Twenty Third – Tears of a Hero

“Tell… Tell me what happened.” I said, my body shaking. “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ARIANNA!?”

The messenger looked at me, and at a nod from Kisa, began talking.

“A-a woman calling herself the Queen of Vampires appeared and began slaughtering the denizens of the planet she was on. The Prism Guard was sent out; dealing with b-beings like that is one of their duties. Arianna Celosi Myrath insisted on accompanying them, a-and they warped to Jikala Six. The woman k-killed all of them, saying that unless Dragonas came and faced her, m-more blood would be on his hands.”

My own blood turned to ice. She had killed people… because she wanted to fight me? She had killed ARIANNA!? I couldn’t… I couldn’t forgive her. These beings, the ones I had seen. I couldn’t forgive them. The Code of Heroes didn’t matter; nothing but avenging Arianna did.

“Take me there.” I said quietly, my mouth curling in a snarl. Bloodshine pulsed fiercely. “Take me to this Jikala Six. Now.” The messenger backed up slightly. “DO IT!”

“Do as he says. Ryuna, go with him.” she directed. The messenger bowed and turned around. I followed him through the halls of the palace, and didn’t even bother to thank him as I shot through a portal and appeared on the edge of a huge crater. A pile of bodies had been erected nearby, and the Queen of Vampires was standing there, smiling. Ryuna appeared behind me.

I ignored him and walked forward.

“Well, well, a child comes to play.” She said, looking at me, then the bodies. “How amusing. But I have no time to deal with you; I need to fight the Half-Breed King. He’s the only one I’m really interested in.”

“…You’re looking at him.” I said, holding Bloodshine up. “The Half-Breed King is part of my soul.” The woman laughed.

“And you’re the one who defeated Armag? You’re not strong enough to do such a thing!”

Should I do this? A voice in my mind asked.

Shut up. This… She… She killed Arianna. I can’t forgive that, no matter what. I’m going to kill her. And I’ll enjoy every scream of pain, every desperate plea, every drop of blood! I replied. Bloodshine began shaking and turned completely red.

“Ooh, are you mad about something?” the woman asked, giggling. “I am Elis, the Queen of the Vampires. I’m going to enjoy eating your soul.” She licked her lips. “Your power is mine, fool. Just like the souls of these other pathetic wretches.” My lips curled in a snarl.

“You will pay.” I said much more calmly then I felt. “You killed Arianna… And that is something you should not have done.” I took a deep breath and cleaved Bloodshine around. Laughing, Elis grabbed the blade. It shattered. I stared at the hilt, then tossed it aside and launched a flurry of punches at her. Amplified by my rage, the punches were more than strong enough to blast normal beings down an entire city block.

Elis just blocked them with one finger.

“Is this all you have, little boy?” she asked, smirking. “You’re not the one feared by the shadows… You’re just a baby, mad enough to think he can win.”

“SHUT UP!” I replied, throwing one more punch with as much force as I could. Elis caught my fist.

“I really did upset you, didn’t I?” she asked sweetly. “Aaw, that’s too bad, because I don’t really care.” She flicked her finger, and I went shooting backwards. “Heh heh heh… Ah, well, at least you will provide some amusement for me.”

Let me help!

Shut it! She’s mine!

I stumbled back up and charged at her, shifting to Angel as I did so. Immediately, I pulled Justice out and unleashed a flurry of slices. Elis apparently couldn’t break the sword, but she was quite capable of blocking it with little effort.

“Why don’t you just die!?” I asked, spinning it around faster and faster. “You murdered Arianna! And you’re going to pay!” I was barely aware of the tears that were flowing out of my eyes. “You villains and your stupid games! Why didn’t you just call for me in the first place!? Why do you have to kill innocents!? WHY HER!?”

“Because it upsets you.” Elis replied, catching my sword between two fingers. “And probably him as well. You’re weak; you and your weapons can’t even scratch me.”

“Then maybe this will!” I replied, dropping Justice and pulling my fists back. “Chaos Style: Broken Heart!” I slammed my fist forward once more and hit her this time, right on the nose. When I pulled my fist back, it was bruised, and there was only a small red line on Elis’ face.”

“Aaw, you try so hard.” She said, smirking. “And you finally scratched me!” she slammed me into the ground and pressed her foot into my chest. “Heh heh heh… And for your information, I didn’t merely kill those people. Or the girl you’re talking about.” She kicked my chin, and my neck nearly broke. “I’m the Queen of Vampires, remember? Their very souls are enthralled by me… So they will do exactly as I say.” The pile of bodies stirred, and slowly, Arianna rose up from their pile. “This is the girl, I believe.” She said, walking over to stroke Arianna’s face. “Girl… Go show him how much you hate him.”

Arianna walked forward, bent down, and placed her hands around my neck.

“I hate you…” she whispered. “You made my Mistress hurt… I hate you…” I could only stare at her through tear-fogged eyes.

“Arianna… It’s me. James.” I said, starting to gasp for breath. “You’re still you in there! Snap out of it!”

“I only obey the Mistress… Only the Mistress cares…” she droned on, squeezing tighter. I let out a bitter laugh.

“I guess I should take a leaf out of Eva’s book…” I said. I grabbed Arianna’s head and pulled her towards me so our lips touched. “Remember…”

“You think that will make me change?” Arianna asked. I felt, rather than saw, her smile. “Foolish boy. You are pathetic. From the first time I set eyes on you, I hated you.”

Don’t listen to her! She’s being controlled, remember?

“Every time we talked, I was nauseous. I only acted like I cared about you because I was forced to.”

Listen to me! TO ME! I can save her!

“I remember that time when we were ten… You had been pushed around by some bullies.” Arianna droned. “And I saved you. You cried and cried, because you were powerless then. And you’re just as powerless now. You haven’t changed. You’re still that same, disgusting little boy I met all that time ago.”

She cares about you! She’s only being controlled!

“Death is too good for you… But the Mistress wishes it, and I will obey.” Arianna continued. Her hands tightened again, and I began fighting for air. “Do what you want; it will never be enough. Unless you have the courage to kill me, by pushing your blade through my heart.”

I wiped the liquid from my eyes.

“I can’t hurt you, Arianna. Even to save my own life.” I whispered. She smiled and pressed her lips to mine once again.

“Then go to the next life, little boy.” She said. “And forever remember these lips… The ones you desired so much, but will never have.”

That’s enough! I’m taking over… I’m… going to… stop… this…

“The other you is still fighting.” Arianna whispered. “How pathetic. He cannot strike me, any more than you can.”

“Chaos.” Ryuna’s voice said. “The universe needs you and your power.”

My power… I thought. That’s all anybody ever wanted, except for her. Elis wants my power… Kai and Ryuna want me to help them save the universe… Arc and Eva only care about a part of me I know almost nothing about; they don’t care about ME… My parents never even really knew me. Arianna was the only person who ever cared about me for being myself… So why does it have to end like this? What was it I did wrong?

I felt a warm glow.

“What you did wrong was refusing to embrace yourself.” I heard Raphaela’s voice say softly. “Are you ready to come with me?”

“Ye…” I began. My mouth began moving on its own. “No! That part of me might be ready to die, but I’m not!”

Stop it, King… Let me have peace, and see the real Arianna again.

You’re being pathetic! The Half-Breed King snapped. I know her just as well as you do, and she wouldn’t want this for us! Fight! Help me fight! We might still be able to save her! And you!

“Come on, James…” Raphaela’s voice said. “Come with me. You and your girl will be together, as you were meant to be. Nobody will come between you ever again.”

Liar… I thought. You’ve always supported Arc… You’re not Raphaela… You’re not my Guardian Angel!

“Give it up, James. Your time is over.” Arianna whispered.

You’re not Arianna! You’re a fake, a liar, just like the fake Raphaela!

That’s right! They’re lying to you! Keep fighting! Come on, you can do it! Let us be one once more, and defeat them!

“Die, child.” Elis said, smiling.

“Come with me…”

“Let go…”

“Die…”

“Come…”

“Let go…

“DIE!”

“COME!”

“LET GO!”

Leave… Me… ALONE! I roared. The other voices fell silent. I opened my eyes to find Arianna still holding her hands at my neck. “You…” I said, glaring at Elis. “You’re trying to manipulate me into giving up… But I’ll die before I let Arianna’s death happen in vain!”

“That can be arranged. Oh, wait, it already has.” She said, smirking. “You’re too weak. This whole time, my little dear has been eating away at your energy… You know, I think I’ll keep her. She’s such a nice pet.”

James! Throw her off of you; even if she is hurt, she will thank you and forgive you for it when this is all over!

“Thank you, Mistress…” Arianna said, pulling her mouth away from mine. “You are too kind…”

“Good girl. Now finish him.”

A new voice cut through the others.

“Lord Chaos! Live! For me!” Kisa’s voice called.

Colors began flashing at the edge of my vision as Arianna’s chokehold on me grew tighter and tighter. Slowly, I began struggling.

“Give it up… All she wants is for you to be friends with her…” Arianna said. She gently rubbed one of her cheeks against one of mine. “You little fool… You pursued me when you couldn’t have me. You should just let go already… You know that you want to.”

I felt rage bubble up within me. Arianna would never tell me to give up on something, or that she hated me…

That’s the spirit! Fight!

He was right. The only person here I truly knew was myself; and the Half-Breed King was part of me.

“King…” I gasped out. “HELP ME!”

And instantly, he did. Power rushed out of my body, breaking every bone I had. I heard Elis’ scream as she was obliterated by the sheer amount of energy I was emitting. The others were pushed backwards, not hurt, but definitely not perfectly okay. Only Arianna seemed unaffected.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and shifted back to my human form. My injuries came with me.

You’ll kill yourself!

“Arianna…” I managed to get out with the last of my air. “…I love you.”

I blacked out a moment later.

An eternity later, a soft sound entered my ears. I felt a cool cloth touching me; but I couldn’t move at all. I could not even open my eyes.

“Today, we mourn the passing of Chaos, Lord of the Night, appointed by Her Eminence Empress Kisa Celeste to his honorable position. He fought bravely against a foe that took the life of one he loved, and our friends and comrades. He is considered now, in fact to be among the bravest souls to ever fight for our very own Celeste Empire, for long after any of us would have broken, he kept on fighting, trying to overcome his foe.”

Am I… dead?

There was a moment of silence.

“I… Did not know Lord Chaos for long.” Kisa’s voice said. “But one thing I do know is that he was trustworthy. When I first met him, he stopped a thief who had stolen my precious tiara. He did not ask for a reward, even when I pursued him and insisted on giving him something. He was kind and honorable. He followed me here, to the throne world, and defeated my uncle in combat for me, so that I could take up my throne until my parents are here to rule again. I… I thought of and still think of him as a brother, one I never had. He possessed a fierce fighting spirit, one this Empire has rarely seen the equal of in its long history. His death marks a sad day for our Empire… And so I declare that this day will forever be a Day of Mourning… He deserves no less.”

There was another moment of silence.

My… Funeral? Is that what this is?

“…Chaos came from my home world. He was a child, who aspired to be one of the greatest warriors ever known. When the demon Omega arrived, he fought until he couldn’t get up anymore, all because he refused to back down against an opponent he could not possibly defeat. I know thousands of people who would have fled long before, but he refused to give up. He was an example that I will never forget, and he taught me much in the short time I knew him.”

…Ryuna’s speaking too… I… taught him something? That’s nice. But why do I feel afraid? I know there’s a Heaven… I’ve been there… So why am I so afraid?

“Something you all may not have known…” A new voice began. “Was that Chaos was not just another person. He was more than that. His spirit… You know it as Dragonas, the almighty warrior. Dragonas’ power was not truly unleashed during that fight, or he would not have lost, but even weakened so far, his spirit did not give up. It fought until it had no strength left. He fought… What I want you all to remember is that this Hero… This Hero’s Legacy… is something that should survive forever. When my time comes, I would be proud to have a death half as noble as his.”

Kai…

I felt something nudge my side.

Who’s there? I asked, somehow able to look aside suddenly. Then I realized that my body wasn’t moving. My soul was.

“Hey there.” Eva’s voice said. “I, uh, came to pick you up?”

Thank you… Am I dead?

Indeed. But it may not be necessary for you to die. Or for Evangeline to bring you to my home.

You’re…

Yes. I… Do not do this very often. But the words of those you knew have touched me, and as in nearly all else, I shall give you a choice. Do you want to go back… Go back and stop this from happening?

…Does it mean hurting Arianna?

No. It means saving her.

Then what do I have to do to save her?

Listen to yourself… After all, your other half is wise indeed.

Time reversed itself. I watched as things flowed backwards and moved back into my body. Suddenly, things began happening normally again.

“I hate you…” Arianna said. I looked her squarely in the eyes and changed back to human form. I had reverted to demon as time flowed back…

“Arianna… Do you remember the day we met?” I asked.

“…Yes.” She replied. “…You saved me that day, leaping into a fight without a second thought, like I did for you years later.”

“No… Before that.”

She was silent for a moment.

“Our families met. We went to the corner and began talking.”

“What did I tell you?” I asked.

“You told me that no matter what, you’d love me. But you were only a child, children do those things, and-“

“I never forgot that promise.” I said calmly. “I love you, don’t you get that?” her hands loosened slightly. “I don’t need friends… They only drag me down. I don’t need Maya, or Arc, or Eva… I don’t need Melody or Arthur, or Kai, or Ifrit… It’s nice having them to talk to, but they’re just people I know. Friends are wretched. You’re the one that I need, Arianna.” Her grip loosened again.

“What are you waiting for!? Kill him!” Elis screeched. Arianna’s grip loosened completely, and she reached down to hug me, crying. “KILL HIM!”

“No!” Arianna cried. “James…”

Slowly, I stood up. Arianna helped me, tears escaping her eyes. Elis screamed in rage.

“I don’t know how you’ve broken my thrall spell, but you will return to it and he will die!” the witch roared. I looked calmly at her and held up a hand. “What, are you going to use the Power of Love and Justice to defeat me or something?” she asked, sneering as a whip of energy appeared in her hands.

“Screw that…” I said quietly. “Claiming Love and Justice can help you win… Is the talk of fools. I don’t care about any of that. You’re my enemy… And I’ll destroy you. That’s all there is to it.”

Yeah! Now let’s kick butt!

I grinned at the advice of myself and shot forward. My abilities had somehow been enhanced, and I figured that was His work. I sent a silent thanks as a flare of light appeared in my hands.

“What are you trying to do?” Elis asked, unimpressed.

“…Kill you.” I replied coldly as I slammed the orb into her face. It was immediately absorbed by her.

“Fool! Don’t you know that I can absorb magical power!?”

“Well, duh.” I said, rolling my eyes. “But I think solar energy might be a bit toxic to you.” Her eyes widened. Everybody knew that vampires (and, heck, most dark creatures) had a weakness to bright lights. Especially the sun.

Elis screamed as flames erupted inside her body. She might have been the Queen of Vampires, but she still had their weaknesses. And in this case, the concentrated light was burning her. The woman turned to ashes a few moments later. A felt a hand on my shoulder.

“James, thank you.” Arianna said. “You freed me.” She wrapped me in a hug, and I turned around and hugged her back. She began glowing softly. “Now I can move on in peace…”

“You’re… joking, right?” I asked, my eyes widening.

“No.” she replied, laughing slightly. “I’m dead… And I don’t think even you can bring people back to life.”

I can try.

“Arianna, you can’t die!” I said sharply, grabbing her head. “I refuse to let you!” she smacked me.

“I’M DEAD, YOU IDIOT! I’VE BEEN DEAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE ALREADY! YOU FREED MY SOUL, SO LET ME MOVE ON, DAMMIT! I’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU, FOREVER IF I HAVE TO, SO LET ME GO!” she roared. I didn’t budge.

“Arianna, listen to me.” I said, shaking her as she began to fade. “You promised me something, and I’m refusing to let you go until you’ve fulfilled it!” I looked up as Eva appeared, holding her scythe. “Go away. She’s not going.”

“Sorry, not my choice.” Eva said sympathetically. “But you still have me!”

“You want the King, not me.” I replied, glaring at her. “Maybe we share a spirit… But we’re different people. Arianna is staying right here.” Eva sighed and moved forward.

“I have to take her away!” Eva snapped. “I don’t want to, but I have to! I’m sorry!”

I pulled Arianna away and hugged the girl even tighter.

“I died…” I muttered. “I was sent back here to save Arianna… I refuse to accept that means she has to leave me.” Arianna closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slapped me.

“You did save me, moron!” she replied. “What more do you need, me to live!?”

“YES!”

“Well it just can’t happen!” the girl replied, fading more and more. “I want it to, we all know, but it can’t! So accept it and move on, you stupid boy!”

“No! Arianna, don’t you understand yet!?” I asked, refusing to even loosen my grip on her. The girl sighed and rested her head on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered as she vanished completely. I stumbled down and just lay there.

Of course… I thought bitterly. My life was never a fairy tale, so why should there be a Happily Ever After? This is what he meant by saving her? …Figures… At that point in time, I felt despair like I had never felt it before. Was I… really so pathetic? So worthless?

An arc of electricity danced across my vision. I was suddenly aware of screaming in the distance.

What the…

Words I knew were ‘stabilize it, stabilize it’ and ‘malfunctioning’ became ‘setus keh, setus keh’ and ‘malgreshining’. I suddenly screamed as more electricity shot across my vision and static engulfed me.

…heck?

Silence.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Author’s Corner:

Well, that was interesting. To write, at least; if it was interesting to you people as readers, you should review and tell me about it. XP

And with this chapter, another piece of the jigsaw puzzle to creating a Superhero Story has been shoved into place. I hope that, at least, you enjoyed it, because I have a lot more planned. Heh heh heh heh heh…

Oh, you are all going to freak. Can’t wait!

REVIEW!

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000