicting beams at the Dark Lord. Heero was sweating, too, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Duo felt a sliver of hope. Heero was tired, too! He was battling the Lord of the Netherworld, strength for strength! Abruptly, Duo realized he still had his shield up. He decided to try something. He tensed his muscles in preparation. /I hope this works.../
A second later, Duo dropped his protective shield and conveyed the energy to his beam of light. Heero's eyes widened, and he intensified his own power. The two beams, now at their full power, began to merge. As each beam tried to reach its target, they melded together to form a violent compound of light and darkness. Duo stared at the blend with uncertainty. It didn't look good.
Simultaneously, Duo and Heero halted their assault to stare at the conflicting energy before them. It began to expand, growing larger and larger.
NO! Heero shouted, backing away.
Duo blinked and began to back away as the energy exploded into a dozen little comets of black and white. Duo cried out as one struck him in the shoulder, sending him sailing backwards into the wall with a thud. As he sank to the ground, he became aware of a blistering pain in his shoulder. He looked over and winced. The comet had seared through the cloth and his flesh, leaving a burn.
He lifted his head and looked across the room. Heero had been hit also, but had not been wounded. The Dark Lord stood and glared in Duo's direction.
IMPRESSIVE, DUO... QUITE IMPRESSIVE. BUT YOU STILL LACK THE POWER TO EVEN DREAM OF DEFEATING ME.
Heero rose from the ground and hovered six feet or so in the air. He raised a hand. A large, silver ball of energy appeared above his fist. He opened the fist, and sent silver comets of light raining down upon Duo. Duo gasped and leapt out of the way, dodging many of them. He raised his glowing Sword and struck several more, causing them to disintegrate immediately. When the comets had been eliminated, he spun and cut an arc in the air with the Star Sword. The white arc flew across the room like a boomerang. Heero held up a hand, and the arc halted inches before it reached him. With the snap of a finger, Heero caused the arc to vanish.
Duo didn't give up. He spun around, sweeping the Sword up as he did so. A large comet burst from the blade and shot forth toward the Dark Lord. Heero narrowed his eyes, and the comet struck an invisible wall, dividing into white mist and disintegrating.
Heero began to laugh. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT WAY? SOME WARRIOR! Duo glared as Heero folded his arms and stared down at him. YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME, DUO. MY VICTORY IS INEVITABLE. IF YOU BE A GOOD BOY AND SURRENDER, I WILL GRANT YOU A QUICK DEATH.
"If you had the power to defeat me," Duo countered dangerously, "I'd be dead by now. I don't think you're as powerful as you claim." Duo tightened his grip on the Sword. "I think I have just as much power as you if not more."
The last remark, Duo could tell, has ignited the Dark Lord's temper. Heero shook with rage, his eyes wild with hatred. He smiled, a smile that was by no means cheerful. YOU, LITTLE BOY, HAVE JUST SEALED YOUR FATE. I AM THE MOST POWERFUL ENTITY THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. I CRUSH MY ENEMIES AND ANY WHO OPPOSE ME. YOUR BLOOD WILL SPILL!
Duo smiled. "Really? Then why am I still here? Why haven't you destroyed me?"
The Dark Lord seemed to lose himself for a moment, but quickly regained control. I WILL DESTROY YOU AFTER I HAVE MADE YOU SUFFER!
"Oh, really?" The tides of the battle were turning, Duo realized. Something was holding the Dark Lord back. /Heero./ Duo smiled again and stepped closer to the Dark Lord. "Heero, you're in there somewhere, aren't you?" he asked softly. "Even now... even now you're trying to fight him."
MY NAME IS NOT HEERO! The Dark Lord screeched. I AM THE DARK LORD, MASTER OF THE NETHERWORLD!
Duo raised the Star Sword. If his friend was holding the Dark Lord back, even if it was just a little, he might have a chance of winning. "I'm sorry, Heero... Sorry I have to do this to you."
The Dark Lord laughed loudly, shaking the walls of the castle. SINCE YOU ARE SO EAGER TO GET ON WITH THIS BATTLE, WHAT DO YOU SAY WE GET STARTED? Heero raised his arms, and the entire roof of the throne room blew away. Duo sidestepped away as several rocks stones tumbled to the ground around him.
Heero pushed himself off, flying straight up into the air. YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A TASTE OF THE POWER OF THE DARK LORD, LITTLE WARRIOR! He called, halting in the middle of the sky.
Duo stared, wide-eyed, as the Dark Lord began to change. His entire body became black as night, and silver lightning crackled around him. As Duo watched, the Dark Lord grew larger, morphing into something far more dangerous. A large, muscular body formed. Muscle-bound arms and powerful legs burst from the body. Colossal wings sprouted from the back, stretching out into the air. A long neck and dragon-like face appeared. As the transformed Dark Lord opened his mouth to let out a paralysing roar, silver fangs grew from his gums. From the ends of his fingers and toes, silver claws extended. Silver horns protruded from his head, accompanied by a silver mane that ran all the way down his back to his silver-spiked tail. His scales were black as midnight, and his eyes were red as blood.
When the Dark Lord roared again, Duo jumped and regained his composure. As the Dark Lord stretched his wings and flexed his muscles, Duo clutched the Star Sword tightly and pressed it against the mark on his forehead and summoned the Celestial Dragon. The Sword brightened even more when he sent out the mental command. The mark on his forehead began to glow, and he felt the warmth of the glowing medallion beneath his shirt.
When he heard the familiar roar of the Celestial Dragon, he lowered the Sword and waited. He'd summoned the Dragon in its true form now. It was fully powered and prepared to fight. With a flash of light brilliant enough to light the entire Netherworld sky, it appeared. Its large, majestic body was made of the purest white scales, glowing brightly in the night. A beautiful golden mane began at its head and ended at its tail, where golden spikes were. Its fangs, claws, and both sets of horns were also golden, and its massive, white wings were lined with gold. Its eyes were white, and it stared into the red eyes of the Dark Lord.
SO, the Dark Lord bellowed. THE DRAGON HAS COME ONCE AGAIN.
<<I will destroy you this time,>> the Dragon said in Duo's mind. Duo nodded. <<Duo, Master of the Skies, I am prepared to fight for you.>>
"Go, then!" Duo commanded, pointing at the Dark Lord with the Star Sword.
The Celestial Dragon roared loudly with an open maw. It flapped its wings once and pushed itself toward the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord hissed and spun, bringing its tail around to strike. The Dragon ducked the tail and slammed into the Dark Lord, clawing and biting. The Dark Lord roared and broke away with a shove, flapping his wings and heading up into the sky. The Dragon followed snapping at the Dark Lord's feet. The Dark Lord swerved upside down and righted himself so that he was in behind the Dragon. Then, he spun. His massive tail struck the Celestial Dragon, the spikes catching its side.
Duo cried out at the sudden, piercing pain in his left side. He nearly lost his footing as he pressed his free hand to the point of the pain. /What happened?/ He asked himself.
<<We are bonded, Duo,>> the Dragon telepathically reminded him. <<Any pain I feel, you feel.>>
Duo forced himself to stand up straight. /Keep fighting, Dragon... You're are only hope./
The Dragon roared and snapped at the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord responded by opening his maw and sending a wave of silver lightning toward it. The Celestial Dragon moved out of the way, causing the Dark Lord's power to crash into the castle. Duo shook from the force of impact, but was happy it had not hit him. The Dragon countered by flapping its wings, sending a swarm of shooting stars down at the Dark Lord. Several of them pelted the Lord of the Netherworld, and he quickly responded with a black beam from his horns. The beam struck the Dragon in the chest.
This time, the pain took Duo to his knees. He felt his chest for the hole he thought would be there, but there was nothing. Only pain. He stared up at the two adversaries. The Dark Lord had slammed into the Celestial Dragon with incredible force. Duo felt an invisible force strike him in the chest. It knocked him onto his back. As the Dark Lord and the Dragon grappled with one another, turning through the air, they slashed and bit each other. Duo jerked-as though scratches and bites were appearing all over him. As the fight between the two spirits went on, Duo was forced to pay for the blows.
~*~
Quatre fell over on his side as the castle shook. Candles and chandeliers crashed to the ground. He gasped and turned to Yohan.
"What's happening?!"
"They must be fighting," the mage said, fighting to steady himself. "It sounds bad."
"Poor Duo," Wufei said in a frightened voice. "I hope he's all right."
As the castle continued to shake, Quatre stood up, holding his arms out to balance himself. He glanced up at the ceiling. "If they continue like this, the castle might not be able to handle it. We have to get out of here!"
Yohan and Wufei gazed at their surroundings and nodded. "You're right," the Cleric replied. "But how do we find our way out?"
"We have to try," Yohan said. "We can't stay here. Come on!"
The mage turned and ran. Quatre grabbed Wufei by the arm and pulled him along as he went after Yohan.
~*~
Duo lay on his side, struggling to catch his breath. He rolled his eyes upward to see what was happening. The Dragon gave a tremendous slap in the jaw to the Dark Lord, causing his head to fly to the side. Seeing the chance, the Dragon bent and sank its fangs deep into the Dark Lord's neck. In response, the Dark Lord bit down on the Dragon's neck.
Duo gagged. He rolled onto his stomach and vomited up blood. Gripped with panic, he put a hand to his throat. He pushed himself up. Wavering on his knees, he stared up at the Dragon and the Dark Lord, still locked in a deadly embrace. /This has to end soon... I don't know how much more I can take.../
As if sensing his thoughts, the Dragon became even more vicious. It roared loudly and reached out with its claws. It wrapped its tail around the Dark Lord. Then it lodged the claws on its feet in his stomach, and held his face in its hands. The Dragon opened its maw and sent an endless stream of golden fire into the Dark Lord's face.
With a roar, the Dark Lord broke free and opened his maw. The Dark Lord became surrounded by silver light. The Celestial Dragon surrounded itself in golden light. Then, the two flew toward each other and clashed together, causing a brilliant flash of gold and silver light across the dark sky. Duo cried out and covered his eyes. When he looked again, the Dragon was gone.
"*No*!" he shouted, standing up. "Dragon, come back!"
There was no answer. As Duo glanced around nervously for the Dragon, he noticed a form falling from the sky toward him. He backed away and watched it fall, realizing what it was: Heero. His friend struck the ground and didn't stir.
Ignoring the warning from the Star Sword, Duo ran over to his fallen friend and knelt down over him. Carefully, he rolled Heero onto his back. His friend's head lolled to the side.
"Heero?" Duo grabbed his friend by the shoulders and shook him. "Heero!"
Heero's eyes opened very slowly. He stared up at Duo with disbelief. "Duo?" Duo nodded and started to smile, but Heero seized the front of his leather armor and pulled himself up close to Duo's face. "Duo, listen to me!" he cried urgently. "You don't have much time! The Dragon managed to stun the Dark Lord, but it won't last long! You have to end this now! Kill me!"
Duo froze. "Heero, I... I can't."
"You have to!" Heero shook Duo roughly. "Don't you understand?! You have to end this now! Everyone is going to die, Duo! Do it!"
Duo shook his head. "I--I can't." Heero was Heero again. He wasn't the Dark Lord. Duo couldn't bring himself to strike his friend. "Heero, there must be some way for you to regain control--"
"There is no other way!" his friend shouted angrily. "Duo, for the love of the heavens, kill me! End it!"
The Sword was telling him to strike, but Duo ignored it. "Heero, please..."
"Duo, if you're my friend then do as I say! Kill m--" Heero jerked and lost his grip on Duo's shirt. He fell back and shook his head as if he were fighting something. Then he was lying still, as if he'd lost consciousness . Duo reached out with a shaky hand and touched Heero's cheek. His friend's eyes snapped open, and Duo was flung through the air and slammed into the far wall.
He landed on his feet and stared in surprise as Heero stood and studied him. YOU SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE, DUO. NOW YOU HAVE DOOMED YOURSELF.
"What did you do to the Dragon?" Duo demanded.
Heero laughed. I TOOK CARE OF IT. DON'T WORRY.
Duo's anger flared up anew. <<I am alive, Duo.>> He froze as the Dragon's voice spoke to him. "You're alive?" he whispered.
<<Yes... but I am weak. Please be careful, Duo... the Dark Lord has been weakened... but is still dangerous... >>
Duo stepped forward. "Heero, I know you're in there. Somewhere deep inside, you're still you. So, please stop this."
YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND DO YOU, DUO? HEERO NO LONGER EXISTS. I HAVE MADE HIM SOMETHING MORE THAN A MERE HUMAN.
"You're lying," Duo spat. "He's there. He's fighting you right now."
Heero raised an eyebrow. YOU THINK SO? LET ME SHOW YOU HOW MUCH OF YOUR FRIEND REMAINS. He conjured a small image of a town. Duo squinted to see what it was. It looked like a village in Garrania. With a smile, Heero snapped a finger. The village burst into flames. Duo gasped. He knew that in his world, that village had just been destroyed.
"No! Stop it!"
WOULD HEERO EVER DO THAT, DUO? LET US SEE WHAT ELSE I CAN FIND. He created the image of the world and made it spin. He closed his eyes and pointed to a spot. Then he enlarged it so Duo could see where he'd pointed. A village in Daylonia.
Duo raised a hand. "No, don't!"
With an evil grin, Heero snapped his fingers. The village burst into flame. Duo's eyes widened in horror. Heero folded his arms. MY, MY, THIS IS AMUSING. OF COURSE, I HAVE TO LEAVE SOME FOR MY MINIONS TO ENJOY, BUT I SUPPOSE ONE MORE COULDN'T HURT. This time, he turned to globe himself and selected a spot in the mid-west that looked familiar. AH, THIS WILL DO. He enlarged and conjured the image. Duo gasped when he saw what it was: Redwood's Clearing.
"No!" he shouted. He started to run toward the Dark Lord. "No, Heero, don't!"
Heero smiled at his vain attempt to stop him. He raised a hand and bade Duo to stop. Duo froze and was hoisted into the air. I'D KILL YOU NOW, BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS. TAKE A LAST LOOK AT YOUR HOMETOWN.
Duo fought to free himself, but he couldn't move. "No! Please, don't! Don't do it!"
Heero snapped his fingers. Every house in Redwood's Clearing burst into flames. Duo screamed in horror at the sight. Anger surged within him, drowning out all other emotions. He gripped the Sword in his hand tightly as he shook with fury, watching his town burn to the ground. He drew upon the power of the Sword and his anger. He broke free from the air holding him and landed firmly on the ground. Then he circled the Sword over his head and pointed it at the Dark Lord. Heero had time to gasp in surprise before a white comet slammed into his chest and knocked him to the ground.
Duo stood over the Dark Lord, smiling. The smile did not touch his eyes. "Your reign of terror ends now, Dark Lord," he said.
Heero glared up at him. FOOL! YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME THAT EASILY? WE ARE IN THE NETHERWORLD! I HAVE THE ADVANTAGE!
Duo clutched the Star Sword with both hands. "Then perhaps it is time I took you to a place where *I* have the advantage." The Sword began to glow. The Netherworld castle faded away, and a field of twinkling stars appeared above them. Duo didn't have to look to know where they were: the Celestial Palace.
The Dark Lord gasped and rolled away from Duo. He jumped to his feet and glanced around. THIS... THIS IS...
"Your resting place," Duo finished, raising his Sword. He was too weak to use much of the Sword's magic, but he could still fight. "Now we're equal, Dark Lord."
NOT QUITE. Heero said. He raised a hand, and his twin-blade appeared, the silver blades glistening in the light of the stars. THIS BOY SURPASS YOU IN THE ART OF COMBAT. YOU HAVE YET TO DIE. It seemed the Dark Lord was also exhausted. Heero rushed him with the twin-blade, and Duo raised the Sword to parry. They sparred for several minutes. Duo kept giving full offense to avoid the Dark Lord regaining energy to use any magic. Duo raised his Sword to slash Heero's head open, but Heero was faster. He swung his twin-blade to the side and sliced Duo's middle. Duo doubled-over in pain and Heero slashed upward, slicing him from the waist up. As Duo pressed his free hand to his wound, Heero's foot slammed hard into his face. He felt himself fall to the ground on his stomach, and he lost his grip on the Star Sword. He heard the magical weapon slide across the floor. He looked over his shoulder at Heero. The Dark Lord raised the twin-blade and slashed downward at him. Duo cried out and tried to move, but it sliced his left thigh, then his right. He attempted to roll out of the way, but Heero's speed far exceeded his own. The twin-blade slashed at his calves, thighs, shoulders, hips, back, and stomach.
Duo fought to remain conscious as blood gushed from wounds all over his body. The pain was unbearable. He pressed his cheek against the cold ground of the Palace, breathing in short, painful gasps. He blinked through a wave of tears in his eyes and searched for Heero. The Dark Lord stood over him, an evil smile on his face.
WHO IS STRONGER NOW, DUO? Duo pushed himself up as Heero swung his twin-blade again. This time, the blade of the unusual weapon cut across the side of his head. With a cry, Duo fell over and touched the slice. His hand came away bloody. As he stared in horror at his blood-soaked hand, Heero reached down and grabbed Duo's chin, lifting his head so that Heero's eyes could stare into his own. I'VE ENJOYED FIGHTING WITH YOU, DUO, BUT THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO DIE.
Duo shook his head out of Heero's grip. "Just kill me and be done with it," he said in a low voice.
With a shrug, Heero stood and raised the twin-blade. With one last smile, the Dark Lord swung the weapon down. Duo shut his eyes and waited for the twin-blade to cut him in two. Nothing happened.
He opened his eyes and stared at the Dark Lord. The twin-blade had stopped inches from Duo's face. Heero looked frustrated, trying vainly to bring the weapon through Duo's head.
Duo smiled. The real Heero was still fighting the Dark Lord. Summoning all the strength he had left, Duo leapt up and seized the twin-blade's haft, putting his hands in between the Dark Lord's. They fought for a while, each trying to take the twin-blade. With a mighty shove, Duo pushed the Dark Lord away from the twin-blade, sending Heero stumbling backwards. Before his friend could react, Duo slashed his shoulders and thighs. Heero's blood spilled from the tears in his clothes. Duo pulled the twin-blade apart, creating two swords. He advanced on the Dark Lord, slashing him the same way he had Duo.
Heero fell to the ground and breathed heavily. Duo turned and ran for the Star Sword. He picked it up from the ground and turned to his friend, who was struggling to stand up.
YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS, Heero said in-between coughs. YOU WILL DIE!
Duo just smiled. "You can't kill me, Dark Lord," he said. "Heero won't let you. You can hurt me all you want, but you can't kill me." The Dark Lord shook his head menacingly. "It's true. You've never had a host who gave you such a hard time before, and you don't know how to handle him."
The Dark Lord was growing unstable. His eyes were full of hatred and anger. I WILL SILENCE YOU FOR GOOD!
"Try it," Duo challenged. "You won't be able to do it. Heero will stop you."
The Dark Lord shrieked in rage and raised his hands. DIE, WARRIOR!
Abruptly, Duo had an idea. If the Dragon and the Sword had been able to seal the Dark Lord away a thousand years before when they had only a small amount of power, and their strength had been growing ever since, then perhaps... perhaps there was a way to stop Heero, after all.
Duo clutched the Star Sword in front of him with both hands and closed his eyes. <<Dragon... I know you're weak, but please... I need you now... Help me do this... >>
He felt the spirit of the Celestial Dragon surround him: a pure, white specter of the great Dragon. Duo opened his eyes and stared ahead at the Dark Lord. "Heero, my friend... hold on. I think I've found a way to stop you from doing these horrible things." He raised the Sword into the air and tilted his head back. "Go, Dragon! Go!"
As if the Dragon knew exactly what he wanted to do, the spirit flew toward the Dark Lord. Duo watched with great hope. When the Dark Lord saw what was happening, he gasped and began to back up, holding his hands up to protect him.
NO! he cried, turning his head away. STAY BACK! STAY BACK! The spirit of the Celestial Dragon slammed into the Dark Lord's body, entering it. The Dark Lord screamed and pressed his hands to the sides of his head. NO! GET OUT! *GET OUT*! As Duo watched in wonder, black mist poured from the Dark Lord's body. Silver lightning crackled all around him as he screamed in pain. The white spirit of the Celestial Dragon flew out of the Dark Lord, dragging a black spirit with it. The Dragon and the black spirit vanished as they rose into the air. Duo kept his gaze on Heero. Black mist and silver lightning followed the black spirit as it rose out of him. When everything was out of him, he stopped screaming. His hands fell loosely to his sides and he dropped to his knees. He managed to stay upright for a moment before collapsing to his side in a lifeless heap.
Duo simply stared for a moment before getting a hold of himself. He ran toward his friend and knelt down over him. Heero was bleeding from the wounds Duo had given him, and there were tears all over his clothes. His eyes were closed, and he looked as if he were sleeping. Duo turned him gently onto his back and shook him. His friend didn't respond. Fearful, Duo put an ear against his friend's chest. He gasped. Heero's heart was beating. Heero was alive!
He shook his friend. "Heero, wake up!" When he didn't, Duo leaned over and brushed his lips softly against the other boy's. "Heero, you're alive! You're free! Get up!"
After a moment, Heero's head moved slowly from side to side and he muttered something inaudible. As Duo sighed in relief, his friend moaned and opened his eyes. Heero stared up at him blankly for a second before realizing who he was. "Duo? Is that you?" Duo nodded. "Does that mean... does that mean I'm... me again?"
Duo nodded again, smiling. "Welcome back, my friend. It's been a long time." He clasped Heero's hand and pulled him to a sitting position. His friend was even weaker than he was, Duo realized as Heero almost fell back. He put a hand on his friend's shoulder to steady him. "We have to get out of here and go back for Quatre, Yohan, and Wufei. Can you walk?"
Heero shrugged. "I don't know. I'll do my best."
With Duo's assistance, Heero managed to stand. Keeping one hand on his friend's shoulder to steady him, Duo hefted the Star Sword and prepared to teleport back to the portal that led to the Netherworld. As he shut his eyes, the Celestial Dragon's voice boomed in his head.
<<Duo, watch out!>>
As Duo's eyes snapped open, he and Heero were blown apart. Duo was slammed into one wall of the Palace, and Heero the other. Duo groaned and pushed himself up. On the other side of the room, Heero bounded to his feet and looked around fearfully.
"He's back!" his friend cried in a panicked voice. "He's here!" Heero fell weakly back against the wall. "We have to get away from here!"
Black mist appeared in the center of the room and grew, manifesting into a large, black skull. The Celestial Palace faded away, and they were suddenly back in the Netherworld castle. In the midst of the black mist, the glowing silver eyes of the skull blinked at Duo. As he stood, frozen with fear, he felt something close around him.
He gagged as the air was squeezed from him and he was hoisted into the air. The Star Sword fell from his hand and clattered to the ground.
SURPRISED TO SEE ME? The Dark Lord asked.
Duo tried to gasp, but air couldn't enter his lungs. Without Heero to stop him, Duo realized, the Dark Lord could kill him. He didn't know how long the Dark Lord could last without a host, but he gathered it was long enough to do away with him. /Dragon... what happened to you?/
<<Forgive me, Duo... I cannot fight... He has weakened me greatly... Please forgive me... >>
Duo's vision was dimming. The last thing he saw was the Dark Lord's penetrating gaze.
Heero pushed himself up when he saw what was happening. Duo hung suspended in the air, his hands clawing at something around his neck. The Dark Lord was laughing, clearly enjoying himself.
"No!" Heero shouted. He ran toward the Dark Lord. "Let him go!"
The eyes turned to stare at him, and the skull seemed to smile. Heero gasped as something squeezed around his waist and lifted him up. He hung in the air as Duo did. I WILL DEAL WITH YOU LATER, the Dark Lord said. WHEN I AM DONE WITH HIM.
"No!" Heero shouted, struggling to loosen the Dark Lord's grip on him. "Duo!" His friend's hands had fallen to his sides and he hung lifelessly in the air. "Duo, please, don't die! Don't die!"
YOU HAVE MADE A NUISANCE OF YOURSELF FOR THE LAST TIME, WARRIOR, the Dark Lord was saying. FINALLY, I WILL BE RID OF YOU.
/No! I have to help him! There has to be a way!/ Heero's mind raced. There had to be something he could do. Duo had saved *him*, after all. He couldn't let his friend die. He glanced at his helpless friend and his heart sank. Duo was bleeding from countless wounds, and his face was very pale. Then he turned his gaze to the Dark Lord. The evil spirit was laughing in delight.
Anger filled Heero from his head to his toes. /I have to *do* something!/ As he shook with rage, he felt something deep within himself. A feeling of power... locked deep inside. The voice in his head beckoned him toward it. As it did, he came to a realization he should have earlier. /I am part of the Dark Lord,/ he admitted, finally accepting it for the truth. /A fraction of the Dark Lord's power exists within me.../ That was it! He opened himself to his origins and broke through the subconscious barrier, causing the power of the Dark Lord to flow through him. It gave him a surge of energy, accompanied with a large amount of adrenaline.
He glared at the Dark Lord with hatred, unconsciously directing his powers. He slashed through the magic holding him. As he fell to the ground, he cut through the Dark Lord's grip on Duo. As Duo fell to the ground with a thud, Heero ran toward him. He bent and grabbed the pieces of his twin-blade on the way. IMPOSSIBLE! The Dark Lord shouted in fury. Heero bent down next to his friend as he formed his twin-blade. He shook Duo's shoulder.
"Duo, get up! Come on, get up!" The Dark Lord peered down at them with anger.
YOU ARE LUCKY I NEED YOU, he said to Heero. GET OUT OF THE WAY. Heero stood and stayed his ground. The Dark Lord glared. VERY WELL. I WILL MOVE YOU MYSELF! Heero raised his hands, and a silver dome of light appeared around them. The Dark Lord shrieked in rage. From his eyes, silver beams shot forth and crashed against the dome.
Heero turned back to Duo. He knelt down and felt his friend's chest. There was a heartbeat, and he was breathing. "Duo, my friend, the dome will not last long. Please, get up."
Duo moaned and opened his eyes. "I'm... alive?" His voice sounded strained. He looked at Heero. "Heero? How did you... ?"
"No time to explain. Duo, this dome can't take much more of this." He gestured to the beams coming from the Dark Lord's eyes. "We have to do something."
Duo frowned, deep in thought. "We need a larger space to fight him in. We have to get out of this castle."
"How?" Heero asked.
"Leave that to me." Duo struggled to get to his feet. "Heero, hand me the Sword."
Heero turned and reached for the Star Sword. When his hand closed around the hilt, the entire palm of his hand began to burn and hiss. Tendrils of smoke escaped from under his hand. He cried out in pain and dropped the Sword, losing his concentration on the protective spell he'd cast over them. As the dome he'd created shattered, he felt Duo slam into him and knock him away before the Dark Lord's beams reached them. The Dark Lord didn't notice they were gone, and continued to burn the castle floor.
Heero hit the ground on his stomach, with Duo's weight on top of him. His twin-blade clanged to the ground in front of him, as did Duo's Star Sword. As Duo got off of him, Heero stared at his burnt hand. The design of the Star Sword's hilt was branded into his palm.
"H-how?" He didn't have time to finish the thought. As he stared in shock at the line of stars on his palm, Duo seized his arm and hauled him to his feet. He barely had time to grab his twin-blade as Duo dragged him across the room.
"What happened?" his friend demanded over his shoulder.
"I... don't know..." Heero shook away from Duo and started running on his own. "What are you going to do?"
Duo started to answer, but then ducked low to the ground, tugging Heero with him. A silver beam of light exploded into the wall, breaking it apart. His friend smiled. "He's just made it easier for us. Come on!"
"Where?" Heero demanded. "What are we doing?"
Duo walked to the edge of the floor, which was now a cliff leading to a twenty-story or so drop to the ground. With a grin, Duo hefted the Star Sword in one hand and seized Heero's arm in the other. "You'll see." As the Dark Lord roared at them and sent another set of eye beams their way, Duo leapt off the top of the castle.
"Duo, what are you doing!?" Heero shouted as he was pulled after his friend. "Are you insane!?" The ground rushed up to meet them....
Duo almost laughed as he listened to Heero's shouting. Focusing his energy, he called upon the winds. Instantly, it felt as if they'd landed gently on a feathered bed. In truth, they were simply riding a now visible current of air down to the ground.
Duo turned to his friend. Heero's eyes were wide and he was as white as a ghost, panting. This time, Duo *did* laugh. "I'm sorry there wasn't enough time to tell you about my new technique."
As he tried to suppress his laughter, he felt Heero's fist punch him in the shoulder. He winced and stared at his friend. Heero glared at him.
"Don't ever--*ever*--do that to me again!"
Duo rolled his eyes as they settled down to the ground. "What do we do now?" he asked.
Heero blinked. "You're asking me? You came here to stop *me*, remember? I presumed you knew how do to so."
"Yes, but the tides have turned now. How can he stay alive without you as a host?"
Heero shrugged. "I'm not really sure... maybe because he's already taken me? Maybe I gave him a little extra strength or something? Maybe because we're in the Netherworld?"
"Or maybe because he's bonded to you?" Duo offered.
Heero cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"There's a connection between the two of you, isn't there? Something that makes it possible for you to be his host. We have to find a way to break whatever connection there is and destroy him."
Heero opened his mouth, but they were interrupted by the roar of the Dark Lord. They looked up. From the top of the castle, the black mist flew down and took the shape of the dragon-like creature that had fought the Celestial Dragon. The Dark Lord landed and roared at them.
I WILL SEE YOU PERISH, WARRIOR! He opened his maw, but before anything came out, Heero raised a hand. An enormous silver bolt of lightning struck the Dark Lord, and he shrieked. Duo raised the Star Sword. A large, white comet sailed through the sky and into the Lord of the Netherworld, exploding on impact into a shower of white fragments. The Dark Lord faltered and was forced to back-step several paces. He rubbed his eyes and teetered off the edge of the mountain.
Duo closed his eyes. /Dragon, please, I know you're weak, but we need you. Please, the Dark Lord is weaker now. Just keep him busy until we figure out how to stop him./
<<Duo, I cannot... I am far too weak to battle.>>
/Dragon, please I can't do this without yo--/
Duo shrieked as something hot and powerful zapped through his shoulder. He dropped the Star Sword and fell to the ground, clutching the new wound as blood poured from it. Heero was at his side in an instant, holding him upright and shaking him.
"What were you thinking about, Duo?" his friend shouted in his ear. "What made you lose your concentration like that?!"
"The... Dragon," Duo managed, coughing up blood. "The Celestial Dragon... we need it..."
"Don't talk," Heero ordered, setting him down on his back. His friend stood, dropped his twin-blade, and raised his hands, creating another magical barrier in time to block another barrage of silver beams.
Duo felt his eyes close. As he drifted into unconsciousness, he heard the Dragon's voice calling to him. <<He has hurt you greatly... I come, Duo. Rest easy, I come... >>
Heero held his ground as the Dark Lord's power threatened to break his shield. He stole a glance over his shoulder at Duo. His friend, who was now bleeding far more than he was, lay unconscious.
"Duo?" he called. "Duo! Duo, wake up! Can you hear me? *Wake up*! If you fall asleep, we'll die for sure! I can't do this by myself! I need help!"
As if his words had summoned aid, a brilliant flash of light appeared in front of his shield. He gazed at the large shape.
"The Celestial Dragon," he whispered.
The Dragon lurched forward and began to wrestle the Dark Lord. They grappled for awhile, but it looked as if the Dragon was exhausted. The Dark Lord roared and swiped at the Dragon with his claws. They sliced the Dragon across the chest.
Behind him, Duo cried out in pain. Heero turned in surprise, but his friend was still unconscious. He stepped to the side and watched the battle between the Dark Lord and the Dragon. The Dark Lord had the upper hand. He slashed and struck the Dragon violently, holding his ground at the edge of the cliff. Heero glanced in horror at his friend. Each time the Dragon was struck, Duo jerked this way and that, making a little cry of pain.
"They're bonded!" Heero cried in shock. Any pain the Dragon felt, Duo suffered, as well. He knelt down next to his friend and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I have to stop this!" He stood and walked to the edge of the dome. "There must be some way to weaken the Dark Lord!" The Dark Lord struck the Dragon hard across the face. Heero winced as he heard Duo's painful response. As the Dragon stood stunned, the Dark Lord lifted the beast by the neck and arm. With the help of his tail, the Dark Lord slammed the Dragon onto the ground.
When the Dragon hit the ground, the entire mountain rumbled. Heero lost his footing and fell onto the ground where their weapons had fallen. His hand landed on the blade of the Star Sword. His flesh began to burn and hiss, and he cried out. As his skin burned, he heard the Dark Lord shriek in pain. Heero stared in wonder. As the Dark Lord roared in pain, the Dragon tackled it and sent both of them tumbling over the edge of the mountain. The Dragon now had the upper hand in the battle.
Heero gasped, staring at his hand. Both of them were burned now. Could it be because the Star Sword was meant to be the weapon of light? The complete opposite of the Dark Lord?
Duo moaned and opened his eyes. Ignoring his wounds, he sat up. "Dragon?" he called. He turned to Heero. "Where's the Dragon?"
Heero seized his twin-blade and motioned for Duo to take the Star Sword. "Come on. It looks like the Dragon is winning now."
Duo frowned, but pushed himself up anyway. Heero disabled his shield and grabbed Duo's sleeve. "Are you all right?"
His friend shook his head. "No... but we can't stop now."
They ran to the edge of the cliff and stared at the two adversaries. They were battling fiercely. The Dark Lord struck the Dragon twice, and Duo doubled-over. Heero grabbed him before he could fall. When he took his hands away, he noticed Duo staring at him suspiciously. Heero frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Without comment, Duo stalked toward him. Heero backed away, but Duo caught his wrist and turned it over to see his palm. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.
Heero nodded toward the Sword. "I can't touch your Sword, Duo."
His friend frowned. "Why not?"
Heero took a deep breath. "I... I think it's because I'm..."
"What?" Duo pressed, shaking Heero's wrist. "You're what?"
"I'm... part of the Dark Lord..."
Duo gasped. "What did you say?"
"That's how come I was the only one who could be the host," Heero spilled out in a rush. "Because part of the Dark Lord's power is within me."
Duo stared down at Heero's burnt palm, then at the Dark Lord. "So you're bonded to the Dark Lord?"
"I... I suppose you could say that" Heero replied uncertainly. Duo turned to him with determined eyes and raised the Star Sword. "Duo?" His friend didn't answer. "Duo, what are you doing?" Heero tried to break free of Duo's grip, but his friend's hold was like iron. "Stop looking at me like that. What are you doing?" Duo swung the Sword and tore Heero's shirt. "Hey! What's the matter with you?" Duo pressed the blade of the Star Sword against Heero's chest. Unbelievable burning pain spread through him. He screamed, trying to force his way out of Duo's grip, but it was no use.
Duo winced as Heero screamed and jerked, but he held his friend firmly and stared at the Dark Lord. Sure enough, the Lord of the Netherworld was flailing about in pain. The Dragon took full advantage and began to strike the Dark Lord with everything it had left.
Duo kicked Heero's feet out from under him and threw his friend to the ground. He sliced a tear in Heero's breeches and pressed the blade against his thigh. Heero struggled and kicked, but Duo stepped on his back and kept him on the ground. The Dark Lord shrieked and clutched his left thigh. The Dragon but down on his shoulder.
Smoke began to pour from the Dark Lord's thigh. Duo laid the Sword on Heero's calf, then repeated the pattern with the other leg.
"Duo, stop," his friend pleaded.
Duo ignored him and tore at the back of his shirt, pressing the Sword to his back. As Heero jerked and cried out, the Dark Lord faltered and smoke poured from him. Next he did the shoulders and continued, crippling each part of the Dark Lord's body. By the time he'd done the shoulder blades, Heero had stopped struggling and was still.
The Dark Lord was lying on the ground, unmoving. The Dragon, exhausted, roared in triumph. Duo smiled.
"Well done, Dragon... go rest..."
The Dragon roared once more, and was gone. Duo knelt down next to Heero and pressed two fingers against his friend's throat, feeling for a pulse. It was there, he discovered, exhaling in relief. Heero was alive.
He stared down at the Dark Lord once more before turning to prepare for the journey home. As he did, black tendrils of smoke coiled around him, pinning his arms to his sides. He dropped the Star Sword.
"No!" he cried as he rose into the air and turned to face his captor. A large cloud of darkness floated above him. "But how?" he demanded. "How?"
HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING YET? The Dark Lord boomed. I AM THE DARK LORD! The coils of smoke cut into his skin. FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME... I WILL MAKE YOU WISH YOU HAD DIED!
"You can't be alive!" Duo shouted. "It's impossible!"
I CANNOT BE DESTROYED BY THE LIKES OF YOU, DUO. I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER LIKE YOU'D NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ME AND MY HOST BODY. YOU NEVER SHOULD HAVE CHALLENGED ME, DUO. I WILL RULE THE COSMOS... YOU CANNOT STOP ME!
"*I* can!"
Duo turned to the direction of Heero's voice. His friend pushed himself off of the ground and grabbed a piece of torn cloth from his clothes. Heero backed away from the Dark Lord, making his way toward Duo.
The Dark Lord laughed. DON'T BE SO CONFIDENT. YOU HAVE A FRACTION OF MY POWERS, BUT YOURS DO NOT EXCEED MINE.
Heero covered his hand with the cloth and bent, picking up the Star Sword. "I don't need any magic for this."
Duo gasped when he realized what Heero intended. "No! Heero, don't!"
Heero raised the Star Sword and turned it toward him. He held it with both hands. The Dark Lord realized what was happening, too. NO! NO, YOU FOOL!
Duo kicked and struggled to free himself. "Heero, don't do it! There has to be another way! Please, don't do it!"
Heero ignored him and kept his gaze on the Dark Lord. The Lord of the Netherworld flew toward him. NO! DON'T! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU FOOL? IF YOU DO THAT, WE *BOTH* DIE!
Heero gave the Dark Lord a slight smile. "That's the idea." As Duo cried out his name, Heero plunged the Star Sword into his abdomen. He lurched upwards once, then slowly fell back and landed on his side in a heap.
The Dark Lord shrieked in pain and disbelief. NOO! NOOOO! Silver lightning crackled throughout his smoky body. His screams echoed throughout the Netherworld. The ropes holding Duo vanished and he fell to the ground.
Immediately, he raced to Heero's side. His friend was lying with his hands still around the hilt of the Sword, a pool of blood was already forming under him.
Tears stung Duo's eyes. "Heero, no! Please, no!" He pried Heero's hands off of the hilt and gently pulled the Sword out of his friend. It was coated in Heero's blood. Duo hung his head helplessly. "Why? Heero, why?" The Dark Lord's shrieking grabbed his attention. Fury burned within him. Destroy him, the Star Sword was saying. Destroy him now, while you can. Duo nodded. With a solemn glance at Heero, he stood and walked toward the Dark Lord.
"It seems the Warrior wins, after all," he said as he raised the Star Sword to the sky. He closed his eyes, summoning the Sword's power. The medallion, the Sword, and the mark on his forehead began to glow. As he opened himself to the Sword's power, the Netherworld vanished. A background of stars appeared.
A swarm of rainbow colored stars circled around the Dark Lord. He shrieked as they closed in on him. They all burst through him at once, creating a rainbow-showered explosion. As the Dark Lord blew apart into oblivion, the white shape of the Celestial Dragon arose from the light and roared triumphantly. Then, the Dark Lord was gone.
The scenery returned to normal. The medallion, Sword, and mark stopped glowing. Duo dropped the Star Sword and fell to his knees. He looked over at Heero's body and began to sob uncontrollably. After all he'd been through, everything he'd accomplished, after even saving him from the Dark Lord's clutches, Heero was dead.
He cried for a few minutes more before his adrenaline gave out. Exhausted, racked with fever, and in pain, Duo collapsed into the dirt.
~*~
Quatre rubbed his sore shoulder and prepared to ram the doors again.
"Quatre, don't," Wufei huffed. "You'll just get hurt."
"Did you hear all that commotion out there?" he demanded. "We have to find out what's going on!" He backed up several paces and started to run toward the door when Yohan seized his arm and held him back.
"Wait, Quatre!"
He shook free of the mage and frowned. "What? What's wrong?"
"The magical shields have left the castle." Yohan tapped his chin. "There are no more magical locks in here. That can only mean one thing... the one who created them is gone..."
"So we can open the door?" Wufei asked.
Yohan nodded. Quatre bounded for the door and tugged on the handles. The immense structures groaned open, and the three of them raced out.
Quatre gasped when he exited the castle. The entire Netherworld was quiet and barren. He looked all around. There was no sign of anyone anywhere, or so he thought, until he spotted two bodies near the edge of the mountain within the mist and dust.
"Oh, gods!" he cried, pointing. "Look!"
Wufei gasped and clutched the white crystal around his neck. "Could that be...?"
"Duo?" They made eye contact with each other before dashing over to the two lifeless bodies.
Quatre gasped when he saw who the other one was. "Heero?!" He was covered in blood, most of which was his own, bleeding from slashes all over his body. He was burned in many places, as well, but that wasn't the worst part. Quatre bent to turn him over.
"No!" he screamed when he saw the wound in Heero's abdomen. "Oh, gods, no!" He touched his cheek. "Heero? Say something!" He didn't answer him. Quatre froze, tears streamed down his face. "No... no!" With sudden anger, he slapped Heero. "You are *not* dying on us, Heero Ariark! Do you hear me?"
Yohan put a hand on his shoulder. "Quatre, please... we knew one of them had to die."
He turned to look at Duo, and winced at the sight of him. He looked worse than Heero did. Wufei had his head in his lap and was working his healing magic into him. After a few moments, he exhaled deeply and sagged. "The injuries are too severe," he breathed. "He will not die now, but I cannot heal him fully. We have to get him to a bed as soon as possible."
"What about Heero?" Quatre asked.
Wufei glanced at the other boy and shook his head. "Quatre... I don't think..."
Quatre glared and pressed an ear to Heero's chest. Nothing. He squeezed his hand. "No! Come on, Heero, try! Please! Please don't die!" He strained his ear against his chest. He couldn't hear anything. "Please," he whispered. "Please, Heero, just tell me you're alive. You don't have to talk, if it hurts too much. Just squeeze my hand." He waited, but nothing happened.
Wufei eyed the sword-wound in his abdomen. "Quatre... do you really think he could have survived that?"
"How could Duo have survived all of that?" Quatre countered. No one answered. Quatre lowered his head and took Heero's hand in both of his.
"Let's get out of here," Wufei said. "I've had about all I can take of this place."
At Wufei's words, the ground began to shake and rumble. Quatre gasped and lifted Heero's head off of the ground. "What's going on?"
"The Dark Lord has been destroyed," Yohan explained. "The Netherworld cannot exist without him. It is contracting and will also be destroyed!"
"With us in it!" Wufei cried. "We have to get out of here, and fast!"
"But how?" Quatre demanded.
Yohan scanned the ground. He bent and picked up Duo's Star Sword and Heero's twin-blade. He handed the twin-blade to Quatre and held the Star Sword in both of his hands. "Heed me, oh Sword of the Stars. I am Yohan, Master Stardragon Mage. Your duty is done, the Dark Lord has been destroyed. Now, I must ask you and the great Celestial Dragon a favor. The Warrior lies dying here, as does his friend. We are trapped and the Netherworld. Please, help us escape."
The Sword began to glow, dripping away the blood on its blade. As it glowed, the white spirit of the Celestial Dragon appeared over them. Gently, it wrapped its wings around them. Quatre held Heero's head in his lap and his twin-blade in one hand, and braced himself for the teleportation. And as the world became white, he felt a slight pressure on his hand...
TBC...
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