IV

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A glancing strike slices her shoulder, and

With the violation, the gold aura

Indignantly erupts.  She swings an arc,

Sword-song rings clear, lilt of blade hail-blazing

‘Gainst dark sky.  A lion’s roar tears from white

Throat, a wolf’s fangs bared, diamond-sharp and bright.

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Most glorious change, from small of back, from

Shoulderblades meeting spring phoenix’s wings,

Imbued with all the holy fire of

The sun, molten fluid and fierce as her

Own will.  Unfurled to full span, they flicker

Blood-red, heat-orange, and gold: pure shining gold.

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The earth trips over itself, frightened so

As to hasten away.  All Four watch wide-

Eyed, Green and White clinging together, Black

Stunned for speech, and Red gleefully clapping

Her hands.  --Cheat!-- the Darkest snarls.  --Though we pledged

No interference, your touch is on her!--

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--No, Loveless one,-- replies the Fire Queen.

--No, my heartless Sister.  What you see now

Was in her all along, and even I

Had forgotten.  I wonder how she found

It.--  For a moment, the aura burns too

Brightly to behold, blinding firelight.

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And yet the undaunted asp still sneers, he

Had expected such an outburst.  Her wings

Settle, fluttering at her back, and she

Wields the sword anew.  --Come, then!-- she cries.  --Come,

Snake; come, mutt!  Are we not on even

Terms now?  Are we not well-matched for this strife?--

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Full-flaming, the wings beat and pulse, sunspots

On their shafts.  --Flare all you like, Gold One.  I

Know you still.  I see inside your soul, all

The sins you had rather keep untold.--  But

A proud toss of spiral-crowned head answers

Him. --I burn them all away, forgiven.

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Thou canst not own me, ground-crawling asp, nor

Seek to tarnish my soul.--  His blade strikes fast,

But seems to slide off the aura-orb.  --I

Shall see your gold turned brass!-- threatens Death’s pet,

But mocking laughter rises, maddening

More for the eternal prideful shimmer.

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--Search me-- she offers.  --Look within and see

What you will.  I do not fear you.--  Mischief

And malice flash behind dark lashes.  --But

Thou, I think, do fear me.--  The golden blade

Arcs again, sparking fireworks in the

Air and leaving there a trail of stardust.

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--Fear you?-- sneers the Asp.  --Fear a child, a

Spoiled and cast-off wretch without the wit

To see--  But his words are lost, enveloped

In the golden shimmer of her laughter,

And she slices fiercely at him through her

Mirth, forcing the Black Prince to defensive.

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--Yes!-- she declares, proud as sin and twice as

Lovely.  --Why else avoid me, why else make

Such a point of proving me beneath your

Contempt?--  The settling fire-sparks wreathe gold

Hair, more crown than halo.  --Look at me—she

Crows.  --Look at Chaos’s Daughter and fear!—

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