Dueling Angels,
Libra vs. Taurus

They'd been climbing the mountain for three days now and Sara had grown very restless. She had long given up riding Gemini and now walked with Leo.
"I probably should have told you to walk earlier. Mamelves have loads of energy that they need to use daily. We normally use it for sports, jumping practice, and dashing, amongst other things. You wanna see what you're capable of?" Leo asked challengingly.
"You bet." said Sara.
"What do you plan on doing?" asked Jayson.
"See that ridge there?" Leo asked, pointing ahead of them.
"Yeah." Sara and Jayson chorused.
"Well, we're gonna race to the rim and, with out stopping, leap off. Then we must catch ourselves and climb back up to the next road above us, there." he pointed further up the side of that mountain at another portion of the road.
"YOU'RE CRAZY!! Sara, don't do it. You don't even know if you can and you've only been a Mamelf for a few days, you can't just go jumping off cliffs! Plus you're to important to just risk yourself like that." Jayson said.
"It'll be fine Jayson, ready Leo?"
"Uhhh. but."
"Go!" shouted Aries gleefully, catching everyone by supprise.
Sara and Leo recovered from the shock quickly as they took off with Ace at their heels. Sara had put quite a bit of distances between her and Leo when suddenly Leo bounded up beside her on all fours.
"Mamelves can run faster on all fours." he panted as he passed her.
"Is that so?" said Sara as she followed his example.
Sure enough, she easily caught up and passed both Ace and him again. Pure adrenaline was pushing her on as she neared the edge.
Ace ground to a halt as soon as she saw what they were headed for, but Sara kept going. She even did a leaping forward flip as she made it to the edge, losing an excited howl. Leo followed, diving head first over the rim.
Digging their claws into the side of the steep slope, they slowed their fall and began their jumping climb to the road above. Unfortunately for Sara, Leo excelled in this part. His long limbs and small feet and hands aided him is his agile climb, while Sara literally had to claw her way back up.
She reached their destination after Leo. He was sitting propped up against the mountainside, panting heavily, with a smirk on his face.
"I win. Boy, I haven't had that much fun in years." he said.
Sara laughed, "I've never had that much fun ever! Man, am I whipped though."
"Feels kinda nice to be tired again doesn't it?" said Leo.
"Oh yeah." said Sara as she sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Awww." said Aries as they made it to where Leo and Sara were. They had fallen asleep where they were and had curled up together.
"They really must have worn themselves out, look how content they are sleeping." said Virgo.
Jayson said nothing as hopped off his horse and walked over to them with Ace.
"Wake up you two." he said and kicked Leo's feet rather gruffly.
"Huh? Wha.?" Sara said as she blinked sleepily and looked up.
Leo yawned and stretched, draping his arm around Sara's shoulders.
Jayson's eyebrow twitched angrily and he said, "We have to get going, we've wasted enough time." He then walked rather moodily back to his horse.
Leo helped Sara up and she tramped heavily over to Gemini and climbed onto his back.
"Jayson's rather jealous." Gemini said to her, she laughed.
"You can ride Virgo for a bit. I'll walk." said Aries to Leo.
"Sounds good." Leo said, yawning again as Virgo boosted him onto his shoulders.
"The map says we'll be there in one more day." said Jayson, "Let's keep going a little farther before setting up camp."

That night Jayson looked at Sara through the fire as he thought, 'What happened to the cute, bright-eyed, lost girl that stumbled into my town? I hope she isn't lost to this monster.' and he sighed, rolled over and fell asleep.

"Is it just me or is it getting warmer?" asked Aries.
"What a silly question, some of these rocks are literally glowing red hot. So, of course it's getting warmer." responded Virgo.
"Why do they glow, is the mountain on fire inside?" asked Aries.
"Yup." said Loe, "Mt. Ash often spits fire. As you can see, nothing grows up here because of that and the thick smoky mist that hangs around that top."
"How often exactly does Mt. Ash spit fire?" asked Sara nervously.
"Oh, don't worry. It won't happen for a few months yet." said Leo.
"That's good, but where is Libra? There isn't that much more mountain left to search." said Jayson.
"She must be in the crater." said Leo.
"There's no trail that goes that far." said Virgo.
"Who needs a trail?" said Sara as she began picking her way up towards that crater in that summit. Jayson left his horse and followed. As they neared the lip of the crater, there was a thunderous noise followed by a blinding flash and a bullish bellow. They peaked over that edge onto the scene below.
A large Minotaur with bat wings lay smoldering on the ground. Across the way a Mamelf with horse legs, Pegasus wings, and a Unicorn's horn stood. She was holding her rod before her and breathing heavily, one of her wings lay broken and twisted across her back. Her knees shook and then gave way as she collapsed in exhaustion.
"Lady Libra!" Leo cried as her leaped over the rim and down the side of the crater, dodging various heat geysers. The rest followed close after. When he got to her, Leo rolled Libra over onto her back and gritted his teeth as her wing crunched disgustingly as he tried to realign it.
"Man, she looks terrible." Aries said, coming up beside him. Libra was covered with bruises and gouges, but not a single magic wound.
"What was the name of her opponent Leo?" Sara asked, looking across the crater at the still smoldering Minataur.
"Taurus, of Iron Hide City."
"Taurus." she mumbled and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Jayson asked.
"To check on the other one."
"Wait! Don't go near him, he's dangerous." said Leo.
"I don't care, his name is one of the Celestial signs. I have to see if he's alive." she said and began to run.
"Hey, wait up!" Jayson said, drawing his swallow and following her. Leo went to follow but Aries grabbed his arm.
"I want you to stay and help me bandage her."

Taurus's body was still smoking when Sara got to him. He was breathing shallowly and his body was covered in magic marks, but not a single bruise or cut.
"Good, he's still alive." said Sara.
"I don't see how that's good. Isn't he the bad guy?" asked Jayson, scratching his head with confusion.
"He's still a symbol on my necklace, he must be able to help us stop Emit."
"Are you sure."
"Hey, she's waking up, come back!" Aries cut in on Jayson.

"Uh." Libra groaned as she came too and sat up sorely.
"Lady Libra, are you going to be okay?" Leo asked.
She smiled fondly at him and said, "I'll be fine, I'm glad to see you've kept yourself safe."
"You don't need to worry about me." smirked Leo.
Libra laughed lightly, "Very well, and who are your friends?" she asked.
'Friemds? But if Leo trusted me.' Sara thought as she looked at her pendant. She gasped silently, his symbol was filled with golden amber stones, 'The symbol. It's filled. It must have happened when we fell asleep together the other day.'
".and that's Sara, she needs your help." Leo finished his introduction of his new friends.
"She looks like a perfectly healthy Mamelf to me. What's wrong with her?" Libra asked.
"I'm not a Mamelf, I'm supposed to be human. I want to know if you can change me back?"
"You're the one, aren't you?" Libra asked.
Sara was a little surprised, "Uh. yeah, actually, but how did you know?"
"A dream I had. There was a girl and her band standing before and fighting the unrelenting forces of Emit. The needed my help, and as she turned to me, she'd become a wolf. I didn't understand at first, but now I see the connection."
"Wow."
"Yeah. I will help you, but first, let me fix myself up." said Libra as she stood. Her body began to glow and the bruise and cuts were healed. As her bandages fell from her, she stretched out her healed wings.
"Much better." she sighed, "Now step back everyone. Come to me Sara."
Sara stepped forward and stood before Libra. Libra walked up and embraced her in a hug, drawing her wings around her.
'She's so warm' was all Sara could think as she stood there in Libra's arms, all she could see was white. Suddenly she heard Libra's voice,
"Your so pretty, much more so then that beast you were."
Sara looked down at her hand and legs, they were back to normal! She reached up and touched her face, he muzzle was gone too! Libra's symbol was filled with the purest of diamonds. She smiled and looked up into Libra's also smiling face. It disappeared for the feathery curtain of her wings and Sara could hear her say,
"Will someone bring me her old clothes?"
Libra reached out for something and then returned Sara her first outfit.
"Wear these now, those clothes don't suit nor fit you anymore and I hope you'll never have to wear them again."
When Sara was finished changing Libra drew back her wings. Standing before her were all her friends.
"Welcome back." said Aries.
"I'm so happy your back to normal!" said Jayson as he drew her into a hug.
"Jay. stop! What're you.?" Sara said as she tried to pull back, but she stopped for a moment as she felt a tear hit her nose.
"I remember a time like that, do you Leo?" Libra asked him.
"Yes, but it's long since been forbidden." replied Leo.
"Not when your king though?" Libra asked.
"That's right, when I'm king."

"I can't really heal magic wounds, Sara." Aries said as she and Sara stood over the unconscious Taurus.
"It's alright, I can, but be prepared." said Libra, walking up to them.
They drew their weapons and stood aside as Libra started to work her magic. She began to glow again and with one sweep of her wings, she spread her healing magic across Taurus. The magic disappeared and his breathing deepened. With a groan he sat up and looked at them groggily as his eye came back into focus.
"It's been more then a Lifetime since I've felt that. What trickery are you trying to pull now, you white witch?" Taurus said in his brazen voice.
"No trickery, our fight is over now, we have a larger one to deal with."
"What are you talking about? We haven't had a bigger fight since. No., it can not be." Taurus said.
"Yes, Emit has risen again." Libra nodded.
"And who is our new pendant wearer?" asked Taurus.
"This girl, Sara, is that bearer of the Pendant." Libra said, placing her hand on Sara's shoulder.
"That girl?! But she's just a child! At least our last leader was a full fledged sorceress. I bet this one knows not an ounce of magic!"
"She may not know any magic, but she has a heart that cannot be beat. We will win again, I'm sure of it." said Libra.
"Very well, I will trust her." said Taurus, his symbol filled with pure black onyx stones.
"As interesting as this all is, I'm afraid you've gone and wrecked my entertainment. I swear, you leave for five minutes and the show gets cut short. It's rather upsetting, really, and I'm not to pleasant when I'm upset." came a whinny arrogant voice. A young man was hovering above them. His face, though human-like, was strangely reptilian. A headband held his spiky, fire red hair out of his eyes. He was wearing orange hued Dragon hide armor with wings that flapped lazily behind him. A dragon like tail that was a slightly darked color and more alive looking was waving placidly along with the wing flaps.
"Who's that?" Sara asked as Taurus stood and pushed her behind him.
"It's Kyell, Emit's weasel of a High General. Just stay behind me."
"Watch who you're calling a weasel, you oversized cow!" Kyell barked down at them.
"What is he? A Dragoon?" asked Sara.
"What's a Dragoon?" asked Aries?
"Nah, he's not whatever that is. He's a Dragon Knight, one of the only living descendents of the overlords of the Winged-Dragon Peninsula." said Taurus, cutting in before Sara could explain to Aries what she was talking about.
"What are you mumbling about down there?" Kyell demanded.
"Nothing that matters to you." growled Taurus as he lifted his great broad sword form the ground, "You coming, witch?"
"I wish you wouldn't call me that. We are allies again." Libra sighed as she stood beside him brandishing her rod.
"Whatever." he snorted as they launched up at Kyell.
"How amusing, looking for a fight? Very well, it looks as though my entertainment isn't over yet." Kyell smirked as he drew his Katana and dove to meat them.
"Ha! You think that metal toothpick can stop my sword?" Taurus laughed as he swung his sword wide.
"Indeed I do." said Kyell as he stopped Taurus's swing. Taurus let out a snort of surprise.
"Try this!" said Libra, launching a dragon made of golden magic from her rod.
"Oh please." Kyell responded, launching a stream of black flames form his hand at her magic. The dragon writhed and disappeared.
"You have to pay better attention!" said Taurus as he slid from Kyell's block and thrust his sword hard into his stomach.
Kyell let out a winded "oof!" and was sent spiraling backwards through the air.
Sara saw something leap from the rim towards Kyell. At first she thought it was Gemini but then she noticed it had wings. It was a large Saber-toothed Cat with long gray fur and black Crow-like wings. Kyell caught hold of it's reigns and opened his wings to stop himself. Then with an expert yank he seated himself on the cat's saddle.
"Nice try," he laughed at Taurus's startled and angry face, "but no sword can pierce dragon hide armor."
"Damn." Taurus snorted.
"This is getting boring. I'll give you this battle. 'Til we meet again. Onward Matilda, heeyaa." Kyell scoffed and kicked the Saber cat in the sides.
Libra and Taurus started a pursuit but Sara stopped them on Virgo
"Don't bother with him. Now at least we know that Emit is truly back and we're being watched. We'll have another chance at him, I'm sure." she said.
Libra landed with indifference but Taurus looked as though he'd much rather deal with Kyell now. As Virgo landed beside them, Sara slid off of him and said, "Well. Now that we're all together."