RPG Demons and Angels 2: Darkness Rises [M-VLS]

[Blayze]

It has been 5 years since Kelthor?s demise, and 5 years since Lyon and Zack sacrificed themselves to protect their friends. The elementals have drifted apart, with Sam travelling the world to find new recruits, helping them cope with their powers. Lyon is missing presumed dead, and Jun has disappeared, his current whereabouts unknown.

But even though Kelthor is dead, there must always be evil in this world. And a new power has risen to take Kelthor?s place. This new evil being is called the Destroyer, and he has taken the souls of the demons involved in the last battle, and turned them into new beings, who will fight alongside him.

The new recruits Sam is trying to find are the reincarnations of the angels of those who fought Kelthor, and they are powered with elements, all the old ones, including Water, Fire, Lightning, Earth, Wind and Ice, and some new ones appearing as well, such as Metal, Magnetism, Gravity and Time.

Lyon has merged with his angel, and this helped him to survive his final attack on Kelthor, and Jun had merged with his demon, turning him into some kind of feral creature. Zack is gone, however. He will not return to help the new recruits fight.

Ok, here is the team:

Blayze-Kane Eldridge/Gravity

Heero Darkangel-Jun Kazama/Fire

...-Sam Ming/Earth

amgoddess-Kala Primavera/Time

Garelock-Ironus Jack/Metal

kairiKIce2-Lyon Heart/Water

First posts should be you either meeting up with Sam or preparing to.

Here is mine:

It was morning. The birds were singing in the trees, and the sun had just come up. Kane stamped the fire out from last night, leaving just ashes lying on the sodden ground. The English countryside was cold. Too cold for Kane's liking. He packed up all his things, including his sword and all his food, and packed all of Sam's clothes together as well.

Moments later, Sam emerged from the woods, clean and fresh and ready for another day's travelling.

"Where are we going today, Sam?" he asked her.

"We are heading towards the Scottish border. There have been lots of warriors from Scotland, so hopefully we should have some luck there."

They set off, carrying their bags and weapons across the countryside. They rarely talked to each other when they were travelling. Kane liked to keep himself to himself, for reasons known only to him. He was a very private person, who never shared any of his feelings with other people.

After a few hours of walking, they reached an old Scottish castle ruin. They went in, trying to find any sign of angels or demons inside. There were none. They were about to leave, when something came skulking out of the shadows. It looked at the two strangers for a while, then bared its fangs. They shone out through the blackness of it's substance like a light in the darkness. It's eyes were a piercing yellow. It snarled slightly, and Sam and Kane turned to face it. Kane slowly put his pack down and drew his sword. It glinted in the dull sunlight. The demon walked slowly towards him, and then pounced. It was a lot quicker than it looked. Kane dodged, but only just. It scratched him across the arm, drawing blood. He swore and swung his sword at it. It caught it on the side of the neck, and it's head came off, landing on the floor next to it.

The demon burst into it's individual dark droplets, which sank into the ground. Sam hurried over to Kane.

"Are you okay? That thing got you pretty badly." Blood was rushing out of the wound.

"No, I'm okay, thanks," he replied, taking a bandage out of his pack and wrapping it around his arm. He sheathed his sword, and they walked on.

(OOC: Well, there it is. If you want to be found in Scotland you can be, but we're not going to be in Scotland for very long, so don't worry. I hope everyone enjoys this!)

[...]

Sam walked on investigating the ruins. She found the courtyard and stared outside of it. She looked at Kane and smiled. He was a quiet one... but she admired him. He had come a long way since the first time she found him.

She wanted to find more... the times were getting worse, more demons popping out of every corner of the earth... she could feel them now as they opened portals all over...

In the years, she had mastered her powers, never wanting to fall victim to them again... during her training and progression with her powers, she never forgot him. She tried to... she tried very hard to forget about him... but thinking about him made her smile when there was nothing to smile about... all those years on her own, and not once did she feel alone... because having him on her mind kept her company.

"Sam?" Kane said looking at her oddly.

"I was just thinking about how far we all have come. Especially you Kane..."

"Thank you... it's nice to know you have faith in me." he said.

She smiled. "This is only the beginning... we're going to find more out there... and when we do, we're going to help them train... you and me... I'm going to need your help." she said.

He nodded. He watched as she walked in the middle of the courtyard and pushed away the rock and debris off the ground. She smiled at the soft patch of green earth beneath it all and blew softly on it. The dust and rubble cleared out of the way, covering the entire courtyard in lush, green land. Spreading like fire...

She turned around to Kane and smiled. "Do you know why were doing this?" she said looking at him.

He looked at her. "To stop the evil..." he said.

"Yes... but have you ever thought of our reasons why?" she said as the earth around them came back to life.

He shook his head... he was sure he knew the answer, but he didn't want to say the wrong thing.

"To give everything else on this earth a chance to live... everyone has the right to a long and full life... even the smallest creatures, and plants..." she said. She smiled brightly as she turned around and walked through the ruins, as the sun slowly peaked out over the earth.

[Heero Darkangel]

Jun and Osiris walked through a dark dense forest. It had been five years since he had seen the others...although he though it was for the best.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]So, why are we walking when we can fly?[/COLOR] questioned Osiris, Osiris was his angel...Osiris had been there for him through everything...especially when he fully emerged with Lucifer his demon.

'Because I want to walk,' replied Jun as he gave Osiris a slight smile

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Right. Doesn't mean I have to.[/COLOR] smiled Osiris

As he began flying next to Jun who didn't seem to care, just then Jun stopped...something wasn't right.....Osiris had also felt it and he landed next to Jun

Jun's eyes narrowed as he looked around the trees....at that moment red eyes appeared in the darkness

'Demons....' whispered Jun as he drew his katanas, black wings shot out of his back and his eyes grew red.

Suddenly demons flew at them, Jun flew towards one of them and swung his blades which cut deeply into the demons face, he then drove the other sword into the chest of it and it screamed and desintergrated, one of them then clung to his back, within an instant flames ingulfed the demon and burnt it within seconds.

Osiris was already fight a horde which attacked him, using his heavenly abilities he managed to turn them into dust

Jun then saw two of them running towards Osiris, but before they got to him they were engulfed in flames, Osiris turuned around. The burning demons were screaming while they burned slowly

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Do you have to torture them...their screaming is unbearable[/COLOR]. said Osiris as he looked at Jun who was laughing

At that moment the demons were fried quickly, and then turned to ashes.

Osiris shook his head and looked at Jun and shook his head then laughed. [COLOR=DarkGreen]You are truely twisted sometimes. you know that[/COLOR]

Jun walked over to Osiris as he sheathed his swords, 'Thanks,'

Osiris shook his head again

Jun suddenly turned serious, 'If..we just finished fighting demons...that means....,'

Osiris looked at Jun with a deep frown. [COLOR=DarkGreen]How the heck could two of us miss that![/COLOR]

Jun shrugged his shoulders, 'Kelthors dead...so......who's..........,'

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Well my guess is that the others proberly already know. So we'll have to find them.[/COLOR] said Osiris

Jun gave a slight nod. And they both took off into the sky.

OOC: Noone meet up with Jun. I'll be gone for a few days. but i will catch up. He will meet up with everyone when i get back ok!.

[Redemption]

[FONT=Times New Roman]Kala shivered in the cold air of Scotland. Something, unbeknowst to her, told her that she needed to be here. It was a frosty morning and ice covered the road she trekked along. She had seen no cars nor trucks pass her since her journey to find whatever made her come here. Her two thin-bladed swords were sheathed in their scabbards at her sides, just in case she was attacked by some vicious passerby.

A cold breeze whipped her small skirt around her legs. Two pieces of hair - one pink, one green - fluttered over her head. She hugged herself tighter in the cold, her backpack on her back keeping her a little warm.

" Why, why did I have to come here?" she asked herself in a small timid voice.

Soft voices suddenly appeared in the wind that drifted over the knoll in front of her. Kala stopped. She listened intently to them. One was a female, older than her. And the other was a boy, about the same age as her. They only had said a sentence to each other, but Kala could plainly hear it in the wind.

Then suddenly, a greeat rush of wind whipped around Kala. She threw up her hands to shield herself from it. What she could see through a small gap in her arms was the rushing forward of time. Now Kala could plainly see who the voices belonged to. Then the wind sucked backwards again, leaving her back where she had been before the time warp.

Two figures appeared on the top of the knoll. As she predicted, one was female, and the other was male. A feeling of knowing appeared in Kala's heart and she knew that these two people were the reason of her arrival in Scotland.

The woman must of seen Kala because after a few minutes, she confronted her. The boy followed close behind, looking at Kala with an unreadable expression on his face. Kala blushed at the appearance of this boy, because she liked black hair and blue eyes on a male. She hastily looked down at her feet.

" Another traveller I see," said the woman in a warm voice. " You look very cold. Why aren't you rugged up a little more?"
" I'm....not very cold ma'am," Kala replied politely, her voice was soft and timid, like it always had been.
" I'm Samantha," the woman introduced herself, holding out her hand in a friendly gesture. Kala took it, but the instant she touched Sam's hand, Kala saw that she had powers.
" Are you okay?" the boy asked. He had watched Kala go into a complete trance - her eyes unfocused - and then come back out again.
" You.....have powers.....ma'am...." Kala whispered.
Sam and the boy looked at each other. " How did you know?"
" I .....I have them too.....of time....."
" Excellent. Well come along.....ah what's your name?" Sam asked.
" I'm.....Kala Primavera...." Kala said, blushing again as she took a quick glance at the boy.
" Nice to meet you Kala. This is Kane. He has powers of gravity."
" Pleased to meet you sir," Kala said, shaking his hand quickly, looking at the ground. Kane didn't know quite how to reply in this situation.
" Now lets go and find the others," Sam said before marching on. Kane followed at Sam's side, looking over his shoulder once or twice at Kala, who followed behind obiedently.[/FONT]

[Blayze]

"So, where are you from?" asked Kala, trying to make conversation.

"I'm was born in the mountains of Japan. That's where I was brought up, too. These monks in a monastery looked after me, brought me up. They saw my power and trained me to fulfill my destiny."

"Which is?"

"To rid the world of evil," replied Kane, feeling as though he could comfortably talk to this new arrival.

"Wow. So how long have you known about your powers?"

"A while. I found out when I was about two."

"What about your parents? Why didn't they bring you up?"

"They died when I was very young. I never really new them."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," said Kala.

"Don't be," replied Kane, "You didn't know."

They walked for a while in silence, as Sam had come to expect from Kane.

Then, after about half an hour, something happened. A red glow from the forest. They stopped, and Sam went in to discover the source of the light. A minute or two later, she burst out of the forest, knives drawn, with a demon holding onto her back, scratching her neck and face. Kane ran over to her, and stabbed the demon through the head, making it disintegrate.

"What was that?" asked Kala.

"That was a demon. Be prepared to see a lot more of them."

At these words, around forty or fifty demons burst out of the woods around them, completely surrounding them.

"Remind me to shut up next time!" Sam shouted to herself. Sam drew her knives, Kane drew his sword, and Kala drew her blades, shaped like the hands on a clock.

The demons moved in, and Kane swung at the first one that came towards him. He lopped it's head off, and he used the swing to stab another through the heart. Sam was slicing demons apart with her knives, and Kala was darting in and out, moving too quickly for a normal person, slashing the demons to pieces.

Kane realised that Kala was using her powers to stop time, move towards the demons, start time up again, and kill them. Well, if she could use her powers, then so could he.

He cupped his hands together, and felt the force between them. He threw his hands out, and a blanket of gravitational energy covered a large group of the demons, crushing them all with the force of gravity.

Kala and Sam stood back, impressed with Kane's work. He modestly sheathed his sword and walked on.

[Guest Garelock]

[COLOR=Blue]"Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream...row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream,"[/COLOR] a voice so vigilantly soft to the point of reckoning echoed through the plessy virgo of the Scottish plain. The stream of Horonticalo still flowed ever so gracefully, the spring was a blooming and the life of tomorrow didn't even seem to be coming today. How did all this become a key place for a battle? How did such a place become a spawning ground of violence, gore and misunderstanding? How did all this come to past? Evil, evil is to blame and yet evil is only the half; the righteous side of the playing field had some of the weight of fault as well.

Oh now, things would get better or they would surely get worse off as time progressed to another age in existence. Why was all of this important? Why did this land, this land that would surely pass on as all Earthly planes do matter to anyone and especially so to a person who didn't even live on this soil, an angel? Life and past are what holds him here, the binding force in which the mind is the weapon that wounds the spirit and forces the soul to linger in one, horrible place. Moving on meant to move from the past, run from it and not acknowledge the failures that have caused this indicatively incorrect winged warrior to swelter in guilt and shame for not being what people and what most wanted him to be; stronger than the average fool.

[COLOR=Blue]"Life is but a dream...death is the reality....Tadhley Cornwallis...if there's a forgiving bone in your body, please, spare me the insufferable agony. I know you cannot hear me, your spirit holds onto this place and you refuse to move on until your soul has been avenged. I cannot avenge it for you, your murderers are long since gone, forgotten and bound to Hell. I can't destroy what is already dead. What I can do is make sure no one else is punished like you ever again..." [/COLOR] Indeed, the warrior desired revenge but against people that has not done wrong by him or his comrades. The fact of the matter is that this would be a very difficult task but one that anyone, including this being, would be more than willing to take.

The sounds of heavy, metallic-like footsteps illuminated the side court of the Wordsworth burial sight in sound, trudging and sledging through the meadows and placing a hollow foot upon the grass. [COLOR=Blue]?I have to be swift and keep my wits about me; demons swell this land. Swell not they shall, I will have my revenge upon those blemishes to humanity, those vial, cruel intended things and I will make them taste the swift, harsh justice of the sword.?[/COLOR] The words this angel used could obviously be deciphered as words of anger more so than the feeling of wanting justice. A clean heart veils with the gale of content and even at the sight of death, the very ground this incarnation traveled upon was a holy ground meant for harvesting the corpses of those long past.

[COLOR=Blue]?Burn to the ground, burn them all, may the fire I use as a weapon be even harsher than the very flames of Hades, the spawn of torment.? [/COLOR] Lest he gain ground, for if he did, the fate of those who he encountered, even a friendly presence, might suffer the wrath bottled up for ages.

[COLOR=Red]?There he is! Get him! He?s all alone! Little angel, poor, poor angel! He doesn?t even have wings! A sorry excuse for such a fool!?[/COLOR] And the idiotic creatures of darkness took the bait. Standing all alone, in the meadow of Wordsworth the Great, a Scottish warrior, stood the incarnation of an angelic warrior of metal. Being present at such a place where the death are kept is a cast with a battle net with bait tied along with it, and it?s a calling sign for all demons in the area to make their strike upon an angel and claim victory among the fool foolish enough to even try such a feat.

Cloaked in an old Celtic waist tail, or to the modern day, a cloth tied around the waist, a pair of black steel gauntlets, fitted to perfection, black, standard bag pants, a gold metal cross medallion necklace used for fashion and as a piece of sentimental past, a long, black metal Scorpion sword and a white shirt stood the long passed warrior of the Celts; Ironus Jack, the Metal Guardian. His expression could only be described when compared to the face of a mad, angry bull without a reason to attack but endeavored the love of destruction to any body that dared to defy it. His purpose, to destroy those who opposed his ideal of righteousness, peace, justice and the way of liberty for all who wanted to possess it. His mission?and valiantly is he who does not believe in such! There is no mission for those who do not believe in following orders, being commanded, torn down to serve the higher cause and being a slave of innocence. Justice is the reason for the season of slaughter to evil and with a mighty hand of revenge for those sickened with long slumber he shall smite those who have caused such a wrath of pain.

The demons, they weren?t on the small side either; the bigger, more powerful demons were sent for this case. While Ironus was just one angel, a fighter he was as well and a tough fighter at that; one of the toughest of his kind. The only weakness He seem to have was his personal life; a weakness that is so major to the point where his physical ability seems miniscule. Yet, his size, weight and body composure daft composed to be formidable and unruly. [COLOR=Blue]?If you feel it be that I?m helpless, defenseless and without scorn, feel it necessary to make your strike. I shall prove through the battle that I am not in the mood for games??[/COLOR]

These demons were red, mostly big and carried only wings, claws, teeth and muscle mass as weaponry. They were the ugliest and foul thing most would ever see. If one wanted just a glimpse of the horror Ironus had to view with his own eyes out of the shadows of the vineyard of grass, they would only have to imagination a combination of a wolf, eagle and a red tree lizard and that could accurately describe these freaks of nature and places not incline to nature. The metal sapien of truth stared them down as they all surrounded him, being in the courtyard, an outside courtyard with stones set up as burial sights and grass to symbolize the bodies giving life again; in plants that is.

[COLOR=Red]?GET HIM! Rip his body limb from limb! Don?t leave anything! Eat him if you want! ATTACK!?[/COLOR] One of the monsters hollered as the rest followed suit with the instigator. Charging full speed they were, pushing towards the angel with such a pace that it could only be rivaled with that of a hungry lion heading for the prey before the vultures have a feast upon it. The only sound that could be head is a loud and thundering, [I][B]?CLING!? [/B][/I] Ironus, with a ditch effort to be rid of the demons at once and throw off their offending defense, transformed into his metallic half which was nothing more than brawny suit of armor made a metal that could make steel works be viewed as child?s play. Demons, when they attack, charge headfirst and Ironus knew of this. Each of the monsters would grow a knot on their foreheads and have monstrous headaches from hitting the solid object so harshly. They would be injured, that is, if only Ironus let them live to tell about it.

Stabbing viciously, one by one, Ironus began attacking the beasts like a beast himself, possessing no mercy in his breast or vainness for anyone to see; just a gore-filled and malicious way of taking a soul. The screams, the cries of pain and suffering, the sound of a sword slicing through brimstone and flesh worked its way through the entire burial sight.

[COLOR=Blue]?Hark! I have again proven myself worthy of being a demon smasher?jolly should you all be; I took it easy on you.? [/COLOR] Jack could be a cruel, cruel person and very much so for a person who didn?t even believe in fighting wars; though, it?s a good thing he didn?t believe in fighting many battles for the same result would happen to any enemy he dared to overpower. Jolly should they be? The only trace of those creatures left were the smell of ash and brimstone. Changing back into his human disguise, the Celtic warrior moved on through the planes and into a more subtle and lesser open space. This time, however, it would seem that Ironus found 3 new enemies to contend with and yet, those weren?t even demons.

[COLOR=Blue]?A new breed?angels?ha, I shall make short work of them. No one comes through this land without a fight by me!?[/COLOR] Ironus appeared, transforming into his angelic armor again and sprouting out his wings. Now, the reason why he didn?t take such feats as this is because his armor is the super heavy type and not easily carried; it?s very fortunate of Ironus that his strength is also a marvel he has. Using his wings to block their pathway, Ironus flew up and over the crowd of 3 and barricaded their travels.

[COLOR=Blue]?Halt! If you wish to pass on, you must first go through me?I know you aren?t here for a good reason. None of our kind is and especially not me. My words are swift but my sword is swifter?turn back, save yourselves and do not wish to overcome me. Many have tried and those same many have all failed. I?m Ironus Jack, the Metal Guardian. I do not know who you are, where you come from and to be frank I don?t believe I care. You have no purpose here?SO LEAVE!? [/COLOR] Jack commanded, wielding his sword and waving it at them to impose intimidation.

[...]

Sam smiled and laughed. She told Kala and Kane to stay behind her.

"Tough talk, Jack, but let's see what you got." she said as she pulled out her knives.

He shook his head. "I warned you woman..." he said as he jumped to the ground, sword waved at her.

She smiled mishcheiviously as he walked toward her. Suddenly, he melted her blades in her hands, the metal seeping down, but he gathered it all and recreated the blade in his hand.

"I told you... those who try to overcome me will always fail."

"And you underestimating will be your downfall... everyone who tries to defeat their opponent has a chance to succeed, and those who try despite the odds against them, are the worthy ones." she said. He came at her with his sword and she froze him as he stood.

"But I am not one of those ones... the odds my dear are in [i]my[/i] favor." she said. He stared at her in anger and defiance.

Kala and Kane stared at her. Kane smiled, knowing what his teacher was capable of, and Kala stared in awe and wonderment.

"I am Samantha Ming... Gaia... and I wish to have you join us Ironus Jack.... my powers are but a taste of what we have in store for those Demons. Do you wish to join us, or not?" she said.

He looked at her with a confused look, but silent. She decided another demonstration was in order. She looked at him and split the earth beneath them, and walked over to him, despite the lack of ground.

"Gaia..." was all he said. She was the Earth's Master... and it obeyed her every wish.

"We will need your powers, Ironus.... join us... and you'll see...." she said with a smile, as the earth slowly closed up again, coming to life once more.

He nodded and she dropped him from where he was in mid air. She put out her hand and lifted him to his feet. His armor was heavy, and it was amazing that he could carry that load... more than likely, a result from his powers.

"Come... meet the others. We're going to be a team... and as one united group, we will destroy the evil among us." she said bringing him to Kane and Kala.

[Guest Garelock]

Ironus didn't do well with teams and that's mainly because of his past; he can't bring himself to be apart of any kind of affiliation because he's afraid of failing again and costing more lives. The demonstrations of strength were nothing to him. Yes, their powers were much more versatile than his own but when it came to actually do some bodily injury, a fact remains that they?d have one hell of a hard time trying to even put a dent in his armor. The only reason why Jack even considered joining them was because he couldn?t take on all of Hell by himself no matter how strong he was. If these elementals could take him so easily, then what?s stopping a strong hell demon from crushing him like a bug; besides his armor of course.

[COLOR=Blue]?I don?t wish to join you?I can?t?more people would be hurt. You don?t know what this places means to me?have mercy on a soldier who can?t deal with history. Leave this place; this isn?t a haven for ones like you. Unlike many of you, I?ve been to this plane before but in flesh and bones, not elements swirling deep in my soul. This battlefield is one of sadness?not of virtue, justice or anything else of the sort. Have mercy on a leader??[/COLOR] Jack bellowed, lowering his head in shame; he?d never get over that defeat. If someone?s army goes undefeated for nearly a decade and then, all of a sudden, suffers an embarrassing defeat then that?s grounds for a hasty suicide. Now, if one were to dig deep into Jack?s personal history, it is SAID that he was killed in battle but that, in the old days, could mean something entirely different. If a soldier?s side of the field lost the battle then chances are if that soldier is still alive then they?ll commit suicide to erase the guilt and shame. The strange part was that the soldiers death would be counted as a kill for the enemy so while history says Jack died by the sword or another, in truth, he did the job himself. He was the captain and a captain goes down with his fleet; regardless of the cost.

[COLOR=Blue]?Vanquishing evil is my purpose, yes, you all know that. It?s hard to live or to have lived and not heard about me; the Metal Guardian. I guard the lives of the innocent, the quick and the unborn, it?s what I do. I don?t follow orders, I don?t listen to people and I don?t do anything by the book; I?m a mercenary,? [/COLOR] Jack explained, hoping to impose some light on the matter. [COLOR=Blue]?It?s not that I don?t like you, it?s just that I haven?t seen you people in these parts before. If this is the same place where YOU died and someone just comes and barges in you?d be a little aggressive too?I don?t like the fact that demons are everywhere in MY land. When I was alive, I conquered this land and while ages have past since, I still stake my claim so no human, demon or angel alike will come and try to overrun what is rightfully mine??[/COLOR] If that didn?t make the strangers wonder about Jack?s angelship then nothing would. Ironus isn?t an ordinary type of angel; he?s not even an Arch-Angel. He?s more of a renegade type or a rebellious angel bent on his own purpose and own reason for trying to accomplish a goal.

[COLOR=Blue]?I?m no one?s servant, soldier or clansman; those days are over. I don?t follow orders, I do what I want, when I want to do it and to however degree I want to do it. You don?t like that? That?s not my problem. You think I have a bad attitude? Once again, that isn?t my problem?I?ll work with you but I don?t want any association and that means don?t talk to me, joke with me or do much of anything besides kill demons along side of me. You don?t have to listen to a word I say but mind you, I?ll observe the same policy; I don?t want to hear anything you say either. Final request?stay OUT of my way when I?m trying to do something. These are my terms, take them or leave them.?[/COLOR] Jack is a jerk, there?s no denying it. You have to give it to him though; he?s not a fake person. He?s a naturalist or basically, he ?tells it like it is.? He doesn?t sugar coat anything and he?ll tell someone how he feels in a heartbeat.

Transforming back into his human form might give the others a sense of him being as serious as a heart attack so with that, he did so. There stood a man, looking like he wasn?t a day over 20 and yet his voice seemed so old, experienced and full of anger. He yanked his sword upwardly and rested the hilt on his shoulder, just like a Celtic would.

[...]

"I accept your terms, Ironus." Sam said looking at the young man.

Kane stared at her in disbelief... he clearly didn't like the boy one bit.

Surprised, Jack nodded. He didn't have much to say after that. Sam walked on without a second glance.

"We will be united though... for we are all fighting for the same purpose." She stopped and looked at them all. "And regardless of what you all may feel inside, unity... is what will save us all in the end. Not our own skills... but unity. And if one person... takes the world on their shoulders, not only are they putting their own life in jepordy, but the lives of everyone else." she said, not keeping her gaze on one person too long. It was directed to all of them.. not just the new recruit.

She walked on and thought about her own actions 5 years before... she still felt responsible for Zack's and Lyon's death... even now... she had gone to save Jun... and turned her back on them both, killing them both in the process. She had that guilt laid on her heart... and she wished... that the one she had risked everything for would have seen what she had done... for him... but Jun kept his distance...

"Sam?" Kane said with Kala close beside him. She looked at them and noticed Jack was 10 feet behind them.

"Yes Kane?" she said, as she kept walking.

"I don't mean to be rude, but is he really needing to come?" Sam looked back at the boy... he seemed to be lost with grief... a sadness laid beneath the surface...

"We cannot turn our back on an elementalist... he will make his decision soon enough. He will see... just how hard it is to distance one self... and then he will choose... whether his own hatred... is more important than the cause he fights for."

She hoped he heard her... because it was important that he knew what he was up against.

[Guest Garelock]

Ironus frowned up because some of things that the female element master mentioned were nothing he himself would agree with. Oh and believe he'd let her know about it. [COLOR=Blue]"First and foremost, hatred is the only reason why I'm out here fighting this battle. I hate war, I hate fighting, I hate violence because I feel it unnecessary under all circumstances. I know what you're going to ask. Wait, aren't you fighting these demons just as we are? No, there's a difference between my purpose and your purpose. I'm fighting without a vision, a blind justice and a vision of darkness; I'm neither for good or evil. Instead, I'm stuck in the middle of the playing field. Before you make assumptions about things you should look at the whole matter for what it is and not for what others would suppose it to be..." [/COLOR] There isn't much to say about this angel as he doesn't let off too much information about himself at one time. However, one thing could be said; he had a way with words.

Ironus addressed Kane as well but strangely enough, not in a grudging manner but in a respectful manner. Jack honored those who spoke their mind and were unafraid of who heard them; he can identify with people that are more closely related to his own nature. [COLOR=Blue]"Don't worry...I won't hurt you or anyone else for that matter. I'm a nice person once you get to know me. I just don't think that everyone holding hands and skipping through an open meadow, joyful and harmonious is the way to win a war. In order to beat something that is divided, you yourself must be first divided. Divide and conquer, trust me, I know this to be an effective way of fighting; after all, I was alive during the time that this battle method was in the blue-printing stages. Little one, let?s look at something?I know this isn?t the first time you?ve heard of me. Look in a history book for failures and my name might be in the first few pages but that?s all I?m going to tell you. I?m telling you from experience; team work doesn?t work in all cases. Sometimes, working together can be the downfall to a righteous cause, please, understand that. We?re all too different to be stuck in one place for too long with each other and doing so can only lead to more pain, suffering and death without a cause for it to happen. Shortly, and here after, things are going to get tougher and tougher?if working together is what you want to do then don?t be upset, sad or angry when one of your teammates fail to deliver and cause your own demise,?[/COLOR] Jack conveyed, his expression changing to a sad one. He didn?t speak from anger or from pure out annoyance from a point of view of wanting to aggravate his newfound companions. Instead, he spoke from experience.

[COLOR=Blue]?I understand your way of thinking too. All for one and one for all? I never did like that Musketeer way of doing things; I always thought it was foolish. But if you think this will work then of course, as a counterpart to your race I have an obligation to at least give your plan a try?anyways, for future reference, let?s not take this pathway. I suggest either a flight pattern should be taken to the skies or we take the outer routes of the Scots. I know you may think this would lead right into the hands of enemies but the fact is that we would actually be going AROUND the bulk of the enemies. I?ve face enemies similar to the ones we face right now. The usual assimilating grounds are around the burial ground because they?re open spaces but at the same time it allows army upon army to hide amongst the ruins. Come on, I know you?ve read about these types of strategies?I used to use it all the time,? [/COLOR] Jack said, chuckling to himself.

[Redemption]

[FONT=Times New Roman]Kala walked along with the others quietly. When she talked to Kane, it felt as if though she talked too much. It wasn't her character to talk so much. And this Jack person intimidated her so much that she dared not say a word in his presence.

Her hands shook slightly out of fear of Jack. It wasn't like her to fear someone, but he was just so intimidating to her, his boisterious attitude and tone of voice. She shuddered at the thought of what he could do to her.

Quickly, Kala caught up with Sam and flanked her at her left side, Kane on her right.
" Um....excuse me Miss Sam....." Kala said timidly.
" Yes Kala?" Sam said kindly, realising that it was an effort for Kala to speak up.
" Um.......Jack.....he's very intimidating......I don't know if I'll be able to team up with him......" she said softly so Jack or Kane could hear her. " He scares me.....a lot....."
" It's ok Kala. I trust that he won't do anything to hurt anyone. He has a sort of sadness around him. I doubt he'll want to spill blood just for the sake of it."
" ......Oh....."

Kala fell back as the group marched on. After the slaughter of the demons, she had maticulously cleaned her two thin-bladed swords on the grass so no blood would accompany her on their mission. Kane, seeing Kala a little jittery by herself with Jack, joined her at her side.
" Are you ok Kala? You seem a little on edge," he commented.
Kala lent in close to him and whispered into his ear. " Jack scares me......" She blushed and looked at the ground immediately after saying that.
Kane looked back at Jack and then to Kala. " He is sort of scary I guess." He couldn't quite work her out. One time she was asking him all questions, the next, she was as silent as the night could be.

They continued to march on over the Scottish hills and meadows until they came to a small settlement surrounding the banks of a small, swift river. Sam stopped, the others followed suit.
" What's the matter Sam?" Kane asked, running up to join her at her side.
" I didn't think we'd be encountering people this early on. Oh well. I suppose we'll have to sooner or later."
Slowly descending the slope to the town, Sam kept looking side to side, searching for something. But what she was looking for was a complete mystery to Kane, Kala and Jack.

" What are we going to be doing here Miss Sam?" Kala asked, without any pauses this time. Every minute she was with these people, the more she felt comfortable with them. They were like her, and most importantly of all was that they didn't push her away when they encountered each other. Now Kala was eager to please all members of the party, to show that she's not just tagging along.[/FONT]

[Blayze]

They were in the town now. People were bustling everywhere. It was a small but busy town. People were simply going about their business happily. The small group of travellers entered the town and were given a warm welcome by the locals. They were friendly people, wishing to make their stay as comfortable as possible, even though Sam insisted they were only passing through.

They sat in a small cafe, drinking coffee quietly. Jack sat a few tables away from them, sipping his coffee privately. The waitress, a young girl, no more than nineteen, came over to them and insisted on pouring them more coffee, or giving them some form of baked dessert. They politely declined.

They began to talk about where they planned to go next.

"Well, I think we've found everyone we are going to find in Scotland. I think we need to get back to America somehow. We are likely to find some people in the original town where we all met up. I don't think there are too many more people to find. I do need to find a dear old friend though..." she trailed off, looking wistfully at the sky. It began to darken. A huge black cloud descended on the town, covering it in darkness. A dark-cloaked figure was flying in front of the cloud bank, his cloak flapping in the breeze. Flashes of lightning burst through the darkness, piercing it with flashes of bright light.

"Who is that?" asked Kane.

"It is the cause of all our problems," said Jack.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" shouted Kane.

"He is the one who we are fighting. The one who we claim to be able to defeat. He is the Destroyer, and he is here to do what he earned the name for. To destroy. He will annihilate all life on this world, and then he will move on to the next world, as he has done for centuries."

"If this is who we are up against, then why aren't we fighting him right now?" shouted Kane. He ran outside, contrary to Sam's suggestion, and stood in the driving rain, staring at his enemy. He drew his sword, and concentrated all his energy into his feet. He floated, then flew towards the figure in the sky, his sword ready for battle. He flew at a tremendous speed, closing in on his target rapidly. He readied his sword, then stopped in mid-air, completely motionless. He hung there, as the Destroyer looked at him, his red eyes coming through the darkness inside his cloak.

"You are the ones sent to fight me?" he boomed, the laughed. This laugh chilled Kane to his very core, and it was heard by everyone living in the town below. The Destroyer drew a long, curved sword, and sliced it across Kane's face. It cut open his cheek, drawing blood, too much blood for one cut. The Destroyer sheathed his weapon, and cast Kane back to the ground. He fell, only managing to stop himself just before he hit the ground. He flipped onto his feet, clutching the wound the Destroyer had given him. It burnt, but felt cold at the same time. He took his hand away, and the cut glowed blue for a moment, then settled as a scar, healing very rapidly.

Sam, Kane, Kala and Jack ran, leaving the town, and moved to the hilltop just outside the town. The Destroyer went to work.

Lightning flashed, and then turned red, the colour of blood. He cast it down at the town, making it slam into buildings and disintegrate them. Fire raged in the wreckage of many homes. The bodies of the townspeople were scattered, in flaming piles, or hung from the rooves of what were once houses, or impaled on sharp wooden girders. Fire would cleanse the destruction, and get rid of the bodies, but their memory would remain, and so would the memory of their horrific deaths.

Sam fell to her knees, and wept; Kala stood still, speechless and shaking; Kane stood shaking with rage towards the Destroyer; and Jack looked disgusted, whether it was with Kane or with himself was unknown. Kane put his arm round Kala, and comforted her, feeling her shaking subside eventually. Her tears ran down his jacket, soaking in. Jack kicked the ground, angered that he could not prevent the deaths of more people.

The black clouds ebbed away, and the Destroyer was gone. The remains of the once-quiet town remained, however. Sam remained on the ground, shaking with grief. She walked to the entrance of the town, and placed her hand on the ground. It was still shaking as she cried, but she managed to turn the burnt ground into a lush green garden, with flowers and trees.

They spent the next few hours burying the dead, and by the end of it they were all tired and sweaty, not to mention dirty and harrowed by the experience. The rain started and began to wash away the memories of this experience, and clean the travellers.

Kane was nowhere to be seen. Sam looked around for him, and found him kneeling next to one of the graves he had dug earlier. It was that of the young waitress from the cafe.

"Why do so many innocent people have to die, Sam? Why did that thing kill all those people for no reason?" He began to cry, tears falling from his eyes onto the ground.

"I don't know, Kane, I just don't know," she replied, embracing him tightly. Eventually the tears subsided, and he calmed down.

"I'm going to kill him, Sam," said Kane, "I'm going to kill the Destroyer, you know that don't you?"

"Yes, Kane," she said, "Yes I do..."

(OOC: Sorry, quite a long post, but it is needed to introduce the villain of the piece, and now he's a real hate figure, so it's all good...)

[...]

OOC: Really good! lol, I was afraid you'd be introducing another Kelthor figure, but he's worse! :laugh:

[color=darkslategray]Sam held him in his arms... he was truly hurting. But her words rang true... she knew he was the one who would eventually kill their nemesis... and that thought... comforted her. She knew they would succeed... she had seen it. Her powers, and becoming one with the earth... had made her more powerful than she had ever imagined... she could see the future... in glimpses.. and feeling... she felt the earth turn, and it's constant regenerating like the beats of her own heart.

She looked down at him and smiled. He was a quiet one, and he dried his tears as he stopped shaking. She didn't tell him of what she had seen... because she never wanted to add the burden of such a task onto him... while she forsaw the future... she knew it was continually changing. And when the future was bright, she knew she needed to leave it alone, and let things be. But if the future was grim, then she could take action, and aware those who would suffer at it's hands.

He stood up and stopped shaking. His face was full of conviction. Again, she admired the young man's spirit. It gave them all strength. She looked over at Kala, and she tried pretending not to notice Kane's outburst. She too, admired him. Sam smiled. She walked over to Kala and placed a firm hand on her shoulder.[/color]

[color=darkblue]"We keep going... because we have to... but know this..."[/color] [color=darkslategray]she said looking at the rest of them as well. Jack was still staring over the edge of the hill.[/color]

[color=darkblue]"Not one of us could have prevented such a thing on our own. If there is failure, it would be failure on all our part... not just one. I as your teacher, instructor.. and friend, would take full responsibility for this if I had to... but again... there is no failure on our hands for such an atrocity. The blame falls on the hands of that demon... the Destroyer."[/color] [color=darkslategray]she narrowed her eyes on Jack and Kane...[/color]

[color=darkblue]"Do not give him mercy... do not take that blame for yourself. It's completely his own."[/color] [color=darkslategray]Jack turned slightly at her words. She didn't want them blaming themselves... because the blame fell on the Destroyer... and no one... should share in that with such a wicked being.[/color]

[color=darkslategray]She looked at Kala again and hugged her.[/color] [color=darkblue]"We mourn for the loss... but we keep going. You will all know when you are ready... but be wary. Of those who are [i]too[/i] sure of themselves, they will fall... and they will have put their life, and the life of the ones in your group in jepordy as well."[/color] [color=darkslategray]Kane nodded... he took her council to heart. She knew for Jack... it would take some time. Kala too nodded. And Sam walked on.[/color]

[color=darkslategray]She stared at the sky and waited... she needed help... she could not do this on her own... and she hoped... that he would come for her... that Jun... would hear her prayers.[/color]

[Guest Garelock]

Jack's eyes widened and that only happened when he sought a battle plan. Jack knew what it took to beat the guy; a direct act of God himself. Or very possibly, these elemental summoners could get the job done themselves. There?s things that everyone on this team of justice had to learn, even Jack, a person who had been on this plane before and learned nearly every battle strategy that there is to learn. The Destroyer won?t be beaten easily, that?s obvious and he?d be a very interesting challenge. Jack knew about the guy, this isn?t the first time he had seen the Destroyer destroy something; it?s the 3rd time actually. On top of that, this isn?t the first time they?ve met. Jack didn?t fight him?well, actually he did but Jack lost so quickly to the point where it couldn?t even be classified as a fight more so than it was just a squash. However, that was when Jack could only use his metal powers to converse a good amount of physical strength; his armor didn?t come until later on in his career as an angelic mercenary.

For the time though, the bodies Jack had buried were done so with his own warrantee to the cross; basically, he made a wooden cross for each burial and stuck it over their dug out grave. The Destroyer, that monster, had vanished and that?s yet another mistake this team had made; letting him get away. There isn?t much they could?ve done against something so strong but to defeat this monster, it would mean they would have to work together. Jack, well, he didn?t care if it took everyone to beat this, thing, he still wouldn?t work with anyone. This recent display of unimaginable power is just another reason why Ironus doesn?t want to work with people; every time he?s around someone dies, someone innocent suffers and unnecessary pain is felt. Everyone has felt that feeling; guilt. However, the worst feeling dwelling inside of Ironus is the feeling of being helpless to someone, not being able to stop evil and being useless in the time of trouble. Now, more so than ever, that feeling is like a flesh eating virus that?s eating him up inside and that feeling was bugging him more than everyone. Yet, being as masculine as he was, he let all the feelings in until he met the Destroyer again and gained another chance to fight him.

?What do we do? How do we beat someone like that? He?ll murder us! We?ll never beat that freak!? Kala exclaimed, being very intimidated. Just think, if she was intimidated by Jack then of course, she must?ve been petrified by the very presence of the evil warlord. ?He?ll just kill us like all these people??

[COLOR=Blue]?Stop that! It?s fear that he wants to impose in you! Can?t you see that?! The more fear you show, the more he?ll want to use that as a weapon and engine to conquer you without even destroying you! We CAN defeat him?no one is unbeatable?in fact, all are beatable. Rather they defeat themselves for you or rather you have to smash them to death, everyone has a weakness?the Destroyer?s is his own power to destroy. Everything has to exist somewhere and if he destroys everything he encounters then he?ll have nothing else to destroy but himself?I know, that would mean we?d all be gone and Earth as well. Perhaps there?s other ways?? [/COLOR] Jack said, thinking up something.

?Come on, if you?ve got a plan then you should share it with the rest of us. We?re a team now and you agreed to that. You think I don?t know who you are? Come on, you?re Iron Jack, the most obnoxious angel around these parts and the wisest of most. I?ve heard that once you give your word on something or once you give your sword to anything, you have to follow through with your oath no matter what, even if it means death; again. Keep your word Jack,? Kane sneered, being more skeptical of Jack?s loyalty than another. If there was ever a person that could be corrupted, it was Jack with his anger that always turned into betrayal. However, Kane knew his sources well; what he said about Ironus? oath is completely accurate. Jack would rather die again before he went back on his word; it?s more of a code of the warrior if anything.

[COLOR=Blue]?Yes, I know, I gave my sword and you shall have it. I know one way to destroy this thing?but it?s a long shot. I doubt it?d even work and even if it did, it could mean the destruction of something else. We have to choose, do we WANT to destroy more people and land or do we want to try things another way??[/COLOR] Jack questioned. There was a way to do it but a huge risk was involved.

?Just tell us what we have to know and stop holding back! You know something don?t you?! DON?T YOU?! Why didn?t you tell us earlier?! We could?ve stopped him before he killed all those people?? Kane exclaimed, clenching his fists together.

[COLOR=Blue]?Suppose I didn?t want to?? [/COLOR] Jack asked, smiling about it. What was wrong with this guy? Was he trying to piss Kane off? Or was there some kind of elaborate plan behind this? Obviously, and without a doubt, Jack isn?t much of a liar so all could trust that he really knew something that the rest of the team didn?t.

?What?s wrong with you Jack? Why are you doing this? What?s your problem?? Sam asked, dropping her hand-made shovel.

[COLOR=Blue]?Stay out of this?you don?t understand??[/COLOR] Jack said, staring at her and halfly winking an eye. Sam took a step back, seeing that Jack was up to some kind of good by this; she understood he was wiser than he looked. However, Kane was so full of anger by now that he didn?t even see Jack?s signal to Sam.

Kane?well, it was safe to say that he wasn?t himself. His body glowed heavily as rocks, dirt and other ground material hovered up and over his head. Kane was never able to affect nearly half the Earth?s gravitational pull before; this was some new ability arising. Jack was a genius, he was trying to get Kane to use his powers in such a way that he could crush anything he wanted to whenever he wanted to; even Jack?s near impenetrable armor.

?You?tell me what I want to know?NOW!? Kane hollered, his eyes glowing with a neon bright glare.

[COLOR=Blue]?You wanted to know?get a mirror?you?re the key to beating the freak. Your element is gravity; it?s obvious. You could crush the Destroyer easily and without a hardship whatsoever?calm down, I told you the way.? [/COLOR] Jack folded his arms. Kane?s eyes returned to normal and he started huffing out, breathing heavily and showing a little fatigue. [COLOR=Blue]?That goes for all of you?your elements are mostly controlled by an emotion of some sort; rather you know and accept it or not. Each of you have an emotion that triggers your elemental powers. Kane?s?it?s anger. Some of your emotional element triggers could be anger as well but you all have to find it, use it and abuse your powers if you wish to defeat the Destroyer and his horde of new age demonic minions,? [/COLOR] Jack instructed.

[...]

{FLASHBACK}

[I][color=purple]She stared in his eyes and lost all consciousness. She lost all sense of awareness, and the only one she saw was him... it was as if the world around her died, and the only living being... was the being in front of her. She wanted to hold him... she wanted to love him. She wanted these things, but the only thing she could do... was wait. Wait for him to want her... she knew he did... he had showed her before, and quickly hid the feeling from her as it became evident to him. He was... afraid to show that feeling... to need her... to want her... for the rest of his life. She kissed him, as her connection with the earth allowed her to live in that moment.[/color][/I]

[color=darkslategray]And then he left her... he left her... with nothing but a few memories... Kelthor had been right... he never did care for her...

And now... she was faced with questions.... What was she to do? Was she to wait for him? With the little time they both had in life? Life was truly too short for such waits.... Was she to hope... he would finally see and come back for her? To hope that he would... show her something?

And was she to wait, until she clung to the last strings of her life, only to be left with nothing? She couldn't imagine such a horrible life for herself... she loved him... but was her love worth dying alone over? He left her, without leaving a single feeling for her to hold onto. Was waiting worth it? Even if it truly wasn't... she couldn't leave him... she cared about him too much to just get up and leave....

But... he left her.

He left her with nothing... but memories... dreams that never existed in the real world. Only in her mind. With the times as they were... their circumstances, everything pointed them away from each other... it was enough to make her cry when no one else was watching... it was enough for her to tear apart inside... when she was alone... and no one could notice.

[COLOR=Navy][i]I can't give you what you want...[/i][/COLOR]

Those words... rang in her ears. She hated those words... how was he to know what she wanted? How could he say he couldn't... when he didn't even know?

She sat there amongst her sleeping students, remembering such a time... a time where she was much like them... she had been like Jack.... spiteful, and hesitant with working in groups. Kala... and her intimidation... her... young spirit and timid nature... and like Kane... where she constantly carried her burden alone... not... asking for assistance, in fear of bringing others down with her...

She stared at the wall... she remembered... his face... so sad... and so troubled.... she remembered... how she kissed him... and gave him the chance to kill her. But he did not... more than likely, because he had no reason... not because he cared.... or did he? And he just hid his feelings from her?

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"Sam?" [/COLOR] Kane asked looking at her.

She turned around abruptly, surprised he was up. [COLOR=Purple]"Yes Kane?" [/COLOR] she asked, smiling a little.

He could see her tears.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"Sam? You look... sad... are you okay?" [/COLOR] he asked.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and laid against the stone wall. [COLOR=Purple]"No... but... I'm use to it, Kane..."[/COLOR] she said as she closed her eyes.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"What's wrong?" [/COLOR] he asked looking at her. She opened an eye and smiled. [color=purple]"Some wounds of war, Kane... run deeper than any wound that a blade could leave... remember that..."[/color]

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"Sam... you can tell me..."[/COLOR] he said staring at her. She smiled... he was a good friend...

[COLOR=Purple]"There's just so much that I wouldn't know where to start..."[/COLOR] she said, pulling her knees to her, and wrapping her arms around them.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"Who was he?"[/COLOR] he asked.

She looked at him. [COLOR=Purple]"What?"[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"The man in your life... who was he?"[/COLOR] he asked.

She was surprised... at how perceptive he was. [COLOR=Purple]"A dear friend... and a wonderful ally..."[/COLOR] she said smiling.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"Where is he?"[/COLOR] he asked. She stared in his eyes... it was so hard talking about it.

[COLOR=Purple]"He's around... somewhere... he left shortly after the first war."[/COLOR] she said.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"How many... were there?"[/COLOR] he asked.

[COLOR=Purple]"Four... there were five... but one died in the beginning of our assembling. The other two... died... because of me. I rushed to save one... and left two behind." [/COLOR] she said.

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"Was that him? Did you save your friend?"[/COLOR]

Tears rolled freely from her cheeks. [COLOR=Purple]"Yes... yes.. he was saved... but not because of me...."[/COLOR]

He didn't understand... she knew this, but she couldn't go in detail. He scooted over to her and held her hand...

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"You don't have to tell me Sam... it's alright." [/COLOR] he said as he wrapped an arm around her. She cried... she missed him... she missed him, more than he knew... 5 years had passed, and not one day went by where she didn't think about him... did he ever think about her? Does he even remember her?

[COLOR=DarkGreen]"What was his name?"[/COLOR] he asked.

She smiled. [color=purple]"Jun.... his name.... is Jun...."[/color] she said as she wept silently... until she fell asleep. And her dreams... gave her no comfort....[/color]

[Kairi]

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Oh Sam....why do you grieve so?[/COLOR] the angel thought to himself, overlooking from a high mountain top upon the sight which the others were at. The strong Scottish wind blowing through his long blue hair, catching his one wing on his left. His blue eyes showing great depth and wisdom, beholding all that was before him.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][I]We both will return to your side once more...I'm sorry I cannot tell you the truth of my existance still upon this plain; however it is for your own protection. One day...we both will return.[/I][/COLOR]

Wearing a white kamono, and simple sandels of a monk, the auro surrounding the angel was breathetaking, an image that demanded respect, and yet...that of comfort and love. With Oblivion, his double-edged sword strapped to his back, he stood there on that mountain top with his arms crossed...watching over the travelers.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][I]You are not alone my friends...my eye will never leave your sight. I will open the road for you to travel as Moses parted the waters. But do not fret...the power is within you to persevere. [/I][/COLOR] this was the angels prayer, as he kept watch for as long as time allowed him...till he was called again into heaven.

Looking downward, his gaze was drawn to the distance due to the presence of evil coming from the west. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]So...Dusk...Dawn... [/COLOR] as two great beings appeared in back of the angel. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]What brings you to humble yourself in my presence?[/COLOR]

''We bow only to our master Angel!...we are here to give you a proclamation...do not interfer in the masters war, for he respects you out of all great angels...he wishes not to kill you when the final hour will come.'' proclaimed Dusk.

''His wrath will come in due time...whenever that hour may be, we ourselves do not know. But he tells you not to interfer...or he will see you as an enemy, and not like he onced called you....friend.'' added Dawn...

The two figures reeked of darkness...but it didn't intimidate the angel at all. His breathing and heart beat was calm...as the two men continued their threats.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]If you're master knows me well...then he must realize that I don't answer to anyones call. Run back to your master fools and tell him that I have returned...and that I will do what needs to be done. Everything that will be will come to pass...I promise that.[/COLOR]

They both began to draw their blades, when the angel simply turned his head around his shoulder...and stared at the two men with his glowing blue eyes, sending a cold shiver down their spines as he touched their souls with his thoughts.

''We'll meet again angel...Dusk...let us depart'' as the beings dissapeared just as they had appeared.

He turned his attention back again to the area in which the party was taking refuged for the night. Keeping his ever watchful eye upon them as they slept.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][SIZE=1]Dream dreams my friends...tomorrow is another day...believe in yourself...believe in one another...and you shall not fail. [/SIZE] [/COLOR] [/SIZE] [/COLOR]

OCC: Just showing that I'm still here...just on the outskirts for now;) Then tension...can't you feel it...he has returned!

[Blayze]

[COLOR=DarkRed][I]One day after the Destroyer's attack...[/I][/COLOR]

The group of them were now in America, at the same diner that Sam had met Jun, Zack and Isabelle. The glass in the window had long since been fixed from when Zack was thrown through it. Sam laughed slightly when she remembered how they had all met.

The water glimmered in the distance. Kane liked this place. It felt peaceful, and it calmed his emotions towards the Destroyer.

They finished their coffee quickly, and left the diner. They would find more elementals here, Sam felt sure of it. The sun shone brightly in the sky, and it made them feel a lot better about what had happened, although no amount of good weather could erase the memory of it.

They walked through the town, and sat by the sea, calming themselves. A flash of light lit up the horizon as the sun set. It was bright yellow, and it contrasted against the deep red of the sunset. A winged figure swooped over the water, and Sam's face lit up for a moment, as she thought it was Jun, but then she saw that the wings were golden and not black like Jun's. The figure landed next to them. He was wearing golden armour with a rising sun symbol on the breastplate, and had golden wings and spiky golden hair. He landed, folded his wings so they were not as noticable, and saluted.

"I bring you greetings from the Destroyer," he said. Kane got to his feet.

"What does that scum want with us?" he spat.

"He wshes to commend you on your efforts yesterday. He feels you will prove to be worthy opponents."

"And who are you?" asked Sam.

"How rude of me. I am Dawn. I am one of the Destroyer's heralds. The second shall take my place shortly, but I come to invite you to the hall of the Destroyer. He wishes to look his enemies in the eyes."

"We decline his invitation. You won't get me anywhere near that thing unless I have a weapon in my hand," said Kane.

"That is what he anticipated you would say. Perhaps the second herald shall porve more persuasive than I." He turned to the water, and as the sun set, he changed. His appearance remained much the same, but his armour turned black, as did his hair and wings. His armour now had a crescent moon and stars on it.

"Greetings. I must apologise for my brother's forthrightness. He tends to be like that as the sun sets."

"Herald?" said Sam.

"I was once the being you knew as the Herald, and I did meet you once, Samantha Ming, as you were about to face Kelthor in his own dimension, but I am now known as Dusk, brother of Dawn and second herald of the Destroyer. I would like to invite you to my master's hall. I will wait until you make your decision. Bear in mind, the Destroyer will respect you much more if you meet with him, and he is less likely to kill those he respects."

"But he will still destroy us all. That is his purpose, and so it is what he must do. Is that not right, Dusk?" asked Sam.

"That is correct, but he will take mercy on those he respects. It is entirely your choice."

(OOC: I'm leaving the decision of what we do to you, ...:Meet the Destroyer face-to-face or wait here for Jun to reappear)

[Guest Garelock]

Jack stared down the messenger and hostess of the realms sent by the Destroyer himself. Typical that these heath bringers should look to be elementals; everyone seems to be one nowadays. And it?s also typical that they speak in such a manner they did; almost demanding things of this group that otherwise, they wouldn?t be granted normally. If these invitioners believed that they could intimidate, force feed or swoon this angel into doing anything they wanted then of course, other thoughts were to come for Jack isn?t the type to listen to anybody. Though, if these heralds were indeed sent by the Destroyer, then of course, they had to be formidable as well. The part about that is the fact that Jack, even though these were enemies he never really encountered before, still didn?t seem to care one way or the other.

[COLOR=Blue]?If you think we are supposed to be some school children bent on meeting the head teacher to avoid a punishment then you are as much of a fool as your armor would portray you?yes, get some better armor; it just doesn?t fit you my friend. Go, tell your master that he?ll die?the sands of time are pouring for his soul, the reaper of death is coming for his tender neck, to slice off his head with the reaper of souls, and his place in the deepest part of damnation is already being prepared by the demons of lost cause. Go, to the hills, to the mountaintops, to the valleys, to the villages, to air, to sea and poniard land, go tell all that we do not fear anyone?lest not the metal guardian. Lest I be afraid, for afraid I am not of your freak that you call a leader. To lead, you must FIRST lead by example. The only example that this thing has given me is an example of cowardice?what? Do you desire proof? Destroying humans, defenseless beings against us who are much more powerful than them, is a cowardly way of displaying supreme power if you were to inquire myself about it. So, you can destroy bodies that cannot defend themselves, how does that prove your power? No! We decline your master?s offer for we do not wish to be in the presence of such cowardly worms as himself?at least not I, never, I vomit in the sight of a coward,? [/COLOR] Jack insulted. Well, there?s no one in the group that could shut the guy up; at least not without force. Jack had a point, there?s no reason to go and meet up with the Destroyer. If this being is as evil as everyone is trying to make him out to be and as evil as Jack KNOWS him to be then meeting him is about as big of a risk as any.

?Jack! What are you doing?! You could be blowing the only chance we have at knowing where this Destroyer is! Give it a rest!? Kane hollered, trying to calm the metal one down. However, his pleadings were to no avail.

?You insult my armor, my master and my pride as a warrior. Ironus Jack, you have not changed one bit. Our master has a particular interest in you?you?re a leader, by all accounts. My master could give you what you want; a life. You?re angry, like a bull that has a sea of red surrounding it and that sea surrounds it for all eternity. Instead of throwing off bad omens, why not just join us in harmony where you are not to be harmed and respected you will be. You lived once correct? To have lived once as one of the greatest Celtic warriors ever is to know that meeting with your enemy leaders isn?t something that?s too outrageous; it?s very common. Think of it as that?it?s one of your codes Jack, an oath, a sworn in way of life that you are accustomed to. You gave an oath that you would follow the code of the warrior and that code would acquire you to see all ways of peace towards both sides. So then, Ironus, you must follow through with your oath or risk being referred to as a coward yourself or something much worse?a liar. You were many things, many, many things. A tyrant, a war monger, a bringer of death and even defeated soldier?but a liar you are not. I call on your oath, something that the Destroyer has guaranteed you will not break,? Dusk conveyed.

It seemed that everyone knew Jack?s weakness; his own foolish pride and way of telling the truth and going through with all his promises, oaths and commitments. There wasn?t much he could do, in his previous life, he?d follow through with any oath he had given and even in this life he?d do the exact same thing. Jack clenched his fists together and growled lowly. The Destroyer knew him inside and out and knew exactly who to send to convince most to accompany him to the dark plane. Jack looked to be frustrated, confused and without another way to get out of this.

This is how Jack became an elemental from the start; his way of life. Most warriors, especially in his time, were skilled beyond the warriors of today with the styles of combat used. It?s not everyday someone gets to kill as many people as they want and them return home as heroes; at least not as often as Jack?s time would suggest. When he died, he, instead of just becoming a spirit of minion in Hell, became an angel for his noble way of defending his homeland, family and sentiment of justice for all. For most, to become an element angel means to have emotions and talents far beyond the average defender of justice. The choice of element normally reflects the person themselves. Someone with a swaying mood, like the wind sways, they can be cool but then fierce with might and possibly threatening would probably gain the wind element. For Jack, metal is always true to what is it and cannot be converted into many things for it is metal and will always be as such, it?s strong as Jack is strong-willed, it?s always used in battle just as he is, and it can be a tool of good and evil, destruction and enlightenment.

[COLOR=Blue]?I?I have to accept.? [/COLOR] Jack shook his head, gripping onto his hair. It?s like he didn?t even say those words and instead, something inside of him forced him to bellow it out.

?Ironus, you?re intimidating, mad all the time and you can annoy people?however?you?re honest, one of the most honest people I?ve met so far. But please, don?t do this?let?s talk it over first. Don?t be a fool. I know you don?t have much in this life but your word, your sword and your oath. I don?t want to take that away from you but reconsider what you?re saying. You?re going straight into the gallows if you do this,? Sam pleaded, trying to get Jack to stop this.

[COLOR=Blue]?I?m sorry, sorry to you all. But I have to?I must. The Destroyer knew one thing that could get my vote on coming to him and that?s my sword. I gave my sword to the code of the warrior and I?ll die again by it if need be. I know it?s foolish but many things that everyone in this group has done could be classified as foolish, including me,?[/COLOR] Jack responded, edging over to Dusk.

?Is your own word worth more than other people? I know your past must not be one of the best and many people died by your hands; you can?t accept that. If you could go back in time and change all that then you would but you can?t Ironus. If you are destroyed then that only leaves us to defend this planet and we?ll one less a friend. It?d take all of us to get rid of this monster?if you are gone then our chances are slimmer. Again, I ask you, is the whole world worth your word?? Sam asked.

Jack turned his head, sweating, not really wanting to say what he?d say next but it was coming and coming fast. [COLOR=Blue]?Yes?? [/COLOR] Jack?s heart was corrupt; it was only a matter of time. The Destroyer knew his mind games well and unfortunately, not even the impenetrable defense of the metal guardian could stop it.

Dusk smiled, knowing this would work all along. He thought to himself, [I]"What a fool! Destroyer was right! He's such a foolish person! This was easier than I thought it would be."[/I]

Jack turned back to Dusk and folded his arms, looking sickly and nearly addictive. [COLOR=Blue]"Well, what are you waiting for? Take me to your leader..."[/COLOR]

[Heero Darkangel]

Jun and Osiris soared throughout the sky as fast as they could...they came upon the town that was destroyed..

'Hn.....a great evil rises from that smoke and ash.....but then again.....something familiar..' whispered Jun as they landed, they looked around for a few seconds and then once again they took off.

Something drew them back to a town...a town where they had first met.....

Something in the distance beside the sea caught his eyes

[COLOR=Blue]Looks as though we found them...[/COLOR] smiled Osiris

'..hn..' whispered Jun as he remembered Sam. he wondered if she would remember him....

[COLOR=Blue]Looks as though they have a visitor[/COLOR]. whispered Osiris

Osiris could sense the dismay in their emotions.

[COLOR=Blue]Somethings not right[/COLOR]. whispered Osiris...Jun then took off towards them.......A golden winged figure stood talking to a boy, something wasn't right, he could feel that they all had powers.....danger was thick in the air and he cut through it like a hot knife through butter.

Jun was nearly upon them, suddenly the giolden figure saw him and quickly stepped back from the boy. The boy looked up and saw a black winged angel flying at a high speed towards them.

Sam was also there with two others....she looked up and saw him....Jun..he had changed abit....but not much so she couldn't recognize him..

'Jun....' she whispered with a slight smile upon her face

Jun drew his Katanas as he flew at the golden creature.

'The Dark Angel....' whispered the golden figure, he knew who he was...he had heard much about him....a human....bearing the soul of Lucifer....warlord and creator of hell....

Jun landed hard on the ground beside the boy....Jun could sense the boys power...but the boy couldn't sense his,

'Jun Kazama......,' growled the golden figure, fire burning deep in Juns eyes, 'I've heard much about you...'

'Like I care,' growled Jun as Osiris landed beside Jun but on the other side of the boy.

'I have come here....' began the golden angel

'Leave now...' growled Jun

'I am Dawn!!..Golden angel of....' began Damn again

'Now do I look as though I care??' snarled Jun as his eyes grew red suddenly black flames rose up around him, Dawn narrowed his eyes.....

'Fires of hell......hmmm....they will conquer your soul..' whispered Dawn

'Not in this lifetime...' smiled Jun demonically

'Another day then,' growled Dawn

'Anytime...anywhere...' whispered Jun as Dawn took off back across the water. The sun had almost set as he turned around.

'You....your.....a.....' whispered the boy suddenly the boy turned into a metal angel ready to take down Jun.

Jun suddenly spun around and engulfed the metal angel in a blue flame

[COLOR=Red]'DO NOT TEMPT ME TO KILL YOU!!,'[/COLOR] roared Jun, his tattoo glowing red aswell as his eyes, the boy sensed a power so great coming from the black winged angel who bound him in a chilling blue flame...the Dark Angels power had an unknown limit to it, the boy then switched back to his human form and Jun took the blue flames away. Jun then looked around and saw Sam.

Jun approached her and gave her a slight nod and a smile, 'Long time no see,'

Sam smiled Back, 'Yes..it has been a very long time,'

Sam stared at Jun for a moment....this was the first time he smiled at her......or even said anything....

[COLOR=Blue]His attitude has changed abit....not much..but he is slowly learning[/COLOR] came a familiar voice beside her

'Osiris, it is good to see you,' she smiled at his with tears in her eyes, 'I wondered where he was....'

[COLOR=Blue]I thought as much..[/COLOR] smiled Osiris as he smiled at her

'So...who are they?' questioned Jun as he looked at the other with a raised brow and he folded his arms across his chest.

'Oh right!..ah this is Kane Eldridge guardian of Gravity, Kala Primavera, guardian of Time and Iron Jack..guardian of Metal,' Sam introduced

Jun looked at them for a moment, his eyes narrowed upon each of them and then he smiled slightly and gave the three of them a slight nod without saying a word

'They are strong,' smiled Jun as he looked at Sam and then at Osiris who was also greeting them

OOC: Excuse the long post. I had to catch up..lmao. Cool postings. Blayze if you want me to change something just pm me.

[Kairi]

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1]Dusk and Dawn bout flew off into the distance away from the others at incredible speeds. Jun was not supposed to be there....the master wanted to meet the elementalists, so he may measure them up. Which ones to kill off first...

''It seems like Jun has finally returned to them Dusk...''

''Yes...this certainly will make things more enjoyable huh brother?''

''Agreed...''

The two angels continued to fly across the waters, heading for America when suddenly the white angel appeared before them once again, stopping the two of them in their tracks. His arms were crossed, hiding his arms within his white kamono. The water seemed to swirl around him in his presense. Those blue eyes of his were staring them down with such focus and passion, his appearance surely demanded respect.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]I thought I told you two to go...[/COLOR] his said in a calm and yey authoritive voice.

''Damn angel...we told you once before that we do not follow anyones orders cept for the Destroyer. Our master wishes to meet the other elementalists...he is drawing as many allies he can to defeat your precious Heaven.'' Dawn boomed at the angel, holding still in the air as the water beneathe him indented into the sea.

The angel took his gaze off the two angels for a moment and looked beyond them...his eyes saw much at far greater distances than any. Upon the land, he saw the rest of the elementalists...and an old friend, one that brought a smile to his face.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Well I'll be damn...hahaha!...he's finally returned...my dear old Jun. [/COLOR]

''You know him?'' questioned Dawn.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Aye...I once fought beside him in days past. [/COLOR] bringing his attention back to the angels, [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]I'd warn your master...if I were you. [/COLOR]

''I dont like your tone; dont you dare talk down to us!'' yelled out Dusk, his sword in its sheath pulsed with his power.

''Calm yourself Dusk...'' as Dawn grasped his brother shoulder tightly with his left hand.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]You two are so arrogant...it sickens me. [/COLOR] talkinng down to them even more harshly...obviously provoking them, the angel had a slight smirk on his face.

''Enough!...I'm tired of your persistance Lyon! If you wish to fight us...then so be it!'' exclaimed Dawn as he weilded his sword, Dusk taking suit as well.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]mmm........I would settle for nothing less. [/COLOR]

Both angels charged at him at full force...heaving their swords above their heads, they prepared to attack. Keeping his arms crossed, Lyon simply stood there as they came closer...

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]You fools...you have no idea what I'm capable of. [/COLOR][/SIZE]

Dusk was the first one to attack, slashing downward towards the water, while Dawn cut across horizontally. However Lyon was far too fast for them...with ease, he dodged the attacks, then stepped back a short distance away.

''DAMN YOU!'' as Dusk flew past his brother and attacked Lyon in anger, slashing and gabbing nonstop. But again, Lyon just simply dodged the blows with lightning relflexs, always one step ahead of Dusk. The angel slashed downward towards Lyons feet, he jumped up slightly and balanced himself upon Dusks blade, standing upon it as ease, his eyes caught in shock. With a quick leap into the air, Lyon connected with a somersault kick right into the lower jaw of Dusk, setting him flying back.

Lyon came back down, and stood upon the water as if it were land. Dawn saw Dusk fly by him...a distance away Dusk finally stopped his movement and flew around in a circle, planning to attack Lyon from an angel.

''You're mine Lyon...'' roared Dawn as he held his blade towards the blaring sun above them. Drawing the sunlight into his weapon, he felt himself surge with Solar energy. Lyon simply looked up at his, his face joyace, and focused.

''Now...........SOLARBEAM!'' as Dawn pointed his weapon at Lyon, sending forth a powerful blast towards Lyon.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][I]Fool...[/I] [/COLOR] and with a thought, Lyon summoned a thin shield made of water from beneathe his feat. Holding at a certain angel, the water deflected the light energy and sent it at Dusk who was now charging at him.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]You're naive Dawn, don't you know that water absorbs and deflects all forms of light...including Solar and Lunar energies. [/COLOR] Dawn could hear Dusks cries as the blast exploded on contact, within moments, the angel was seen floating in the water.

As Dawn turned his gaze back to Lyon, he was already too late...bursting right at Dawn, Lyon sent a right knee straight into his sternum...makind Dawn loss his breathe. Stepping back, he lunged forward again and kicked him across the face, sending him back towards the water below with a large splash.

With only a thought, the two angels were caught in two typhoons of water, raising them skyward. After they spun around for a little while, the two cyclones died off, sending both angels straight into each other. Lyon flew straight at them...planning to kick them again...but they dodged easily and thrust their blades at Lyon again, but to no avail.

As like the fluidness of the waters, so was Lyons movements, perfect and elegant. They just couldn't hit him...no matter how hard they tried as they surrounded him. Suddenly, bringing forth his arms hidden in his kamono...Lyon swung both his forearms, hitting them both in the head at the same time.

Dusk and Dawn stepped back...trying to catch their breathes...they were lossing energy fast. Dawn seemed to be the only one capable of continuing.

''Blast....if only weren't on your terran Lyon...then you would be no match for us.'' declared Dawn, holding his palm to his chest from the shot he took from Lyons knee earlier.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]I beg to differ...[/COLOR] answered Lyon, as he stretched for his hand, and seemed to be grasping something when instantly Dusk became tense, barely able to catch his breathe.

Dawn could only look in horror as his brother screamed in torment...[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]tell me Dawn...how much is the body made up of water?[/COLOR]

Slowly...Dusk's body seemed to be shriviling up, the water being drained from his body.

''Stop Lyon...please...'' Dusk was pleading with him.

Without a response...Lyon let his hand down, and let Dusk fall to the waters underneathe them.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]As I said...go back to your master, and stop such manipulation and deception upon us with simple words....be gone. [/COLOR]

Dawn bowed to the angel before him, and flew to where Dusks body lay motionless. He picked him up, and flew to the distant horizon.

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][I]*sigh*....least they wont be worried about them anymore. I should head to the temple...I think that will be an appropriate place to meet them all again. [/I] [/COLOR] [/SIZE] [/COLOR]

[...]

"That's him??" Kane whispered to Sam. He had no idea her love was with a dark angel.

She nodded, "Yes Kane..." she smiled. "It's him." she walked over to Jun who was standing against a tree... she smiled.

"You've done well Sam..."

"I don't really deserve any praise, they're the ones who've mastered their own powers." she said... still smiling.

"No... I mean for yourself... you're a lot stronger than before... I can feel it." he said.

She stared at him... not knowing what to say. "Jun... why were you away for so long?"

"A lot happened back then... more than I was ready to deal with. Osiris helped me deal with that new burden..."

"I could have helped you too... God knows I wanted to..."

He looked at her and was silent... he knew she wanted to... he knew.

"I missed you so much Jun..." she said... tears in her eyes. She didn't think he would come back... and she still wasn't sure... if he came back for her... or because of the times they were in. So much needed to be done... would he leave her again? After everything was over?

He looked at her... not knowing what to say. But he knew... she had been hurting ever since he left.

She looked at him and tried to smile. "A day hasn't gone by... where I haven't thought about you..." she said. He still didn't respond. But he kept looking at her... so many feelings went through her... feelings she did not think she would ever be able to feel with him again. And now that he was here... she wasn't sure... if she hugged him, would he shake her off? If she kissed him... would he leave? Afraid of the outcomes she went next to him, and just sat down... watching as her students talked and practiced.

[Blayze]

Kane practiced his sword work with Kala, mock-fighting her to hone both of their skills. But he was distracted. He never thought his friend and mentor would be in love with a half-demon, a fallen angel. Especially not one of his temperament. Kala knocked him down and mock-stabbed him through the chest. Jack laughed slightly from his seat on the small hill.

"What are you laughing at, Jack?" shouted Kane, getting a little annoyed with the warrior by now.

"You. You believe that you are strong enough to take down the Destroyer, and yet you can't even beat a girl in mock combat. You will never be strong enough to win this fight."

"Oh, and you are?"

"I never said that. I just don't have so much belief as you in my own strength. I do not cloud my vision with thoughts of winning. I clear my mind, to focus my energies."

"Why don't you come over here and try that?" challenged Kane. Jack got up, and moved over to where Kane and Kala were practicing, and drew his weapon.

"Ok, here's the challenge. You must be blindfolded, and I will come at you from somewhere with a weapon. You have to block the weapon."

"That is completely illogical in a combat situation. I would not need to block an attack. My armour can shield me from any blow."

"Yes, but you can't rely on your armour all the time. What if the Destroyer has a weapon which can penetrate it? Then you will have to rely on your skill in blocking to protect yourself."

"Very well. I will participate in this ludicrous challenge of yours." He took a scrap of material from Kane and tied it around his eyes. Then he took up his weapon.

Kane drew his own weapon, and hid in the bushes, then came running up behind Jack, making as little noise as possible, and swung his sword. Jack almost blocked, but didn't quite strike Kane's sword away. Kane's weapon struck Jack's armoured shoulder, clanging off the metal.

"So, the mighty warrior has a weakness," said Kane, "I guess we need to practice!"

[Guest Garelock]

Jack sighed and lowered his head. This was stupid, pointless and didn't prove a single thing about Jack's weaknesses; in Jack's opinion of course. Instead, it only proved to the metal angel that Kane had a weakness of his own; a failure to realize that combat doesn't always involve every aspect of itself. Yes, sometimes it's necessary to train underwater, on hill tops and even while being blindfolded. However, the chances of those forms of combat being used are little to none or at least that's what most combat situations through the medieval and industrial times would point out. Nevertheless, if Iron Jack, the metal guardian himself had any kind of weakness then this disadvantage must be found and dealt with. For the time being, Jack had a challenge of his own for Kane and one that Jack won every single time.

[COLOR=Blue]?Let?s try something that we all are going to have to acquire before challenging this new foe; strength. Me and me ol? lads used to wrestle and tussle with each other around these parts. Those were the good days, just me, them and me always beating them. Those days are over; we have much work to do. Chances are that once the Destroyer runs out of bodily aura you will have to fight him by either a weaponry means or a physical means. I?m focusing on the physical part for now. Let?s see what you have under that puny carcus of yours?? [/COLOR] Jack smiled, knowing this wasn?t going to be as easy as Kane probably thought it?d be.

?Puny?! Hey, I just beat you!? Kane returned.

[COLOR=Blue]?Yes, yes, a minor victory and yet you still couldn?t pierce my armor. Don?t worry, this should be easy for you or at least that?s what most people around would hope,?[/COLOR] Jack said as he went to work. He took his sword and walked around Kane and Sam in a big circle, dragging his sword on the ground as he did so. He stopped and turned to Kane once the circle was complete.

?What?s with the ritual center? Are you an Angel or a Pagan?? Kane asked in a mocking tone.

[COLOR=Blue]?HA! Very funny but will you get the last laugh now? This is the strength ring. This contest consists of a strength challenge. The rules are very simple. Rule one, you can?t use any element power to attack whatsoever because your element powers may fail you when needed the most and especially against me; your gravitational powers can?t crush my armor and that?s just a fact. I can?t use my strength that is a product of my own element power so I?ll be just as strong as I was when I was human. Rule two, if you leave the circle then I win and if I leave the circle then you win. Rule three, NO interference whatsoever; that?s cheating. And finally, the only way to win is to make your opponent verbally give up. Does it seem simple enough or do I have to say it slower for you??[/COLOR] Jack asked, mocking Kane though not in a mean tone but just as a joke.

?No need, I get it. I hope you like saying ?uncle? because that?s all you?re going to be saying Ironus Jack! Come on! Let?s get this show on the road!? Kane?s willingness to compete against Jack had to be admired. However, this was Jack?s best sporting event; wrestling. If Kane even thought he?d have it easy then he?d have another thought coming.

Sam walked away, shaking her head. She got to thinking to herself, [I]?Men, they always have to fight things out. Why can?t they just go shopping or something? They have to destroy villages, blind fold each other, wrestle each other, fuss and argue at each other?goodness! God! Why didn?t you just make women and leave men to be created a little later on??[/I]

Jack and Kane stared each down. Sam and the others got a viewing from a safe distance. [COLOR=Blue]?Well, what are you waiting for? Come on, charge me; I know you want to.?[/COLOR] Jack kept on taunting Kane, knowing that anger was a weak point. To draw the gravity king to anger to an even higher degree Jack folded his arms and closed in his eyes in an unbelievably arrogant stance. He transformed back to his human form to follow his own rules.

Kane couldn?t take it anymore, rather it be Jack even issuing this challenge or the fact that Jack was underestimating him like hell now. He charged in at Ironus like a bull and strangely enough, Jack didn?t move a muscle. Instead, he allowed Kane to grab him and force him to the ground. Kane was almost surprised; he didn?t expect it to be this easy. Finally, Ironus made a move with Kane?s arms wrapped around him. Amazingly and using skills far beyond Kane?s years, he slipped out of the bear hugging grapple and reversed it, getting on top of Kane in a back position and hooking both his arms for a laying full nelson hold.

[COLOR=Blue]?Wow?either you?re too weak or I?m too strong. Which one is it?? [/COLOR] Jack asked. To most, this would seem to be unlikely. However, even in his human form Jack was one heck of a strong person. Just think, why else would the Celts pick him as a leader? It only makes sense. Only the strongest willed, strongest in determination and strongest in body would be picked to lead such legions.

?Ow, ow! Okay, okay, I give up! Just let me go okay? Just get off me! You weight a ton! Christ!? Kane asked. There wasn?t much more he could do. Yeah, if the rules allowed him to use his elemental powers then of course, Jack, in a human body, would?ve been crushed. However, this challenge was unfair from the start. All Jack had to do was get on top of Kane and it was over regardless. Some element abilities, traits and other attributes cannot be rid of; Jack?s weight for example. Once he got on top of Kane his crushing body weight would?ve done the job for him. Kane, regardless of how much he was built, can?t lift a body weight that exceeded far beyond the 500 pound mark and especially when he was put in a submission hold.

Jack released Kane and helped him up to his feet. ?You see, some advantages I had from the start.?

?That?s not fair! You said no elements! You cheater!? Kane yelled, shaking his fists.

[COLOR=Blue]?No, what I said was that you can?t use your element power to ATTACK; I said nothing about that matter beyond that. I can?t help it that I weigh a lot. You see, my armor is in my body; it doesn?t just materialize or pop up when I want it to. It just leaks through my skin and forms into the armor you always see from me; that?s why I weigh so much. You see, some advantages your opponents will have aren?t always so visible?if you neglected to see my own weight as a tool of defeating you then of course, the Destroyer could have advantages far beyond my own,?[/COLOR] Jack informed. Now, while this challenge may seem to be totally unfair, Jack had a point. Who knows what strengths the Destroyer had?

"I get your point Jack...you still cheated though," Kane said, laughing about it.

[Heero Darkangel]

Jun knew that he had hurt Sam....but he was still trying to figure out alot of things, as they sat there watching Jack and Kane fighting he looked at her

'I had to leave...Sam...there were so many things....that......I didn't understand...and there are still things that I don't.....I didn't mean to hurt you....but I had to leave........I knew you wanted to help me.....but.....I knew what would of happened if i had stayed........and i couldn't..........let it happen,' explained Jun

Sam looked at him, she just wanted to hug him or kiss him again.....but she was scared that he would leave.

'I'm just going for a walk.....I won't be far, Osiris is here,' he smiled as he stood up and walked away.

She watched him walk off down to the beach.

'Osiris...what happened to him?' she questioned as Osiris appeared beside her

[COLOR=Blue]Many things....and ones he truely isn't proud of, he's slowly coming around...but it will take time.[/COLOR] whispered Osiris

'He's changed so much,' she smiled

[COLOR=Blue]That he has....but...he is still uncertain of most things......but I believe he will come around...he still has much to learn in the way of emotions[/COLOR] Osiris smiled

'Is he truely alright?' she questioned with a worried frown

[COLOR=Blue]As I said..he is learning[/COLOR]. whispered Osiris, [COLOR=Blue]Don't be scared of him....he will not hurt you[/COLOR]

She smiled as Osiris disappeared

Jun walked along the beach. Night was upon them, he could still here Jack and Kane argueing from the hill top. and he laughed to himself.

He then flew up into the air and dove into the water. It felt soothing as he then lay on his back looking up at the star lit sky. It felt good to reunite with Sam...although..he didn't know how to return her love...

he got out of the water and stood on the beach, trying to shake the water off his wings. He began to get fustrated and a reddish flame engulfed him and then disappeared...he was not dry. He then sat down on the sand and looked out across the water.

[...]

It was mid day... Kala, Kane and Jack prepared dinner... But Kala was the one doing most of it since the boys just couldn't see eye to eye. She smiled. But she could see them bonding... peculiar as it sounded.

She walked down to the bank and saw Jun sitting there. She laughed.

"Since when does the Elementalist of Fire like sitting near water?"

He smiled as he saw her. Again... he [i]smiled...[/i] It was hard enough getting use to the fact that he came back... but he changed... he seemed... alright around her now...

She sat next to him and looked at him. "Jun... it really is good to have you here... even... if it's not for very long." she said looking back out over the water. He looked at her then and stared. He could see her try to hide her pain.

"You're right though... I have... done well for myself... my connection with my powers, has really grown in the years. I feel a lot stronger."

"And it shows, Sam..." he said.

She smiled and looked down. "Did you think about me?" she said.

"What?"

"Did you... think about me at all when you left?" she said, still not able to look at him.

"I didn't forget you... if that's what you mean."

She nodded. She looked at him, and noticed his wings. "You know, I kind of like the winged look." she said with a smile.

"Yeah, well they can be a pain sometimes." he said looking out over the water.

She laughed. "Well I bet they come in handy with women." she said with a wink.

"And what's that suppose to mean?" he said looking at her. He could tell she was just being playful.

"Easier to run away with." she said smiling. He laughed.

"Well that's just one of the many perks." he said with a smile.

She looked at him and leaned on his shoulder. "The smile doesn't look half bad either." she said as she closed her eyes.

He looked at her and was going to shake her off... but decided not to. He just looked over the water once again.

A tear fell from her eyes. She wanted to stay like this forever....