Cassandra, Naomi and Ruby 3 - The Blacksmith and the Metal
#3 of CNR
"No way!" "Way!" "In the toilet?" "Hell yeah?" "What was it like?" "Apart from amazing?" "Really?" "Fuck yeah." "But she's a girl." "Erm...yeah I know." "Hi girls, what's going on?" "Cassy, Naomi says she just lost her 'v'." "Congrats girl! Took ya some time though..." "It's not that it's that she did it with a girl!" "Really? Who?" "Well, you know the girl at that sit at the back of Art all the time?" "What Katie? The cat with red hair?" "That's her!" "For real!?!.....What was it like?" "Incredible, she knew some...things..." Suddenly the teacher had appeared from know where, "Come on girls, time to get back on the bus, we need to move on. Oh Naomi, Katie is still in the toilets, can you go and get her?" A smile appeared on her face, "I'll try Miss!"
All the team were in the temple buildings sitting in silent accusation. Hope had disappeared for each and every one of them. Fighting this force would have never been an easy task but, with Fang gone, the task was a lot more difficult. "Rouge, are you ready for Shadow?" Looking up at her slowly, Rouge answer Krystal's question with little emotion in her voice, "The second coming of Shadow is like a storm of perpetual evil. Even for Fang it would have been difficult but now it is impossible." "So Shadow wants to kill you and that fake Sally want's to kill...." Krystal had just released what she had done, "Sally..." She stood up and rushed outside with Fox behind her. The pair sped off back to Krystal's house. They went up the stairs and into the bedroom where an empty bed awaited them. Pushed to her emotional limit, Krystal could take no more and she broke down in a fit of tears. She collapsed on the bed and caressed the pillow where Sally laid her head. Fox had noticed a piece of paper on the side table and read it aloud to Krystal, "Don't worry; I'll take her place soon, Sally XXX." Krystal didn't really listen for she had discovered something. Although difficult at first to notice, a piece of paper seemed to have been neatly folded and placed in Sally's pillow. She removed it to find 'To my dearest friend Krystal' written on the front. The paper was blank, however a voice boomed in Krystal's head. "Fox....Fox write this down." "Krystal, although we saw each other for only two days, I believe I have known you a life-time. You contain the same energy and, therefore, same powers I have and that's is why you can hear this. I have foreseen the future and it will be bleak unless you can change it. However, only YOU can change it. To pierce the darkness, one must need a mineral from the mountain range I called home, Reyona. A sword has been crafted from it and that sword shall be empowered with the half heart. The sword can be found in the Arm of Ortex. Once the blue crystal and the sword become one then darkness must be overcome by the light. However, only through great suffering and the true power of psychic faith may the sword fulfil its duty. This came to me in my dream and now I pass it to you. Keep the future bright and take care of Sally as I would have done." The words began to fade and Krystal opened her eyes, "Irana".
Sally's eyes slowly began to open. She was tied to a chair in a dark room. "Wake up Sally, dreaming about Krystal again?" The voice seemed as if it was all around her. A dim light showed the outline of another in the room. "Heh, I guess you like to dream about Krystal too huh?" The other Sally stood up and slapped her round the face. "I have so many questions for you Sally. What does her hair smell like? How much do you love her? How good is she in bed?" "Do me a favour first, fuck off." Another slap around the face was enough to draw blood. "It doesn't matter, I will soon find out the answers to those questions myself." "Krystal will never love you." "But what if she thinks I'm you?" "She won't 'cause she's psychic you dumb shit." "Ah yes, the pitfall in my plan." "So why are you keeping me alive?" Secretly, Sally had an escape plan. She thought as hard as she could. 'Krystal. I need you Krystal, please. "And wouldn't you like to know? Wait a minute, no you wouldn't, you just wanna act hard. You always act hard, but your not. Remember that I share your memories as well Sally. Seeing your Mum and Dad burn to death right before your eyes; their singed hands grabbing for you. What did you say to Wolf when he asked you what happened to Mummy and Daddy? Oh, that's right, 'They were enjoying themselves on holiday for a while'. I can't imagine how painful that must have been." Sally said nothing. Trying to keep her strength, a tear escaped from her eye. "What a horrific tale. What a tragedy! You are the pinnacle of being pathetic Sally, you know that? You try to act hard but it's the traumatic past that is your weakness. You can't handle pain so you just bottle it up inside. I remember the struggle you gave Miss S and Miss B in the shop after Irana died." "Don't you dare utter her name." "It took them at least half an hour to restrain you. You try to cover up your past with a comfy future, is that it? But what about that temper Sally? Building up inside of you. One day your gunna hurt Krystal with that, or maybe even kill her." Even though she was evil, she was right. Sally sat devastated at what had just been said, pictures of her hurting Krystal spinning in her mind. "You're not even fit to be a mother. Don't worry, I'll take care of little Cassandra, Naomi and Ruby when you're gone." Happy with herself, the other Sally strolled out leaving Sally alone in the dark with only herself as a burden No longer did her thoughts cry out for Krystal.
"Reyona Mountains? Arm of Ortex? What is this all about?" "I don't know but whatever it is it'll help us stop Shadow. We need to find it. But first we need an expert." Soon the pair were in Urios city. A knock on the door signalled the usual response, "Come in." "Renamon, we need your help." "Krystal, of course, what is it?" After a quick explanation, the trio were flying towards Reyona Mountains. "You heard Irana?" "Yes, for the last time." Fumbling in her chest tuff, Renamon pulled out the locket with her picture in it. "God I miss her." "Renamon, what do you know of the mountains." Renamon returned her view back to Krystal, "Very little. I never really asked about Irana's past. I know they are north of the swamp in the rocky northlands. Irana lived in a small village called Neue Hoffnung with her father, Rurnberg Orilia. She moved away after she rejected the idea of becoming a blacksmith like her father." The arming's boosters roared as it touched down of the rocky/snow landscape. The town was peaceful and quiet. The crackling of fire was heard in the background and dragons and lizards walked to and fro without a care in the world. Children whirled and skipped up and down the cobble, flapping their wings and singing songs. Krystal talked to one of the locals, "Hi, I'm looking for the blacksmith of the town." "We don't get many visitors, this is a surprise. The blacksmith is the cabin over there." The dragon pointed to a log cabin in the centre of the town. Small, aimless puffs of smoke flew from the chimney and the chiming of hammer to an anvil was repeated across the snowy peaks. "Thanks." The team made their way to the blacksmith. A man was bent over the oven with a heavy apron and thick gloves. "Excuse me? Rurnberg Orilia?" The large dragon turned round. As a surprise for the team, he was relatively young with very little signs of aging. He looked very out of place with his surrounds. He looked a bit like a male model rather than just a blacksmith. "Me, I wish. I am Yulin Orfgorn, his apprentice. My master died a few months back. Is there something I can help you with?" "Yes, there is. What do you know about Dragon Metal?" The dragon seemed surprised and recoiled in shock. "Dragon Metal? In fables it is known as the hardest mineral in the lands, strong enough to rival the diamonds of the rich earth but easily worked like steel. It was truly the blacksmith's Godsend. The reserves ran dry centuries ago. I haven't seen the metal at all." This caused worry in the team, "If there was some out there, do you think Rurnberg would have found it?" "Probably but he would have told me. What are you asking these mysterious questions for?" "Well we were sent by a message of Irana and..." "Hold on, Irana?" "That's right." "Then this is for you." The young blacksmith disappeared into the back room and return moments later with a dusty letter. "He told me that a group who knew his daughter would come and they needed this envelope. I was under specific orders not to touch it." Yulin handed Krystal the letter and opened it, producing a key and a note. "It's runic? Can you read runic?" "Yes, it says.....'Open it'?" Yulin began to jump for joy. He snatched the key from Krystal and ran to the corner of the cabin. Tearing down a mountain of books and journals revealed a large chest. The rusty key clicked the lock and it opened. Everyone crowded round the chest in anticipation. A bar of shiny, blue metal with a note wrapped around it lay at the bottom. Yulin carefully removed the metal are stared at it in hooked fantasy. "Dragon Metal." The metal glowed with a strange energy like Mina's arm. It gave off heat on its own. Krystal grabbed the note and read it. "'Yulin, my trusted apprentice, I have treated like the son I was never blessed with. The strangers have appeared before and now you have seen Dragon Metal for yourself. The true time to call yourself a master blacksmith is now. The strangers are looking for the Sword of the Dragon Spirit. It is in the Arm of Ortex. The only way to get to it is through a key of Dragon Metal. This is your final task. There is enough Dragon Metal here to make just about anything. However, if you are loyal enough, you will follow my plans and make the key. The choice is your Yulin.'" Sketches and instructions where scribbled at the bottom of the sheet. Fox and Krystal looked inquisitively at Yulin. He stared longingly at the Dragon Metal. He could become a famous blacksmith with this, making a sword or hammer of unrivalled strength. Or he could leave his personal gain behind, honour his master and make the key. He looked up at Krystal with a smile, "Well then, let's make a key!" Each hammer strike of the metal was like the roar of a mighty dragon. The metal flowed and melted perfect. The flare and flames of the proud furnace attract the townspeople. The huge smile on Yulin's face showed the excitement. The crowd began to cheer and scream in the display of sparks, flames and bangs that erupted from the cabin. The flames of the furnace jived and danced to the beat of a dragons wings. Soon the key was done. Yulin bowed and the rest of the town joined him with the tense whispers of 'Dragon Metal' 'Yulin found Dragon Metal'. Like the metal bar, the key glowed like the eyes of the dragon. "Yulin, where is the Arm of Ortex?" "Arm of Ortex? I'm not sure; I'll check the notes of my master." Yulin disappeared as the townsfolk crowded round Krystal, holding their hands to the key and staring in awe. Yulin soon returned with a large book. "There is nothing in here about Ortex apart from a client. 'Mina Ortex needed a replacement arm' with 'DM' written as the metal used." "Mina Ortex?" Krystal snapped her fingers in remembrance, "The rabbit!" "Yeah, but how the hell are we gunna find her?" Suddenly Krystal fell to her knees and held her head. "Krystal. I need you Krystal, please." The words painfully echoed in her head, clawing at her essence and screaming to her. Fox bent down and supported her, "What is it Krystal?" "S....Sally!" The arwings touched down in the desert of the planet to the east of the mountains. A large facility stood out from the sand with tall, black walls and deadly shadows out stretched from it's unholy walls. Fox and Falco stood at the large door with Krystal, Slippy, Rouge and Renamon in the background, all armed with weapons. "Breach charges it three...two...one..." A large blast was enough to cave the door in and take it off it's hinges. Taking out the guards inside, the team made their way down the corridor and up a flight of stairs. A heavily guarded room was at the bottom of the corridor. The guard were dispatched easily and soon the team was through the door. A large lab stretched in front of them. Sitting at the chair in the middle was Mina, chained by the ankle to the table. "Thank God!!!" Falco took aim, "Pull the chain tight." A rifle blast split the chain and Mina was free. "Thank you for turning up. Krystal, Sally is here. She told me to look out for you." "Where is she?" "I don't know exactly." The hunt was on. The team spread through out the facility. The search was endless with one room after another being checked. Soon evening set in and everyone was getting tired. "Krystal, I'm sorry they must have moved her." The group made their way back through the door, tired and defeated. Before they were out the door, Renamon noticed something about the wall to the right of the door. It was, ripped? But it should be made out of metal! "Guys, I found something." She tore down the paper to find a door behind it. The team began banging on the door. The other Sally inside began to panic. She un-cuffed the real Sally who preceded to punch her violently making her bruised and bleeding. "Ha! Your anger has now made it impossible to distinguish us!" The door blew open with another breach charge and Krystal charged in followed by the team. "Up on your feet, both of ya!" Both stood against the wall with their hands above their head. "Which one's which?" Falco cocked his gun, "I say we drop both of 'em just to be sure." "Whoa hold on, Krystal will find out which ones which." Both Sally's began to concentrate hard, "Shoot her." "It's me, shoot her." "Stop, both of you stop. Answer this in your heads. What was the happiest of our lives together?" A moment passed and a round was fired as the Sally on the left dropped to the floor. "Good work Krysy." Sally hugged Krystal deeply. Then the sound of handcuffs was heard. Krystal moved away from Sally, she had cuffed her. "Krystal, what's going on?" The other Sally stood up and dusted herself off. She hadn't been shot. "But...I guessed right." "No you thought you guessed right. You said us meeting together was our greatest moment. But what is it Sally?" Sally now had a huge smile of her face and winked, "It was having our children, even though it probably wasn't we just say that anyway. Truthfully they're annoying us at the moment. HIGH FIVE FOR BAD PARENTING!" The team celebrated as the other Sally just sniggered. "Fine, you caught me but I ain't talking." "Oh, I think you will. You haven't seen 'Sally's Drawer of 'Special' fun." The other Sally could only gulp and struggle and she was dragged into an arwing. (((Sorry this is a bit rushed.)))