"They are going to die Suteko. Each of your friends will be torn to bits." Kaneda's voice curled about as she circled him once more. "They are seven and my army is immeasurable." He waved and the mist cleared enough for her to see the battle beyond.
Her eyes darted about as she took in the battle, keeping a part of her senses on Kaneda. To her horror she saw each of her friends battling multiple opponents with more circling. The Bearlike creatures bore forward and engulfed Samuel in claws and fur. The werewolves circled and slashed at Uhanzee who was holding his own but she could see blood streaming down his face and one arm hung unless at his side.
Iriko was throwing purple bolts of energy into what looked like movie vampires. She was shielding Shayla, who knelt with her hands on the ground, her green healer's energy making plants dart up and tangle any feet she could. She could see Hana's watch fob, flashing whitely as it spun but something dark was slithering up behind her.
With a desperate gasp she watched as what could only be an ogre formed from the ground and brought a massive hand down on Gregor's shoulder, sending the man to his knees. With her heart in her throat she searched for Jaeoh and saw a flare of his green crackling energy as he was surrounded by six Reapers.
"That's right woman. Your lover and his little army of Light are doomed. You should have given me what I wanted so long ago bitch. Now you can watch as they die, knowing that it is your fault."
Suteko growled and her anger flowed down her arms, making her sword glow brighter still. She jumped forward, using every ounce of her skill to try and kill Kaneda. "You," she swung, "will not," she hammered down, "KILL THEM TOO!" Her blows rang down over and over on the shadow sword Kaneda raised. In her rage she never noticed his second blade and she stumbled as it pierced her thigh, in the one place where she had not been fully healed. Gasping she tried to step back and staggered as the Shadow flooded into her weak spot. Before she could recover, Kaneda pulled the blade free and stabled it into her belly, twisting it. He breathed Shadow into her face and laughed as she slowly slid to the ground.
***
At the back of the clearing four figures appeared in a swirl of red. The Kouhei were fully engaged in their battles, barely holding their own as they looked about. Chris and Akuma scanned the battle and looked to Ranma. The Guardian stepped past the other three, looking for his sister. Over the years he had grown strong and had found that those tied close to his heart he could sense with little effort. Whether it was the time he had been under the spell or the fact that she had changed dramatically, the tie was weak.
"Go to the center. The one you seek is there," Setsuna rested her hands on Phoenix and Dragon. "A moment Star knights." She whispered to them and as they nodded she faded from sight. As one they moved into the rear of the horde and started clearing a path for Ranma with Phoenix and Dragon fire. They were here clearly for a supporting role.
Ranma flew into the horde, kicking, punching and throwing beams of blue energy which incinerated the beasts in his way. This horde was bigger and nastier than he had ever seen. If he had been the boy Suteko last saw he would have been over run and defeated within moments but seven years of hard fighting and growth had taught him much. He used the powers of his unlikely allies and they slowly cleared a way to the main battle.
***
As Suteko fell to the ground Kaneda shouted in triumph and stood over his opponent. "Once more you are defeated woman. Now die!" He formed a massive shadow axe and raised it over his head.
Aki hissed and panted as he rested against a tree. He ignored the battle and scanned the ground. He could feel the keystone; it was within a few feet of him. Dropping back to his knees with a stifled cry he scrabbled about till his hand came down on object of his search. Following his instincts he grit his teeth and broke open the wound on his shoulder with his fingers. As the blood flowed he smeared it on the stone and then using the last of his strength he brought a fist down. The key stone made a sound like shattering glass and split in half.
Aki shuddered as the power contained by the shield flew outward. He could feel both the Shadow and Light flash past him. His eyes widened as Kaneda stabled Suteko deep in her belly. He felt something well up in his chest as his sensei slowly crumpled to the grund. As Kaneda raised the axe to kill Suteko, Aki did something he never had before.
Pushing himself back to his feet, he thrust out his hands and let out a cry. "Kaneda! NO!"
A bright white flash flew out of him and smashed into the upraised weapon, blasting it into nothing. The Master of Shadows turned slowly, hissing as he watched his former general sink to the ground. He walked over and hissed again. "You dare interfere with my just punishment!" He sent a blast directly into Aki, sending him rolling back across the clearing. The flash of Light from the shield collapse caused a pause in the battle, pulling all eyes toward the Shadow master.
Ranma's eyes widened as he saw his sister fall and then as the Shadow Master turned to strike at a tattered and bloody figure. With a roar, Ranma brought his hands together. When he was younger Ranma's power came from his confidence, as he grew older he learned to tap desperation. Today watching his sister fall, he tapped such a deep anger he had not known he could have. The blue energy built and built till he let it go, with a cry of his sister's name. "SUTEKO!"
The beam of light cut a path through the Shadow army, causing those purely of shadow to dissolve and those possessed to tumble away. It kept going until it smashed into the Shadow Master, sending the robe covered form back into the cave. As the wave dissipated he sprang forward, racing across the clearing, Phoenix and Dragon a step behind.
The cry of Suteko's name spurred the other fighters on. Jaeoh's ancient rage surfaced and his own green crackling power blasted out, throwing back or completely destroying the Reapers surrounding him. He staggered toward his mate, slowly gathering speed.
Uhanzee and Samuel felt the power grow and something inside clicked. Power gathered about them each and then all around the clearing energy crackled bright and sharp and the shadows started to blow apart.
Jaeoh reached Suteko before Ranma. Dropping to his knees he gathered her into his arms. "No," he shuddered; his hair covered both their faces as he begged her in a whisper to hold on.
Phoenix and Dragon went to join the Guardian as he moved to his sister's side but they were stopped by a swirl of red. Teleported away from the clearing, they turned to rage at Pluto who shushed them both. "The army of Light must complete this. You can not affect the outcome."
Samuel moved toward Shayla and Iriko, clearing the startled vampires till he could protect them. Uhanzee ran to Rage's side, climbing the back of the Ogre and plunging his ancient blade deep into the back of its neck. As the blade severed the spine, he forced his deep brown energy through the blade and into the brain of the Ogre. The creature stiffened and then melted back into the ground. He leapt back and then moved to Gregor's side.
Gregor cursed as Steve leapt away, taunting as he stayed out of reach. Hana moved to her mate's side, softly chanting in a language no longer spoken. She slowed time in the clearing. Ranma's blast had cleared much of the creatures in the clearing but the wood about were still teaming. Unnoticed the shards of Suteko's crystal lifted and flashed before shooting away in the night.
When Gregor got back to his feet, he searched for his leader. Seeing Jaeoh bent over a blood covered Suteko he barked out a command. "Sweetwater! To Draco' side."
Before she took two steps Kaneda re-emerged from the cave of Shadow. The robe that had covered his face had been burned away. For the first time in three years Kaneda's face was clear to be seen. Once he had been a handsome boy, with high cheekbones, black hair and startling golden eyes. Shadow had eaten the flesh down so that his face was skin and bone. The battle weeks ago had burned the last of his humanity away. Now black flames glowed in the eye sockets of a carved skull. "Finally you come out of hiding Guardian." The skull turned to the limp form of Suteko and a laugh filled the clearing. "I told you your brother would
not resist coming to your aid woman." His laughter grew stronger as he slowly began to absorb the shadows about him. The dull black pearls lifted from where the creatures had fallen and flew to circle the skeletal form. They spun faster and faster as the shadow magic built. A wind built that drove clothing to flap and hair into the eyes of those in the clearing whistled.
Jaeoh felt the shadow power building but he didn't care. Suteko lay limp in his arms, her eyes closed. Only the very shallow movement of her breathing let him know she was still alive. His hand was pressing on the wound, trying to stifle the blood flow. From a distance it had looked like she had taken the sword in her belly but it had angled more upward, piercing a lung in the process. Praying in ancient words that tilled his mind, Jaeoh shuddered as a memory form a millennia ago filled his vision. Once before he held his love as she lay dying. Once before he was helpless in the face of the Shadow Master. His arms shook as he rested his forehead against Suteko's.
"Jaeoh," came a ragged whisper.
He lifted his head and scanned her face, desperately. "Suteko?" he whispered.
Very weakly he felt her hand touch his arm. "Stop him," her hand dropped away as her breathing shuddered.
He very gently placed a kiss on her lips and then laid her on the ground. Even as his heart cried out, he got up pulling his blade back into his blood covered hands. He stood and faced the Shadow Master. For a moment the building magic changed the face of those standing in the clearing to their ancient countenances.
As happened 3000 years ago the Prince faced the Shadow Master, his bride dying at his feet. If nothing altered it would be a repeat of that battle. But this time the Prince was not alone. Ranma stopped at Jaeoh's side, hands and eyes glowing blue, anger clear in each movement. In the ancient language of the Crystal Kingdom, Jaeoh challenged the Shadow Master, unconsciously repeating the exact words that had doomed him, Suteko and Kaneda to this cycle. Before he finished the ritual phrases Ranma cut in.
"I don't know what you're saying or who you are but this creep has got to go down!" Shuddering Jaeoh nodded and Ranma placed a hand on his arm. That touch helped Jaeoh return to the here and now. Nodding again he took a breath, then as one they sprang forward, attacking the Shadow Master.
To those watching Ranma, Jaeoh and Kaneda lost physical form and became towers of light. Blow after blow was struck. Blue and green energy battled with the black. The Prince and the Guardian were stronger fighting together than apart but the Shadow Maser was much stronger. Swords flashed as they attacked. Somehow Kaneda kept both men at bay, each delivering wounds to each that would stop a lesser man.
Shayla and Iriko managed to dodge and weave till they were at Suteko's side. A quick glance told Shayla that the wound was mortal, well beyond her old gifts but Iriko placed her hands on the Healer's shoulders and together they poured energy directly into the wound. Shayla struggled to pull out the bits of Shadow that filled the wound. Even Iriko's energy was not enough.
Samuel added his massive strength to the women and pulled directly from the Earth below. Slowly something appeared from the wound. A sliver of obsidian blade was forced out till Shayla could grip it with blood covered fingers. The shard was slippery and hard to grasp but Shayla pulled it out of the unconscious Light Bearer and threw it across the clearing. As she did Suteko arched up, blood gushing form the wound and her lips. Gasping, Shayla tried to hold her down as her body started to spasm. The Shadow was directly poisoning Suteko's bloodstream.
Hana stepped away from Gregor and Uhanzee and opened her watch face for the first time. Pressing on a single garnet gem in the center of the watch face, she closed her eyes and called.
Waiting in an alternate space, Setsuna sighed and handed Suteko's carved staff to Phoenix. No longer was it a just a simple carved Ironwood staff. It now glowed with white energy and atop it was fixed the reformed Star Knight Unicorn crystal. It glowed with the light of a small sun in the dark in-between place.
"It is time Phoenix. It is up to you to bring her back." Chris took the staff and nodded, turning to go. She stopped him with a glance. "Know this Phoenix; once she accepts the staff, she will no longer be just Unicorn. By returning this staff to her she will be princess Suteko of the Crystal Kingdom, the Light Bearer."
Chris looked to his friend and partner, as one they nodded. "She will always be Unicorn, Pluto, but we understand she has a more important destiny than being a Star Knight. What is important is saving her life."
Pluto smiled her special smile for Chris. He was no longer the silly child who first formed the Star Knights. He had grown into a fine leader. Depending on how things worked out the Star Knights would become a force to be reckoned with in the future.
With a swirl of her magic she transported Phoenix and Dragon to the clearing just as Suteko's body arched off the ground. Black and White energy swirled about her body, causing Iriko and Shayla to fall back.
As her brother and mate battled Kaneda, Suteko's body lifted from the ground. The black energy crackled about her skin, fighting to take over the Light Bearer. Slowly as the Star Knights watched the Light inside Suteko burned away the Shadow lighting.
The former Kouhei all turned to face Suteko and the battling men. From deep inside them each a chant started. They had no idea where the words were from but they followed Hana's lead. Six voices blended as one and a tone emerged. It rang out, echoing through the staff in Phoenix's hands. He nodded to Dragon and then with a throw that would make an Olympian proud he threw the staff like a lance. It shot unerringly toward the floating form.
Suteko's hand snapped out and light brighter than the noon day sun filled the moonlit clearing as she caught her staff. When the Nova bright light faded, she was floating upright. No longer dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with her hair bound tightly in a bun, she had transformed. White and silver kimonos floated about her form as she floated, her hair fell loose to her knees, rippling in the wind that blew from the battle. Her eyes snapped open as her feet touched the ground lightly. No longer were her irises visible as white light filled her eyes fully. She brought the staff around her body and then slammed it down making a bell like tone flood the air.
The sonic shock knocked any not ready to the ground. Phoenix and Dragon staggered back to their feet but they could see the Army of Light had stayed rooted to the ground. The three combatants flew apart as the wave of energy hit them.
Ranma and Jaeoh hit the dirt side by side, burns and blood clearly visible. Ranma panted heavily as he helped Jaeoh back to his feet. As one they turned and gasped as Suteko slowly started toward Kaneda. As one they said her name, one in wonder, the other in longing. She paused momentarily to look first at her little brother and then at her lover. She smiled, and then turned to face the Shadow Master.
"Kaneda/Shyama," Suteko voice was soft yet doubled as her ancestor spoke through her. "You have held on too long."
Kaneda's skull like head turned to stare at the white glowing form in surprise, "Sutemi?"
"Yes, uncle. My daughter has allowed me to use this form." She slowly stepped forward till she was flanked between Ranma and Jaeoh. "Your rule ended, 3000 years ago Uncle. You do not belong in this time and place."
"This boy willingly allowed me in, niece. He demanded power to claim your child."
Suteko/Sutemi shook her head. For a brief moment the white glow faded from her eyes. Suteko's emerald green looked sadly at her once playmate. "You never understood that power and might would never get you what you want." She planted her staff before her and then reached out her hands to the sides. Jaeoh and Ranma clasped her fingers and her glow grew brighter once more as it flowed down her arms and onto theirs. Once more her voice doubled as Sutemi took back control. "We will give you one last chance to change Shyama. Reach out, touch the staff and release the boy. You can move on to the next life. You will be reborn in a clean soul."
Kaneda/Shyama snorted and fired a blast of black lightening directly into the breast of Suteko/Sutemi. "Why would I give up this world
? This boy agreed and we both have the power to rule this time and this place."
Jaeoh and Ranma both felt a strong tremor in her hands. A small spot of red was starting to form on the robes but her voice stayed strong and stern. "Again Kaneda we give you one last chance to give up this battle! Relinquish the Shadow powers and you can go back to a human life."
This time Kaneda's voice sneered. "Why would I want a human life?" He threw another blast of concentrated shadow.
The staff flashed and the black lightening was absorbed, the transformed. It flowed as pure power into the three. It danced over them causing each pair of eyes to glow. As Kaneda/Shyama threw blast after blast at them the light grew brighter and brighter till three beams of light, one green, one blue and one pure white shot out and swirled together, twisting into am multicolored braid and then smashing forward to pierce Kaneda/Shyama between the eyes.
The Shadow Master stiffened and then howled as the light flooded past all his barriers. For a long moment the skeletal form was surround by light and then the body broke apart with an eerie scream.
"Now boy, replace the Marker!" Ichuru's ghost barked in Aki's mind. Dragging himself back to his fee, he wrapped his hand about a rough stone object and as the Shadow Master's body dissolved he saw a black streak head toward the cave. Before it could reach the safety of the shadows he threw the stone with all his might. It flew unerringly to the very center of the cave mouth where it stopped and flashed bright white. Before the last bit of Kaneda could escape the gate was sealed again. Kaneda's soul followed his master into the nothingness.