"Who I am? Events happened that made me more like the Steel Tsar, the original evil Champion of Fire. I wear the armor forged from it's metal body, you trained me in the use of starknives, and now I don't even need to hold them to attack with them, the spin of their own free will, just like the Tsar's buzzsaws. Destroy who I am? Not at all, since it seems Fate caused me to become what I am now."
"As for family and friends? They can be used against me, and I renounce all ties to them now. I am alone, just like I always was, always will be."
His eyes, seen through the slits in his helm, brighten. But not in the good way. Not even close.
"Do you know how some mountain are formed?"
"Fate? That sounds like an excuse to me, Aidan. I've seen how you've grown since being with your brother again. That's fear talking, not you."
"And who cares if you wear armor forged from the Steel Tsar? Either use it for good, which would be the ultimate katharsis against the evil he wrought - or destroy it. Renounce it. Don't succumb to it."
He steps right up to Aidan, looking straight into his eyes as he puts a hand on his shoulder.
"And I know mountains can be birthed by fire and brimstone. They're also destroyed by those very same fires, or the fires leave them burnt out, empty husks. Either way, the fires consume them until there's no life left. You don't want to go that route, Aidan..."
So close to the black flames, Ch'ack feels their pull. Their hunger.
"No, Aidan" he whispers
Aidan turns slowly toward the new arrivals.
"Hello. How do you like the new look? I think it really brings out my eyes."
He laughs again."I'll ask you the same thing I asked Allura and Devlyn. Do you know how some mountains are formed?"
"Aidan. Yes. I know. She decided that blowing up a mountain would be a fun afternoon's diversion once. The remnants of the dwarf clan that was killed tried to bring me up on charges for it."
"And fate has nothing to do with it, my friend. You may not be able to change what happens to you, but you can choose what you will do with it. And don't you dare tell me I don't know what it's like to be alone. And in pain. My soul spent thousands of years in Hell, Aidan. And I had to share my body with an evil goddess. And the mortal parts of my life weren't exactly a picnic at the beach either. Whatever you've been through, I've endured and more. There is always a choice. Know that. This is your choice. And we will not give up on you."
"I'll ask you the same thing I asked Allura and Devlyn. Do you know how some mountains are formed?"
"You know that I do. You know the price that it demands."
"That price grows every time."
For just a moment, his form shimmers, almost returning to normal.
Then his mighty wings flap, sending up and away from those trying to 'help.'
"You think I care? I am the Champion of Fire. I am Fire, the most destructive part of the Green. But you are all wrong, for fire can create new life, given time. Look at the new life it has given me!"
With that, he takes off his helm, revealing eyes a vile blue, skin the color of ash, and burnt blonde hair.
"See? I'm new, I'm improved, and I think I might be sane."
"No - you're being burned from the inside out. The rage of that fire is starting to consume you, to affect your judgement. If you don't believe me, look at your own reflection," as he pulls out a hand mirror and holds it up so Aidan can see what is happening to him.
"Come on, Aidan. Come back down and take that armor off. Please."
For just a moment, his form shimmers, almost returning to normal.
Then his mighty wings flap, sending up and away from those trying to 'help.'
"You think I care? I am the Champion of Fire. I am Fire, the most destructive part of the Green. But you are all wrong, for fire can create new life, given time. Look at the new life it has given me!"
With that, he takes off his helm, revealing eyes a vile blue, skin the color of ash, and burnt blonde hair.
"See? I'm new, I'm improved, and I think I might be sane."
"You sound so very much like my sister. I don't know if you ever met Ash. She didn't start out evil, either. And now she can't even remember who she used to be. She chose evil for many of the same reasons as you. Is that who you want to be Aidan? Someone who doesn't care about anyone but yourself? Someone who will gladly sacrifice their own family to the cause of destruction? Someone who wants the whole world to burn just so that the pain will finally stop?"
"No - you're being burned from the inside out. The rage of that fire is starting to consume you, to affect your judgement. If you don't believe me, look at your own reflection," as he pulls out a hand mirror and holds it up so Aidan can see what is happening to him.
"Come on, Aidan. Come back down and take that armor off. Please."
"I already knew what I looked like. If the fire has starting to consume me, burn me from within, why are my eyes blue now? No, I don't think I'll come down. You'll have to come and get me, Devlyn. And last time I checked, you can't fly."
His hands rise, and his starknives begin to spin on their own. His wings now leave smokey trails behind them as they flap, and his helm floats back over his head, hiding his features again.
"I already knew what I looked like. If the fire has starting to consume me, burn me from within, why are my eyes blue now? No, I don't think I'll come down. You'll have to come and get me, Devlyn. And last time I checked, you can't fly."
His hands rise, and his starknives begin to spin on their own. His wings now leave smokey trails behind them as they flap, and his helm floats back over his head, hiding his features again.
"Your eyes are blue because that is the hottest color of fire. That is the color some of the stars burn."
"Please, Aidan, don't leave! What about Oroth? What about your brother? Have you stopped caring about him too?"
Tears are sliding freely down Allura's cheeks as she watches Aidan.
For just a moment, his form shimmers, almost returning to normal.
Then his mighty wings flap, sending up and away from those trying to 'help.'
"You think I care? I am the Champion of Fire. I am Fire, the most destructive part of the Green. But you are all wrong, for fire can create new life, given time. Look at the new life it has given me!"
With that, he takes off his helm, revealing eyes a vile blue, skin the color of ash, and burnt blonde hair.
"See? I'm new, I'm improved, and I think I might be sane."
A shimmering of Green and a familiar form walks out.
"No, Fire is not the most destructive part of the Green. And no, it can never create new Life. It only creates mockeries, ones that never hold. The Green builds upon its ashes."
"Fire cannot exist without Balance. Let us help you find that Balance."
His form becomes hazy, but it is impossible to tell if that is from Allura's words or the smoke his wings are shedding.
"It was because of him I ended up in the Carnival. Before all this happened, before I ever even knew the Carnival existed, he told me something that hurt more than anything I had ever known. My spirit is hurt, as you say Allura, because of my brother the paladin."
A shimmering of Green and a familiar form walks out.
"No, Fire is not the most destructive part of the Green. And no, it can never create new Life. It only creates mockeries, ones that never hold. The Green builds upon its ashes."
"Fire cannot exist without Balance. Let us help you find that Balance."
"You forget, forest fires allow seeds to grow where there had been no light because of the older trees. In volcanic ash, flowers grow. So do not tell me I cannot create new life, or the oppertunity for life to grow anew."
"You forget, forest fires allow seeds to grow where there had been no light because of the older trees. In volcanic ash, flowers grow. So do not tell me I cannot create new life, or the opportunity for life to grow anew."A shimmering of Green and a familiar form walks out.
"No, Fire is not the most destructive part of the Green. And no, it can never create new Life. It only creates mockeries, ones that never hold. The Green builds upon its ashes."
"Fire cannot exist without Balance. Let us help you find that Balance."
"You mistake the actions of Fire with what follows it. Those actions are taken by others."
"Roots break stones that man could not hope to. Water seep into those cracks and smoothes the wounds. Winds carry those seeds."
"Fire can nothing alone. Only when it leaves, or burns itself out, can the Cycle begin anew."
His form becomes hazy, but it is impossible to tell if that is from Allura's words or the smoke his wings are shedding.
"It was because of him I ended up in the Carnival. Before all this happened, before I ever even knew the Carnival existed, he told me something that hurt more than anything I had ever known. My spirit is hurt, as you say Allura, because of my brother the paladin."
"He made a mistake, Aidan. One that he has been trying to atone for. What he said to you is his fault, his responsibility, and he has been trying to make it right. But what happened to you at the Carnival was not his fault. It was the fault of that horrible clown and his servants. Your brother looked for you. He tried to get you back. And he kept trying. He never gave up on you, Aidan. Remember that, too."
"I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?"
"You mistake the actions of Fire with what follows it. Those actions are taken by others."
"Roots break stones that man could not hope to. Water seep into those cracks and smoothes the wounds. Winds carry those seeds."
"Fire can nothing alone. Only when it leaves, or burns itself out, can the Cycle begin anew."
Fire blazes on on of Aidan's starknives. He hlods it above his head as if to strike.
"How about a test than?"
He quickly turns away and brings his arm down in a striking motion. Fire leaps from the starknife, breaking into small pieces before they are to far away to see.
"Can you feel it? Your forest burns, treant. With the storm here causing the winds elsewhere to gain speed, the fire will spread quickly. Ah, the sound of sap boiling in trees still alive. The smell of burnt flesh from animals to slow to run away in time. Delightful."
"It was because of him I ended up in the Carnival. Before all this happened, before I ever even knew the Carnival existed, he told me something that hurt more than anything I had ever known. My spirit is hurt, as you say Allura, because of my brother the paladin."
Devlyn pulls back from the ledge, pacing as he talks.
"And all of a sudden, you pick now to be mad at him, when you've had months to talk with him about this? Sorry, I don't buy that - again, that's not you talking, that's fear and the evil feeding on it. At your core, you don't believe that. Allura's right - Oroth did everything he could think of to get you back from that place."
"We're shooting down every argument you're making, Aidan. Don't you think there's something to learn from that?"
"He made a mistake, Aidan. One that he has been trying to atone for. What he said to you is his fault, his responsibility, and he has been trying to make it right. But what happened to you at the Carnival was not his fault. It was the fault of that horrible clown and his servants. Your brother looked for you. He tried to get you back. And he kept trying. He never gave up on you, Aidan. Remember that, too."His form becomes hazy, but it is impossible to tell if that is from Allura's words or the smoke his wings are shedding.
"It was because of him I ended up in the Carnival. Before all this happened, before I ever even knew the Carnival existed, he told me something that hurt more than anything I had ever known. My spirit is hurt, as you say Allura, because of my brother the paladin."
"It was his fault. Do you know how he found me? He was thinking about joining that wretched clown, even as he spied for Innocent Blood's father. It was luck that allowed him to find me."
"I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?"
"I heard it took the three other Champions working together. And considering how Kaelar isn't here right now, how LJ no longer seems to be the Champion of the Winds, and how it seems you lost your power, I'd say your chances aren't good."
"It was his fault. Do you know how he found me? He was thinking about joining that wretched clown, even as he spied for Innocent Blood's father. It was luck that allowed him to find me."
"Aidan, you know that isn't true. You know that, yes, he did a lot of awful things. Things that he regrets. But what you saw at that carnival was an act. And act that he put up so he could get to you. You know that."
"I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?""I heard it took the three other Champions working together. And considering how Kaelar isn't here right now, how LJ no longer seems to be the Champion of the Winds, and how it seems you lost your power, I'd say your chances aren't good."
"He didn't ask you how, Aidan. He asked you why."
"He didn't ask you how, Aidan. He asked you why.""I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?""I heard it took the three other Champions working together. And considering how Kaelar isn't here right now, how LJ no longer seems to be the Champion of the Winds, and how it seems you lost your power, I'd say your chances aren't good."
Devlyn quietly activates his communication crystal while the others are talking.
"Kaelar? We have an elemental problem at the Eyrie. A firey one. We could use your assistance ASAP if you can get here. Aidan is being possessed by the spirit of fire that was part of the Steel Tsar."
Fire blazes on on of Aidan's starknives. He hlods it above his head as if to strike.
"How about a test than?"
He quickly turns away and brings his arm down in a striking motion. Fire leaps from the starknife, breaking into small pieces before they are to far away to see.
"Can you feel it? Your forest burns, treant. With the storm here causing the winds elsewhere to gain speed, the fire will spread quickly. Ah, the sound of sap boiling in trees still alive. The smell of burnt flesh from animals to slow to run away in time. Delightful."
E7 shakes his head "Children playing with toys."
"When will the Green ever find a Champion of Fire worthy enough?"
"Do you have the control enough to be the first in twenty lifetimes? We could teach you, but not when you won't listen."
"It was because of him I ended up in the Carnival. Before all this happened, before I ever even knew the Carnival existed, he told me something that hurt more than anything I had ever known. My spirit is hurt, as you say Allura, because of my brother the paladin."Devlyn pulls back from the ledge, pacing as he talks.
"And all of a sudden, you pick now to be mad at him, when you've had months to talk with him about this? Sorry, I don't buy that - again, that's not you talking, that's fear and the evil feeding on it. At your core, you don't believe that. Allura's right - Oroth did everything he could think of to get you back from that place."
"We're shooting down every argument you're making, Aidan. Don't you think there's something to learn from that?"
"It takes time for a burning ember to become an inferno. But he didn't look for me, sure he saved me from that place, but he never looked. Never cared for the brother he blame our parent's deaths on! He let darkness swallow him whole, and it took his death for him to see the light. Even after he became a paladin of Light, not once did he try to apoligize."
"I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?""I heard it took the three other Champions working together. And considering how Kaelar isn't here right now, how LJ no longer seems to be the Champion of the Winds, and how it seems you lost your power, I'd say your chances aren't good."
"I killed the first Steel Tsar myself." There is no mocking in his voice.
"He didn't ask you how, Aidan. He asked you why.""I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?""I heard it took the three other Champions working together. And considering how Kaelar isn't here right now, how LJ no longer seems to be the Champion of the Winds, and how it seems you lost your power, I'd say your chances aren't good."
"And I realized the conclusion he would have arrived to eventually. That it will take more than you have now to defeat me."
"It takes time for a burning ember to become an inferno. But he didn't look for me, sure he saved me from that place, but he never looked. Never cared for the brother he blame our parent's deaths on! He let darkness swallow him whole, and it took his death for him to see the light. Even after he became a paladin of Light, not once did he try to apoligize."
"I think the fire is affecting your memory, Aidan. He did apologize. I was there. I heard him say the words. Yes, he did let darkness swallow him. And it took his own death for him to see the truth. Learn from his mistakes, Aidan, don't repeat them. Your brother does care about you and so do we."
"I killed the first Steel Tsar myself." There is no mocking in his voice."I ask you, Aidan. Why did we have to stop the Steel Tsar before?""I heard it took the three other Champions working together. And considering how Kaelar isn't here right now, how LJ no longer seems to be the Champion of the Winds, and how it seems you lost your power, I'd say your chances aren't good."
"Hm, looks like I will have to make sure any source of information is more creditable from now on. Oh well, look I get to have some fun today."
"It takes time for a burning ember to become an inferno. But he didn't look for me, sure he saved me from that place, but he never looked. Never cared for the brother he blame our parent's deaths on! He let darkness swallow him whole, and it took his death for him to see the light. Even after he became a paladin of Light, not once did he try to apoligize."
"I didn't lose my powers. I set them aside. Destruction was thrust upon me, Earth and Stone followed that. I was an instrument of Balance. Now I am my own, the Dreamer I was born to be."
"Why do you seek answers from your brother, or retribution for his actions against you, in the heat of flame?"
"Why are you compelled to harm the innocent? The trees, the animals. Is that who you really are?"
"And I realized the conclusion he would have arrived to eventually. That it will take more than you have now to defeat me."
"Aidan," she said with a sigh, "I know I still look very mortal and it's easy to get confused, but please stop forgetting what I am. I dance among stars and through the black places in between, even along the edges of singularities. Your flame is not as hot as the stars, nor are you able to burn without air. We are not afraid of you, Aidan, we're afraid for you. Because we care about you."
|
"I think the fire is affecting your memory, Aidan. He did apologize. I was there. I heard him say the words. Yes, he did let darkness swallow him. And it took his own death for him to see the truth. Learn from his mistakes, Aidan, don't repeat them. Your brother does care about you and so do we."
"It takes time for a burning ember to become an inferno. But he didn't look for me, sure he saved me from that place, but he never looked. Never cared for the brother he blame our parent's deaths on! He let darkness swallow him whole, and it took his death for him to see the light. Even after he became a paladin of Light, not once did he try to apoligize."
No longer having to hold the storm against the five casters, the Skies let it return to normal and entrust it to Arielle. They walk over to stand by LJ.
"We do not believe he is listening anymore Starsong."
"Do not worry LJ, you will not need to fight him, We am your Herald after all."
No longer having to hold the storm against the five casters, the Skies let it return to normal and entrust it to Arielle. They walks over to stand by LJ.
"We do not believe he is listening anymore Starsong."
They merge together, becoming one again, and Sky holds up his rune-covered left arm, his other hand a claw ready to cut through the runes.
"Do not worry LJ, you will not need to fight him, I am your Herald after all."
"Only as a last resort, Sky. He is still a child. One who is reacting out of pain and fear. I will not give up on him just yet. It is a difficult thing to choose between good and evil while drunk on little understood power."
Devlyn stops pacing, standing next to Allura.
"Aidan - you've lived under our own roof, worked alongside us, helped us out time and again for months since Oroth was 'reborn'. You and Oroth are like nephews to me. To us," as he looks at Allura.
"You may not be blood, but you're family to me, regardless. You know that nothing on this world or any other would turn me against you - unless you chose to turn away and be against us yourself."
"I'm asking you one last time - put this power down and walk away from it. You don't need it to be complete. You have everything you need right here."
Even in the haze of his anger, Aidan can feel the simple power of those words. He knows Devlyn meant every word he just said, with an unshakeable moral certainty. How Aidan reacts to that, of course, is another matter entirely... ;)
"Did you not see enough senseless violence and death in...that place?" sadness fills the words
"Would you make yourself part of that?"
Aidan's form hazes again, but again it clears before Aidan returns to normal
"Stop it...
"Stop it..."
Fire pours from his hands, leaping toward those trying to help him. There is a flash of light, and the fire streams off to the side of Oroth's shield.
"Stop...
"Stop..."
Fire pours from his hands, leaping toward Devlyn. There is a flash of light, and the fire streams off to the side of Oroth's shield.
Devlyn looks at Oroth, with a quick nod of thanks, as he dashes into Allura's shadow and Shadow Jumps into the hazy shade caused by Aidan's smoke, right behind and above him. He slams his chest against Aidan's back, pinning his wings as best he can while hooking an arm around his neck and his legs around his waist to hold him.
"I'm sorry Aidan - if you're not going to listen to reason, we're going to have to take that stuff off of you ourselves before you actually hurt anyone."
"LJ! I need a downdraft to ground him, now!!! And a lot of water from someone!!!"
Oroth stares at Aidan as he struggles against Devlyn.
"Do you have any idea how long it took me to realize all that negative energy was coming from you?
Devlyn looks at Oroth, with a quick nod of thanks, as he dashes into Allura's shadow and Shadow Jumps into the hazy shade caused by Aidan's smoke, right behind and above him. He slams his chest against Aidan's back, pinning his wings as best he can while hooking an arm around his neck and his legs around his waist to hold him.
"I'm sorry Aidan - if you're not going to listen to reason, we're going to have to take that stuff off of you ourselves before you actually hurt anyone."
Aidan's armor begins to heat up. He twists around to look at Devlyn.
"Let go now."
Aidan's armor begins to heat up. He twists around to look at Devlyn.
"Let go now."
"You know I won't do that, Aidan..."
Rain begins to pour in a deluge atop the struggling Aidan. As he looks down upon the treant he sees fire in one branch, water in another, earth in a third, and wind in a fourth. The treant closes his fist with the fire, smothering it.
"Can you feel your wave of destruction smothering Son of Fire? Heed us, lest you smother yourself."
CH's eyes change yet again, taking on the reflectivity of metal. Aidan's armor is drawn towards him, whilst Aidan himself is held at bay. His clenched fist flies open, his fingers spreading outwards. Webbing, as fine as spider's silk and glowing blue, forms a spiral net in front of him.
CH's metallic eyes look startled, but he doesn't lose his concentration.
