chapter 21
#22 of Love and Pain
Chapter 21
Sora and Hades stared each other down. Sora made sure to get new armor and a new weapon from Yoshi, a large claymore. At first glance, she looked fine but inside she was torn up. Sora was no stranger to battle. She has fought more than her fair share of battles. Once upon a times she, Kira, and Hades were comrades and even friends. She always dreamed of seeing Hades again but now that dream is her worst night mare. She raised her sword ready to strike. Ace and Athena also stepped forward to assist.
"I'll fight alone." Sora said.
Athena backed off but Ace didn't and got in front of her.
"You're not facing him by yourself." Ace protested.
"Ace move out of the way now, I told you I'll fight alone!" She repeated.
"And I said you're not." Ace countered.
Sora growled and aimed a glowing paw at him. The look in her eyes was ice cold and her pupils were slit. The glow intensified as electric sparks began to form. Ace didn't know if she was bluffing or not but one thing was clear. She wanted him out of the way. He reluctantly stepped aside and Sora lowered her paw.
"This whole war is partly my fault. I'm as much to blame as Kira....This is my fight." Sora said.
Hades snapped his fingers and the whole Area around them was cover with black fire. It acted like a wall keeping Ace and the others out. This was so he could fight Sora alone. Ace could only stare at the miles of black fire.
"Do you intend to stop me?" Hades asked
"No...I plan to kill you" Sora said.
"You intend to kill me huh?" He said.
Hades suddenly vanished and re appeared behind Sora. The two were standing back to back.
"You will try." Hades said.
The two dragons both spin around clashing their weapons. Hades lashed at Sora with his tail knocking her backwards but Sora recovered and swung at Hades's legs but Hades jumps up and took off into the air with Sora hot on his tail. They clashed blades so hard spark flew and both weapons were knocked out of their paws. Hades grabbed Sora by her head horns and threw her into the ground. Sora jumped to her feet and she took a deep breath before spiting a stream of fire at Hades who countered with a blast of his own. Hades however had more power and the stream of fire was combined with black shadow fire. Sora ceased her fire and took off running.
She knew that the range was limited and if it touched her she was through. But as fast as she was the fire was faster and she was covered in flames. Hades suddenly extended his claws and spun around running his claws deep into Sora's stomach.
"You used a mirage just before the fire hit. It's a handy parlor trick but....it won't work...." Hades said as his free paw sparked and his naginata floated into his paw.
Something was off though. Even though he gutted her he couldn't feel anything. Sora smiles as her body disengaged into yellow light particles.
Hades hovered in the air wide eyed.
"What happened?" He thought to himself.
He suddenly remembers where she was running to. Just before the black fire hit she grabbed her sword and cast the mirage and Sora suddenly slashed at him from the side but he dodged and sliced her but she turned to the same particle dust again. She reappears and cuts Hades deeply across the shoulder causing him to bleed badly but despite the wound he wasn't fazed at all and cut Sora across the chest slicing through her armor and hitting her bare skin. The dragoness yelled in agony as the blade cut into her flesh. She held her chest as blood dripped between her fingers. Ace couldn't believe what he saw. In one swipe Hades had delivered a devastating blow cutting right through Sora's armor as if it wasn't even there. What was worse was that it was clear Hades couldn't feel any pain. The sound of thunder echoed as a downpour. Kira just crossed his arms.
"This battle is going to end soon..." Kira said.
As much as Ace hated it he had admit Kira was right. Sora was at her limit and it seemed that Hades also hit his limit. Lightning flashed through the sky as it rained even harder.
"I'm going to end this once and for all Hades!" Sora roared.
She could feel her heart breaking in two. This was the hardest thing she ever had to do.
She landed on the ground and her body began to glow as lighting began to shoot into the sky. Hades's eye went wide as a massive lightning bolt came down from the sky and struck him causing a massive explosion. When the dust cleared Hades was sprawled out face down on the ground his body was badly damaged. Sora fell to her knees panting.
"It's over..." She thought to herself.
She looked up and her eye went wide as Hades stood up. He smiles as his body began to glow. He began to walk towards Sora slowly. Sora spat a fire ball at him getting a direct hit but it did nothing. She blasted him with lighting but it had the same result. The black energy was protecting him. No matter what she did she couldn't harm him. He was literally immortal while in this state. She took her sword and thrusts it forward but the energy repelled her and sent her crashing into a near by building. Hades kept walking as Sora stood up weakly. She was out of strength and could barely stand.
"It's over..." Hades said as he got closer.
He reaches out a paw and Sora closed her eyes waiting for the end but instead she felt his paw on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw Hades smiling and collapsing as the glow vanished.
The wall of black fire disappeared and Venus and Athena ran over. Sora kneeled down at his side and took his paw into hers. She knew by the look in his eyes that he got his memory back He spoke but his breathing was labored and his voice was weak.
"Sora...I'm so sorry...I could see but I couldn't control myself....and what's worse I turned my blade and tried to kill you... and the kids..." Hades said tears flows from his eyes.
Sora gently placed her free paw on his muzzle silencing him briefly.
"Don't try to talk too much that machine is the only thing keeping you alive. It's barely functional. Its not your fault....There was nothing you could have done.....Please" She said.
"Venus and Athena...Your all grown up...I'm sorry I wasn't there...All of the pain and suffering you must have gone through... You must hate me..." He said tearing up more.
"You are my father...I could NEVER hate you..." Venus said as tears well up in her eyes.
Hades then looked over at Ace.
"Thank you ....Ace I have one last order for you...Take care them soldier... I give you my blessing. Sora, Venus and Athena...I love..... (BOOM)
Sora and the other stared in shock as Hades lay there with a smoking hole in his chest. Ace turned to see Kira with his paw extended and glowing. Sora sat there in shock while Venus and Athena nudged Hades franticly before they broke down sobbing as the fact. Kira had killed their father right in front of them. Ace was seething with rage.
"KIRA YOU BASTARD, I'LL TEAR YOU TO PIECES!!!!!" He yelled as he got ready to attack.
Before he could strike flew shuriken Kira before Miyu jumped from a nearby building. Because she was a feline such a jump was no problem for her.
"I see you got yourself into trouble again runt." She said to Ace as she walked past him.
"What are you doing here?" Ace asked in a serious tone.
"Did you really think I am going to pass up a chance to take down dragon lord Kira!?" She growled.
"We'll have to take him together. That's the only way we can win." Kiyo said.
Ace and Miyu looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
"Alright then...Lets put an end to this tyrants rein." Kiyo said as he drew his sword.
"You took the words right out of my muzzle." Miyu said as she took out her bladed tonfa.
"Well it seems we finally agree on something sis." Ace said as he drew his sword.
"You can fight all you want but it's futile. You shall join the rest of your people in oblivion." Kira said as he drew his sword.
The stage is set and the battle to decide it all is about to begin.
To be continued....