Chapter XX

Ally






   As I began to walk closer and closer to the hole, the Fire Spirit waved her hand and a glowing blue platform slowly moved closer and closer to the middle of the crater. It shone a brilliant orange, and flat rocks appeared as steps from where I stood, all the way to the middle platform.
   I felt a hand be placed on my shoulder. It was Will, who's eyes were filled with sorrow. "Please, no."
   "Oh! So you want me to become that wolf thing again? No way!" I said softly, then moved his hand off my shoulder.
   "And you want to leave us?" Keesa added gently, and she was beginning to tear up again. "You're the only real friend I ever met."
   I paused, and there was silence, if you didn't count the gentle breeze swaying the grass down. "Maybe I'll awaken when it isn't too late into the future. Maybe it'll only be a month."
   "Hopefully," Will said.
   Keesa and Will followed me up the steps and onto the platform. The Fire Spirit turned into her original form again, and carried Rina onto the platform. Keesa and Will took a step back, and the platform seemed to grow brighter.
   "Well... it's time." Rina said in a very quiet whisper. "You've done a good job."
   I opened my mouth to say something, then turned to Will and Keesa, full of regret. I'd miss them. I'd miss everyone who I probably won't see because I could be sleeping for a long while.
   "Look in the center, Ally." Rina said, and began to say a single word with lots of energy. "Kurisutaru!"
   The lava instantly turned into a glowing blue, as if the lava somehow magically turned into water.
   It did.
   Great, big columns of crystal erupted from the water, then circling around the platform like thick vines. A bright light began to shine from my fingertips. I turned to Keesa and Will, then saw that Keesa was turning red, as if she was going to explode with tears. As I began to rise into the air, Will grabbed my hand, visible drops of water coming from his eyes. He began to hold my hand for so long, my feet began to rise higher than my head.
   "Don't go!" Will cried. "I'll miss you... terribly."
   "We." Keesa corrected, giving me a weak smile.
   I began to say I'll miss you too, but my hand slipped out of Will's. Will tried to grab it again to know what I was saying, but I was rising higher at a fast pace.
   I finally stopped when I was like 5 or 6 feet above the ground. I tried to fight my tears, but a single one fell slowly to the ground. The crystal vines grew twisty, skinnier ones until they touched me. I suddenly felt drowsy and calm, and saw a bright light enter my eyes.

Will






   I saw my hands trembling, seeing a bright light come from Ally's heart. It flashed extremely bright, bright enough I thought Bondrum could see it, and I closed my eyes shut.
   When the light faded away, I felt extreme sadness. There was a crystalized Ally, wrapped around in the skinny and twisty vines. Her eyes looked sad and happy. A flame appeared in her heart, and the idle Ally floated lower and lower until it touched the platform again.
   I ran over to her, immediately. "Ally! Wake up! Please!" My eyes watered up, and i banged on the solid crystal with my gun. I began to shoot the crystal, hoping to get her out of there. "You said you'd wake up soon! You said so!"
   I looked up, seeing the Fire Spirit and Rina looking solemn. Then, they faded away, leaving behind something shiny and blue. I walked over to it, and felt my throat swell up. It was Ally's tear.
   I wrapped my hand around it, then slipped it into a pocket. Keesa knelt down before Ally, as if she was saying thanks for something I didn't know. I felt a ringing in my ears, and knelt down too.
   Will... are you ok? I'm sorry I couldn't stay human... but I didn't want to be a wolf thing either! I heard, remembering the familiar voice.
   "You're forgiven," I murmured back. "I'm sorry I threw a tantrum just because I wanted you to stay here."
   Oh, it's fine. No worries!
   "Seriously?" I almost said it really loud, and Keesa raised a brow at me. I looked down. "Ally? Will you ever forget about us?"
   No! Are you crazy? You guys are the best friend I've ever had!
   There was a long pause.
   "Ally? What were you gonna say before you rose into the air?" I asked.
   Another pause.
   I was going to say that I'll miss you guys. I only have a short amount of time before I fully go to the sleep. Anything else? 
   I thought for a moment. I had so many things I wanted to say! "Listen, I just want to say--"
   Sorry, I'm afraid........
   And that was the last time I ever heard her speak.

8 months later....


   I sat in my old home, where Ally got her necklace. I sat in the kitchen, all alone, chewing on ramen and watching the birds outside sing, free from demonic evil. Then, I heard a voice speaking.
   At first, I thought it was Ally's voice, but as I looked out the window, it was just a lost villager.
   I slumped back into my seat, continuing to eat my noodles. The soup was cold, but I ate it anyway.
   Suddenly, I heard a knocking on the door. I opened it, and saw Keesa, gasping for breath.
   "What happened?" I asked, alarmed.
   "Nothing bad.... but we have to go to the volcano! The light is shining!" She asked, and in all the past months, I finally smiled.

             ❂The End❂

You may listen to this song while reading this chapter... I DO NOT OWN THIS!:

Chapter XIX

Ally




   "No." Rina said, then turned to me. "Now, shall we get you ready? Or do you want to wait 10 minutes?"
   "10 minutes, please." I squeaked.
   Keesa, Will, and I all moved away from the volcano until we were halfway down the mountain. We sat down, and Rina threw a large box at us. Will caught it, then opened it up.
   He took the food out: butter-cakes and three packets of unicorn tea with a hint of raspberry. We took one each, and slowly snacked on it.
   "Too bad you couldn't stay with us..." Will said, while sipping the unicorn tea. He threw his butter-cake away. "It would've been awesome."
   "I just wanted to see my mom and dad again.... I miss them terribly." I said, and sipped my packet of tea until it shriveled up.
   Keesa ripped her butter-cake in half from anger. "It's not fair!"
   "What's not fair?" I asked. "Is it that I can't stay human?"
   Keesa's face softened, then felt something in her pocket. I saw string peep out of her pocket, but she pushed it in quickly, hoping that no one saw it. But I did.
   "The boy... I'm sure he's fine." I reassured her. "He's free of Aku, and he's in that good place Up There.
   Keesa remained quiet, and I only let her be.
   "Ally?" Will asked, and took out his gun. I tensed. "Kill yourself. Now."
   Keesa and I froze. Keesa angrily pulled out her knife, and knocked Will to the ground, trapping him with the sharp blade.
   "Who do you think you are, first helping Ally and then telling her to shoot herself?"  Keesa said, gritting her teeth.
   "Why not kill herself now, so you'll just be put out of misery instead of waiting in that crystal?" Will said. I became angry too, but as I took out my sword, Will pushed the knife away from his neck, then cut my forehead.
   "At least I won't die!" I snapped. "And when I'm back from my idle stage, hopefully my you'll be there so I can rip your throat out for telling me to go suicidal!" I paused, waiting for a comeback. Will couldn't speak. "Some friend you are."
   I drew out my sword just in case, then began to eat my butter-cake. Will snatched the knife from Keesa's hand, then pierced me butter-cake, then threw it away.
   "You think you can eat your way through problems?!" Will exploded, his face turning bright red. "NO!"
   I grabbed my sword and Will took out his gun, but before I did my attack, Keesa somehow stopped it with her bare hands. Keesa first glared at Will, then at me. She threw my sword down at the ground, clenching her hurt hand.
   "And we shouldn't let Ally turn crystal with a fight. Enough said." Keesa said.
   "2 more minutes, guys!" I heard Rina say.
   I only stared at Keesa's hurt hand. She didn't even look like it was bothering her! And how could she stop my sword if it was going so fast? I closed my eyes, then took a deep breath.
   "I think... I should give you guys something. Just before I turn... into the ice." I said, and untied my hair, using the necklace's old chain. I gave that to Keesa. I turned to Will. His eyes were still mad, but he seemed to try and let go of the argue. I took out a weathered, kind of red chef hat. It was Chef's.
   "How did you...?" Will said, his eyes beaming.
   "Let's see that I took it from Chef's head, just before we ran into the lich." I grinned.
   "Time's up. Come on."
   We all slowly walked up the mountain again. We stopped at the peak once again, and it was time to say our good-byes.
   Keesa was breaking into tears. "Please... please awaken again. You're like my younger sister."
   "I promise." I said, and we gave each other a tight hug.
   I turned to Will, and his nose was a bright red as if to run away from his tears. I shifted position awkwardly, since we just fought.
   "I'm... I'm sorry." Will said. "I didn't want you... I mean, a human, to leave... the people again."
   I took this in, wondering why Will was turning red and stammering his words. Then, Will gave me a hug too. A heartwarming hug.
   "Let's... just start the process now." I said, looking down.

Chapter XVII

Keesa








    There stood our past savior of Lynara. I never knew that Bondrum's shaman was... Rina's ghost.
   We all bowed down, the Fire Spirit standing next to Rina.
   "You mustn't bow to me, for I am long dead. Once I bring Ally alive again, you must bow to her, for she will defeat evil." Rina said, and we all stood straight.
   "Ah, Rina." The Fire Spirit said. "It has been long before we met again,"
   Rina nodded. "Yes. I was killed as I killed the shadow. But a part of it must've survived, from the looks of it." She turned to us, her dark blue hair wrapping around her yellow sun dress. "It is time to heal Ally."
   Rina took Ally's paw. She paused. "Because she was cursed by fire, healing her would grant her the ability to conjure up fire." We all nodded.
   Rina smiled, then whispered words that I couldn't understand. Then, Ally rose into the air, a red light coming from her, blinding all of us. It dimmed after what felt like an hour, and there lay Ally.

  Will






  Ally looked different somehow. Maybe more royal? I could only watch Ally laying on the ground, wearing a red sweater and maroon shorts. I grinned as Ally's eyes began to flutter open, showing her crystal blue eyes once again. She groaned as she stood up, but her face lit up as she saw all of us... and that she saw her skin again.
   "Hey!" Ally said, beginning to run toward us. But she winced, clutching her stomach, showing the wound she had obtained.
   Rina floated to Ally, and took out a bowl that was kept in her shawl. She picked a fire blossom and mashed it up with a rounded stick, then took out a pouch that was magical. She took out a bottle of boiling water, and added it in the bowl. Then, Rina took dried leaves and sprinkled them on top while saying murmured words. The water began to glow dimly, and Rina fed it to Ally.
   "This... tastes horrible." Ally grimaced. I saw that her wound had faded away.
   "Ah, but you feel better now. And aren't you ready to continue the battle with the greatest evil in Lynara?" The Fire Spirit asked, her eyes shining.
   Ally shrugged. "I guess."
   Rina took out Ally's sword, and laid it out in front of her. Ally took it willingly, then looked around to see where the shadow could pop out at any moment.
   "We'll help you," Keesa said, before the battle began.


  Ally






   I can't help but show off how better I was, now that I could do better blows and such. The shadow--Aku--seemed way more better than when I was a wolf. He fought more faster and agile, while I counterattacked his blows.
   "You make me laugh," Aku said in his creepy, warped voice. "When is your real strike?"
   I gritted my teeth. "Right about..."
   I jumped way up and drove my sword through his head, which had a feeling of stabbing extremely thick jell-o. Then, I lost grip of my sword and flew into the volcano's crater, just barely holding grip at the edge. I looked down and saw bright molten rock, while my feet were dangling. I tried to pull myself up, but I sensed the ground would get too crumbly from applied pressure.
   "Help!"
   The first person I saw was Keesa, followed by Will. Keesa took my left arm while Will took my right. They tried pulling me up, but a part of the seared ground began to shift, and we stayed in the same position.
   "Hang on, Ally!" Keesa told me, using her free hand to remove the ribbon in her hair and tie it around her thigh and around a sturdy rock. She stood up and began to pull with her arm and leg.
   Will turned around. "You better help us!"
   "I'm coming!" Said the boy who had used to be the leader of all Unbornes. But then, I heard a cry coming from him. Keesa finally hauled me up, and we saw the boy being thrown far by the shadow, and tumbling down until he used his hands to slow him down.
   "No!" I yelped.
   Aku only sneered at us, as if he thought that I was foolish. I wasn't.
   I threw myself at Aku, jabbing my sword into his heart. His face went pale. I jumped off, and turned on my heels.
   "Don't think it ends here!" Aku said, breathing heavily. "My blood will go over this land!"
    Then, Aku's eyes turned dull. I knew he was definitely dead, even though his eyes were still open.
   We all took a deep breath, one that was extremely quiet, just as a gentle breeze blew.

Chapter XVIII

Ally






   I could only watch the shadow dissolve until he was so small, you couldn't even see him, leaving behind my sword. I carefully picked it up, and Keesa gave me a pat on the back.
  The sky was an orange purple... the perfect color for sunset. Pink clouds seemed like floating cotton candy. The grass below was a deep green; the color of jade. The flaming forest seemed to glow from the fire, while the regular forest looked more serene. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen... it seemed like a curse was lifted.
   "Ally... the boy." Will pointed to a limp body on the steep slope, covered in scratches and cuts.
   We slowly walked over to him. I looked a little closer, then gasped. That was the boy in my vision! The blackness around him must've been his initial Demon Lord self, and he was waiting to get out!
   Rina and the Fire Spirit, who were hiding in the volcano, came out, then studied us. Rina could only touch the boy's face, which was extremely pale.
   "Is he.... dead?" I asked in a small voice.
   The boy opened his eyes, and his breathing was ragged. "It's ok," He wheezed. "At least, I'm free from Aku."
   "Can we help him?" Keesa asked.
   "Put his suffering to an end," Was the only words Rina could speak.
   The Fire Spirit held up a long, woven cloth. Keesa took this, knowing it was the boy's weaved life. She wove some more, then tied it up with a large yank. At that moment, the boy's breathing stopped, and he stared blankly at the sky.
   For once, I took pity on him. All this time, he was just a puppet for Aku. When he was finally free, he just... died. He didn't have a chance to recover. Aku just used him, then threw him away in the trash, like someone ditching his favorite toy for a new one.
   "Let's go." I said, standing up.

                                                                  ~❂~


    "No, we can't go." The Fire Spirit said, and Will, Keesa, and I turned our heads in surprise.
   "Why? We defeated Aku! Ally's human again! Wouldn't that break her spell?" Will snapped.
   "Yes, but sadly, that doesn't make the curse go away. Making her human again only gave her one more day." The Fire Spirit.
   I checked my palm, and gasped, seeing the marking seared right on my skin. I balled my hand into a fist, feeling frustrated. Then, I felt my eyes water up, but I blinked them away. Ugh! I had to turn into that ice thing!
   "But..."
   "I'm sorry. I wish you could stay with you friends, but you can't. Rules are rules." Rina said.
   "Can we find a loophole of some sort?" I asked.
   "No,"
   This time, I really did begin to softly cry. I didn't want to gain eternal life! All I wanted to do was at least go home to Oregon again and see my mom and dad. They're probably worried sick about me!
   "Please," Will said to the Fire Spirit and Rina, while giving me a soft pat on the back. "Isn't there another way?"

Chapter XVI

Will




   Was... Ally dead?
   I kept seeing what the shadow did with Ally... I needed to avenge her. I took out my guns out shot him repeatedly, and he fell over, black ooze spilling everywhere.
   The boy the shadow came out of finally opened his eyes. Color returned to his skin, and in an instant, he knifed the fallen shadow and kicked him into the volcano.
   "He'll come back," The boy told me, looking at his arms once again, seeing a light tan color instead of an indigo color. "I haven't killed him."
  He turned to Ally. "Thank you. I feel like I've known you before, ever since I saw you. You've somehow helped me get my sanity back, after being kidnapped by the shadow."
   I noticed his face looked grim, then he turned away. Keesa came back the the necklace, except the flame seemed more uncontrollable. Keesa whispered words into it, and the flame emerged out of the glass, forming into a beautiful bird of fire. It was the Fire Spirit, the most holiest and powerful in Lynara.
   "Fire Spirit! Help us!" Keesa cried. "Our savior of the land... she's possibly dead."
   The Fire Spirit turned to the wolf. Her wing that looked like the color of the sun touched her, and held her in her wing. A red color stained her golden wing, but it didn't seem like she cared. She put Ally down, and shook her head.
   "This heroine... she's severely injured. Her body is losing a lot of blood. She won't make it." The Fire Spirit said.
   "Please help her!" The boy said. "The shadow might come back any moment, and we don't have the stuff to defeat it!"
   "The shadow's name is Aku. And even I can't even destroy that evil spirit."
   The Fire Spirit closed her eyes, and a bright light lit up the world, destroying the super-cell. The light grew smaller and smaller, until it was only taller than us by half a foot. The light faded, and there stood a woman, tall and pale with hair the color of fire. She wore an orange dress with a red gem in the center, and a halo formed of fire appeared above her.
   "I'll try healing her, but I assure you it won't work." The Fire Spirit said. She walked up to Ally, and held her paw.
   "Please still be alive." I heard Keesa and the boy whisper, and I found myself saying it too.
   A dim light grew where the Fire Spirit touched, and the light went across Ally's leg and filled in where her veins were. When it was complete, the light faded, but Ally was still idle. A tear fell from my eye. Our whole world will soon be shrouded in darkness once again.
  The Fire Spirit seemed solemn too. Fire blossoms sprouted around her, and we all knelt down, waiting for the shadow to come.
   "Do not fear, my people." A ghostly voice said. I turned my head, and saw the shaman, wearing a hood over her. I suddenly saw her wrinkled skin turn smooth. Her matted hair looked as if she brushed it without using anything! The shaman removed her hood, and there stood the ghost of Rina.

Chapter XV

Ally






   "Ha! I knew it! You'd never make it, never make it in time!" The Demon Lord boasted.
   Shut your pie hole. I wanted to say.
   "And where is Will? Too scared to fight me?" He continued, and turned to the weak Keesa. "And Keesa, the one who was too soft to cut my string of life!"
   Keesa wiped soot off her face. "I would've, but your string was too shadow-infused that I couldn't bear even looking at it!"
   The Demon Lord walked only a yard to the very top. We followed aggressively. Then, Keesa fell to the ground, coughing hard.
   "Ah, yes. You were too dumb enough to realize that this volcano's ashes is like venom to a lung." The Unborne boy only put his hand to the side, and a force pinned Keesa up to a wall of air. "Now, where was that battle?"
   I growled, my tail low. I aimed for the neck, but the demon boy only grabbed me by my scruff. I tried biting him, but stopped as he took out a glass vial of water.
   "Good." The Demon Lord put the glass vial away, then took out a whistle. He blew into it, then the phoenix appeared out of the volcano's crater, and screeched loudly. "I captured the phoenix, just in case you reached this place in... a more human form."
  I only growled, but I saw this glass vial, and kept quiet. He took the phoenix. The phoenix could've helped me!
   "Ally..." Keesa said, covering her mouth and nose. "The phoenix... it's a fake."
   I turned my head again, and saw a hologram's elements. I turned to the Demon Lord, then pounced on him, biting him and scratching him.
   "At least it's too late now!" The Demon Lord laughed. "The necklace you wore was containing the phoenix! But you must've broken it, leaving the phoenix's soul shattered and unable to renew itself!"
   A wind howled, dusting the ash off. I stopped. What? The whole time... I  could've just used it and instantly be worry-free!
   I bit the Demon Lord again, catching him by surprise and dropping Keesa to the ground. She tumbled down for a few moments, then she gasped in pain.
   "Ally... I'll get the... neck..." I knew she wanted to finish the word, but her death bell had rung. She was dead. And so was Will.
   You absolute monster! I barked, tears streaming from my eyes. You killed my friends! My best friends! You ruined my life, you no-good PYSCO! 
  I lunged at him again, but he only dodged. I slashed at his heart area, and that's when things started to get funky.
  The Demon Lord collapsed on the ground, and a thick, black fog poured out of his wound. Then, a shadow that looked like death formed into a boar-like figure. I looked to the Demon Lord, and saw a regular boy covered in wounds, looking extremely pale.
   The shadowy figure laughed in a warped voice, sending a shiver up my spine. It charged at me, but I jumped onto its back and bit it several times, then clawed his face until black ooze shot out.
   The shadow tossed me off, and I landed onto the ooze that burned my skin. I jumped back out and gripped the shadow's tail, and being a shadow, it fell right off.
   I could only climb its back and stay there for as long as it took, feeling ill to make another attack. The shadow tossed me off, then trampled me repeatedly. The shadow then took form as a humanoid, black fog twisting and turning around him.
   "You pathetic fool!" The shadow laughed. "Rina only barely defeated me! Do you not know my power? I created this world, only to destroy it clean! You are only a small bump in the road, so let me kill you!"
   A black sword appeared in his hand, and cut me all over. I whimpered, feeling the pain cover me like a blanket.
   Then, I heard the sound of a gun firing. It was Will! He was alive!
   "Ally..." The ash had been blown off clean, so he didn't get affected. "Hang in there."
   The shadow hissed words I couldn't understand, then charged at Will, attempting to stab him. Will dodged, then shot the bullet several times.
   Suddenly, Keesa's body moved. Her eyes fluttered open, and a light appeared in the middle of her shirt, cleansing her face from ash and soot. As it faded away, Keesa took out a knife and stabbed the shadow right in the chest.
   My mind was light-headed from the loss of blood, but I lunged at the shadow and bit where Keesa struck. The black ooze poured out, then rose up to the sky and created a black super-cell. Instead of a column of rain, red and blue tongues of lightning reached down to the earth. Thunder boomed loudly.
   I saw the figure of what used to be the Demon Lord, turning on his back, looking beaten and looked like his life force was sucked out of him.
   I felt a powerful force emitting from him, his eyes red with fury.
   "Fools! You think you can only kill me like that?" His sword glinted in the darkness. He managed to quickly lunge and cut my shoulder.
   Someone get the necklace. I said, gritting my teeth.
   Will seemed to understand, and he told Keesa to get the necklace and that there somehow weren't any Unbornes in the way. Keesa nodded, and slipped away unseen.
   I lunged at the shadow again, and bit him. I quickly moved away from where I landed, the ground crumbling into the magma.
   I charged at the shadow again, missing this time. I felt an extremely large pain in my back, then the black sword was stuck right in front of me so I could see what had happened. My vision faltered for a moment, then went black.

Chapter XIII

Keesa






   Sometimes, you had to risk it for a biscuit.
   That's when I finally let Will go suicidal. I knew he was just trying his best not to lose time, and I totally respected that. But, I knew that he was the last of the Samtons, and if he lost the battle, he'll be a soldier that was never known to be dead.
  Ally was shuddering deep breaths. The sleeve I had given her was beginning to soak up. I wanted to clean it with the water, but she wasn't compatible with that now.
   "Hang on," I told her.
   I watched Will reach the area with the charred rocks. Fiery logs were rolling down, but Will jumped over them with the correct timing. I watched him go up to the first Unborne. He managed to shoot a couple of bullets, but then got whacked by the face, gaining a bruise. He shot the Unborne right into the heart, and black ooze dripped out. Then, the demon sank into the ground in ear piercing screams. Will went up into a cluster of demons, but I knew that it was too much. They all threw Will to the ground, and cut him with extremely sharp and black spears. My muscles tensed. Did he make it?
   No.
   There was Will, gasping for breath and bleeding. A few of the Unbornes were slain, but the rest kept pummeling him to the daeth. I wanted to help, but Ally would be exposed to being captured in her deep sleep.
   Ally suddenly moved her hand, reaching up to her necklace. She squeezed the gem as best as she could, and a dim light lit up the necklace, runes made of fire beginning to float around her. Then, the runes shattered, and Ally's hand went back onto the charred ground.
   I heard screams, and turned to the demons. They were all sinking into the ground, dropping black water and tried pushing themselves back up.
   Will limped back to me and Ally, but he was really hurt. He stumbled into the water, staining it red and brown from dirt and wounds.
   "I told you," I whispered.
   "It doesn't matter." Will answered, cleaning his wounds with the water. "As soon as I'm perfectly healed again, I'll go back up and kick their butts.
   Ally was twisting and turning again, and I tensed up. What was she going to do this time?

   Ally






   It was chasing me.
   I ran over the charred rocks, near the volcanic peak. Could it fall and die in lava? No! It was always getting power from the molten rock.
   I continued running away, and finally dove into the volcano, hitting lava and making a huge splash.
   I swam deeper into the magma, until I finally was inside the earth's layers. I waited uneasy, and heard the call of the creature... the monster!
   I suddenly saw its scary face, and squeezed my eyes shut.

   Keesa






   Ally was beginning to whimper now, and her eyes finally fluttered open. She seemed extremely scared.
   "Will, don't leave me." She said in a small voice. "Something bad will happen."
   Will was clearly shocked by the fact, then shook his head. "No, soldier. I'll have to leave you. And Keesa."
   Will climbed up the volcano again, this time in soaking wet clothing. He shot every Unborne through the heart, and they all sunk. Ally shifted position, uneasy and frightened.
   "What's wrong?"
   "Something.... something scary! Something I don't know." Ally replied.
   I just frowned at her, then shook my head. "Let's just follow Will,"
   Ally dusted herself off as soon as she stood up. We turned to the volcano peak.
   "This is it," Ally whispered. "We're almost there."
   I could only nod. I couldn't believe that we were almost done with our mission. It seemed like Ally was just... here. And without my best friend, the only friend I've ever had, I'd continue my boring life ending people's lives. Why.... why couldn't I just kill myself? Everyone then would always have eternal life? I just...
  "Huff!"
  I tripped on a rock, ending my train of thoughts. Will helped me up, who apparently decided to wait for us.
  "I just can't believe we've come all this far, and we actually have a chance to finish something that we started." I tried to say, but they didn't get me. Well I didn't want to waste the moment.
  We continued walking.
  Ally began to whimper again. This time, I got a little frustrated, and kicked her to keep moving. Ally finally knelt over, whimpering. Will came over to her aid, but a force of fire blew him over. Ally was shuddering deep breaths, slowly turning into it. She screamed a little at this point, making me and Will feel for her.
  We come all this way.... for nothing.

Chapter XIV

Ally






   I was exactly the creature I've seen in my nightmare: Something similar to a Kage, except with orangey fur and white markings all over it. I felt like I was surrounded by a moving chain of dancing flames, red-hot tongues dancing in the air and turned black flames for a brief second, but turned blue and back to red. The necklace I had worn around my neck was somehow on my right paw, tied around it like an anklet. Keesa screamed in horror.
   "Oh, Ally!" Will sobbed, and I licked his hand (I didn't like it, but felt like an instinct), but he jolted back, and I realized that I was just a wolf forged out of evil demonic flames.
   I promise I'll never try to hurt you, I tried to say with my eyes. I promise I'll never become a part of the evil Unborne, whom I'll never dare wish to see once again!
   "Ally..." Keesa took a deep breath. Was I really that horrible? "We have to hurry. You've only just been a fire-wolf-thing recently! Perhaps it's not too late, and the Phoenix will help you! You are now a complete being of fire." She paused for a moment. "Perhaps fires help fires!"
   I hope, I thought. But let's hurry!
   I automatically assumed that Keesa and Will understood what I said. Keesa untied the necklace on my paw, and threw it away into the fiery woods. I whined, remembering how comfy it felt on my paw.
   "Ally, that necklace was only before you turned into your... wolf state. It'll never help you now, so why use it?" Will said, and we began to trot up the volcano, keeping quiet and going way around the demons.
   A large ledge hung before us, too high enough for us to reach. I whimpered, and wagged my tail, which began to catch on fire from the swirling flames.
   Great. Just great. Now how are we gonna reach the top? I rolled my eyes.
   "Erm," Will mumbled. He put one foot on a narrow ledge, then his other foot on a sturdy, burnt tree root.
   Come on! I barked excitedly, and ran in a circle for a brief moment.
   Will put his feet on small ledges and roots, climbing up until he met the top. But the tall ledge was so high, we didn't see two Unbornes waiting on the top, who must've saw us from below!
   One Unborne kicked Will down, and he quickly caught hold on the ledge. The other demon stepped on his fingers... hard.
   "You're a soldier, Will!" Keesa encouraged, trying to hide me from the Unbornes. "Being stepped on is only just a minor part!"
   I saw Will grit his teeth, and I very softly barked, quiet enough that I could barely hear it.
   Will took out a small pocket knife he never used, and managed to cut the Unborne. That demon rapidly began to lose black drops of liquid, and in a rage, both of the Unbornes hit Will so hard, he was launched off and twisted down the mountain and into the pool of pure water, covered in bruises and cuts.
   Keesa clearly showed fury. "They've killed him!" She quietly told me, wiping streaming tears from her eyes. "My only friend...."
   We'll avenge him! I promised, and I tried using the ledges this time.
   "Ally! You're the one the Unborne want now!" Keesa hissed.
   I bit onto the tree rote, which tasted foul. The flames that whirled around me disappeared, and I realized I could make them appear when I wanted them too.
   I hauled my foreleg on the highest ledge I could reach, then pulled my whole body up onto the ledge. The disgusting demons grinned at me, the smiles devilish and hungry for my power I held.
   "So you're the reincarnation of Rina, the girl who had killed our race! It was lucky enough No... blast it! I almost told you my beloved leader's name!"
   I growled at him, and the flames swirled around me. I jumped onto his back, and bit his neck several times, fury entering my vision. I felt bloodthirsty, like I had a desire to kill, like a regular wolf.
   The other Unborne could only stare at my in horror, but I showed no mercy. I bit his neck several times too, this time using my flames to bury him in fire while I chomped.
   Keesa peeked her head out, and my vision turned to normal. Was that my new vision, and not the fire blossoms and Phoenix?
   We rested on the ledge, Keesa panting from the heat and I panting from the energy I used up. I lay down, wishing to be my old self once again.
   For once, I've never felt so miserable. Sure, the times when I thought about my mark made my tear up, but now I was a different person. I was a wolf for crying out loud. I was a wolf that was supposed to be forged out of demonic flames. Will was dead. Keesa was possibly dying from the heat. The Demon Lord was probably waiting at the top, and see me that I've lost my battle with the curse.
  Suddenly, a large boom was heard ahead. I looked up and saw an ash cloud being sputtered from the crater, and white ash danced all the way down the volcano. Amazingly, the ash didn't go where me and Keesa was.
  "Ally..." Keesa murmured. "Let's stay here for a moment." She coughed. "I wanna rest. It's really hot here."
   I didn't feel the heat at all, because I was a flame, myself. I curled up into a ball, and while Keesa took a nap, I cried silently. I couldn't sleep at all. I just couldn't. My heart felt like it was going to burst, and felt like it was filled with molten rock.

                                                                           ~❂~

    Keesa opened her eyes. The ash that had started off had accumulated while she slept, but luckily stopped.
    "Oh, sorry. Didn't know that I had slept for a few hours." Keesa mumbled.
    We set off again, and this time a little bit more slower, since Keesa grew weak and the ash was slippery.
    "I'm sorry that I let you down," Keesa told me as we took wide paths around the demons. "I just can't really take the fact off that we couldn't get here sooner,"
    I forgot for a moment that I couldn't speak, and my apology came out as a bark and yawn.
    Keesa laughed for a moment. "And you're probably upset that Will died, too. I wish he was only just majorly hurt and survived. But that stuff only happens in the movies. Reality isn't a movie.
   But it could be a book! I thought. Books are just stories of something that could be real, in another world. They either have happy or sad endings. Perhaps our book shall have a happy ending, as most books do.
   "I agree," Keesa said, after studying my eyes for a decent period of time. "Maybe Will Samton is the one to have  happy ending."
   My tail wagged, and now with a fresh wave of energy, we ran faster to the summit. Closer and closer we went, the ash getting more slippery the higher up we went. Then, I got hit by a powerful blow, injuring my left foreleg. I turned my head. There was the Demon Lord.

Chapter XII

Somewhere else....


  "They're almost here to find out the truth," The figure said, clearly mourning. "Alas, it shall be sad in the end."
  "But Madame," Another figure said, having the voice of a boy. "She will make it. I absolutely know it!"
  "Have you developed softness instead of no mercy?" The figure asked, sneering at the thought. "No! We shall wait and see."

  Ally





   I stopped at the border where trees turned into bare, black trees carrying soot and ash. I took a deep breath, feeling heat.
   "We're getting closer." Will pointed up at the distance, where a volcano full of Unborne, towered over.
   "And soon we'll know if Ally will die or gain eternal life." Keesa replied in a tiny voice.
   I could only nod, then checked my marking. It kind of looked like a '❂' overlapping an eye that was halfway 'open'.
   "Only 12 more hours until it's your doom." Will said, shaking his head. "Don't panic."
   "I promise." I could only reply.
   We continued to run through the fiery forest. I touched the black bark, and suddenly felt a new burst of energy. Suddenly, I got extremely thirsty. At the very end of the trail there was a giant white glass flower with a golden tree sapling, dangling a pearl. It was filled up with cleansed water, making me get thirstier even more.
   "Water!" Will gasped, and he went after it, followed by Keesa. Then, a strange trance came over me, and I ran after them.
   You'll have to pay for what you do. I heard the phoenix say.
   I didn't bother listening. I was so thirsty! I just needed one little sip; just one lick of water.
   Keesa and Will loaded their mouths with water, and after satisfaction, they happily rested their feet. Suddenly, they saw me charging at the water, and their eyes suddenly brightened as if they were broken from a spell.
   "NO, ALLY! DON'T!" I heard Keesa say.
   She tried to block me, but I was catching on fire from my longing. Then, I dived into the water, and felt instant pain.
   "You're a human form of fire!" Keesa said. "You've touched water! You'll die!"
   I reached the surface, and paddled towards the ground. I felt like I was out of the spell, but my breathing grew ragged and raspy.
   Will lifted me out of the water, and Keesa left to grab branches on fire.
   You now have to do the consequences.
   I slowly lost consciousness, but Will kept shaking me.
   "No Ally, no!" Will's eyes filled up with tears, but not from the fact I was going to go 'extinguish', but because we came all this way for nothing, and that the Unborne will never be stopped for another million years. The people will be murdered, and all because of my greed for water. I was too dumb enough to know that even under spells, I had to know I couldn't touch water.
   "Ally!" Keesa said, and threw the fiery branches right onto me, the water drying up. But, water had soaked into my body, and we couldn't get it out unless I pricked myself.
   That was it!
   I sat up as fast as I could, and took a sharp branch. I let the sharp edge go into my skin, and took it out fast enough so that I couldn't add any more pain.
   Water seeped out mixing with blood, and it was kinda like squeezing water out of a sponge. I pricked myself again, and felt myself relax more.
   "Ally. You're going suicidal." Keesa said, and ripped out a piece of her sleeve then tied it around my arm.
  "We have to take as much rest as she could until Ally recovers." Will told Keesa, as I slowly closed my eyes for rest.
   "I know! But like you said, it'll take 12 hours before her doom. It'll take like 10 hours before full recovery." Keesa said.
   I heard a pause, and felt as if Will was thinking really hard. "Then, that's it. I'll just have to try and kill as much demons as I can, and then Ally would recover on the way up without worrying to fight anyone."
  "Will, as much as I hate your guts, you can't die!" I heard Keesa say. "You're like the last of the Samton's! Your brother is dead, your mother and father are either dead or an Unborne, and then you'll die too?"
  There was another pause.
  "I don't care. All we need is Ally alive!" Will said, and that's when I fully fell asleep.

Chapter XI

  Ally






   The lich stumbled into the lava. I grabbed a hold of my sword, and pulled it out. I jumped out of the molten rock, just as the earth closed up again. I looked around, and saw Will and Keesa... gone.
   My whole enter body went into shock. Of course! The lich made them a part of them. The lich was like a voodoo doll to them, and they were the people that took the affect!
   "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I said, breaking down. Suddenly, I saw the phoenix in my vision, and then felt a glowing aura within me.
   Heal them. I heard the phoenix say. I am with you.
   I first touched Keesa's forehead, and saw the cut I had done with the sword. It melted away, and Keesa sat up, dazed.
   Then, I touched the sear marks all over Will's skin. The magma had burned him to his death. I heard a sizzling noise, like boiling water dousing a fire, and saw the sear marks vanish.
   Good, I heard the phoenix say. I'll be waiting.
   The vision went away, and Keesa and Will gave me a soft pat on the back. Then, a horrible thought struck me: What happened to the helicopter?
   As if life answered my question, I heard a loud explosion. I looked up and saw pieces of the copter spiraling down to the grass.
   "Now how we can there get faster?" I screamed in frustration.
    "We'll run," Will answered simply. "It'll be our fastest way, now."
    Keesa agreed. "M-hm! But we should hurry... night's growing."
    I looked up at the sky. It was purple, with streaks of pink cloud. The sun was halfway in touching the ground. I checked my palm, and sighed with relief; it was the same as last time.
   We all began to set foot to the volcano. I kept on thinking... thinking of my parents. I was thinking of the Demon Lord, and what he was probably plotting. I was thinking of Rina, Demica, and Fier. I thought of how this world came into existence, and why there was a fire curse and the only antidote was the phoenix. I thought of before I was cursed, back when I couldn't get into that nearby building in Oregon. Then, I thought of hearing and seeing about 10 people that got in the building, and thought about the fact that I couldn't.
   "Ally?" Keesa asked. "Are... you ok?"
   "I'm fine!" I mumbled back, waking up from my mind. "I was just... wondering."
   "I still can't believe the fact that there is another world besides ours." Will said. "I wonder how much more... magical it is there."
   I instantly thought of Unborne and liches and magic. "Oh, your world is much more magical. Magic never existed in mine."
   "Oh."
   We instantly heard a whirring type of noise, like an electric mixing machine. I turned my head and saw the Demon Lord and two Unborne at his side. I pressed my mouth together, knowing that saying mean things wouldn't help.
   "What do you want?" I moaned.
   "What I want is for you to surrender," The Demon Lord answered casually. "Listen, my whole entire army is marching right up to the peak of the volcano, so if you guys all go there, it'll be... mad."
   "Say, didn't you get hurt?" Keesa asked, tilting her head to one side.
   "Oh, yeah!" The Unborne leader said, smacking his head. "Yeah... but I'm much more stronger than you guys so, surrender now and I'll make you my prisoners for life."
   He paused for a moment.
   "And maybe transform you guys into an Unborne. Ally, I'll just wait for your death toll."
   I turned completely red. "Well, don't start estimating us now! Wait and see! We'll get to the volcano, and kill your whole sorry army!" I smiled mischievously. "Then I'll kick your butt when we fight each other." I nodded. "Yup!"
   The Demon Lord scowled, then punched me in the gut, knocking me over. I stood up and tried to attack back, but Keesa and Will held me back.
   "You... you little clump nugget!" I screamed in disbelief.
   "Well, in order to make me win, I have to make you all shriveled up. The punch was only to catch you off. The rest is just to make you die before you even reach the phoenix." The Demon Lord said, and vanished instantly.
   "What does he mean 'the rest'?" Keesa asked.
   "Look!" Will pointed behind us. I whirled around, and saw a bunch of Kage rising out of the ground.
   The shadow wolves barked furiously, all with sharp ivory teeth. The pack grew more and more, until they crow grew more than 15 meters away. It was horrifying to see bloodthirsty shadow wolves eye on your flesh, and the extra two Unborne were added to the mix.
   "Wanna... run?" I suggested, feeling terrified.
   "Sure!"
   We all ran towards the mountain, as fast as we could, leaping over fallen trees and around mossy rocks. Then, my foot got caught in a root. It was the end!
   "Go on without me!" I said, tugging at the root. It was no use.
   "Then where would we go? The only reason we went here was to help you!" Will said, and took out his gun at the Kage.
   I kept on tugging at the root, and attempted to pull myself out of it.  "Help me! Please!"
   Keesa came to my aid, trying her best to get me out.
   Then, the Kage leaped right at my neck, and for a brief moment, felt the heat of the breath on my skin. I squeezed my eyes, waiting for the bloody kill.
   But nothing happened.
   "Ally! Open your eyes! They were holograms!" Keesa said.
   I opened my eyes and saw the wolves and the two Unborne falter light for a moment, then vanished. Holograms! "Why would the Demon Lord use holograms to tire us out?" I asked out loud.
   "He's probably a scaredy-cat!" Will teased, then tried to get me out.
   "Meanwhile, I'm stuck in this annoying root!" I groaned.
   Keesa looked at Will's gun. Then, she whipped it out of his pocket and aimed it at the root. I stared at her alarmingly.
   "No! No, no, no! You're gonna kill me!" I said.
   "Relax, I can slow it down."
   Keesa whipped out a piece or glass coated with plastic. Then, she shot the bullet at the glass, shards splintering out, then hit the root. The root seemed to whine, then pulled into the ground. I wiggled my foot around, then stood up, saying thanks.
   The glass shards automatically pieced together again, and flew into Keesa's pocket. I stared at it, amazed.
   "Well, let's hurry!" Will announced, and we all hurriedly set off to the volcano.

Chapter X

    Keesa








    I saw Will's jaw drop. I found mine drop, too. Did.... the driver in the chopper push Chef and the Demon Lord out of the chopper?
   "I guess we have a new ally," Will said, slouching in his seat.
   "Why are you so grumpy?" I snapped. "More allies means more strength."
   "I KNOW!" Will snapped back. "I just don't like the fact that whoever it is just randomly gets here."
   "Go contact the driver, soldier." I rolled my eyes, and Will put on headphones, then pressed a button.
    Will coughed for a moment, then spoke. "DRIVER! WHOEVER YOU ARE, JUST GO AND GIVE ALLY BACK TO US!"
   I heard a voice over the loud speaker. "Alright, fine."
   Will's eyes widened as the gloved hand with Ally just dropped her. She was still unconscious, but seemed like she was about to wake up. I had to rescue her before she sees this real-life nightmare!
   Will took the control stick while I got some skydiving gear made of fur. I gave a thumbs-up to Will, then jumped down.

    Will






   I squeezed the control stick. This was just another test I creamed to train for the military.
   The chopper swerved down, then corkscrewed, shooting the other copters cleanly.
   "You Unborne's too scared to fight a boy? Be a man, I say!" I teased gleefully.
   My heart suddenly stopped as I saw the Demon Lord, continuing to fall in his unconsciousness. He had someone else on his hands, probably. But for once, I decided to help him... but if I fly under him, he'll be chopped into a bunch of disgusting pieces.


   Ally








    I opened my eyes, seeing clouds above me, and distant land below me. I screamed in terror. Didn't someone catch me?! This is messed up!
   "Ally!"
   I saw Keesa skydiving toward me. We joined hands, and Keesa pulled the cord. Then, I saw Will doing crazy steering.
   "What are you doing?" I asked, yelling at the top of my lungs.
   "Ally!" Will said. "I'm saving the Demon Lord!"
   My mouth was a straight line. "But, Will! He's the enemy!"
   My vision was suddenly filled with pictures of fire blossoms and the phoenix. Water  was poured on them, making my heart twist. Then, I had a plan.
   "Keesa! Let go!" I said. "Will! Try blowing the Demon Lord downwards!"
   I felt Keesa let go of me, then Will twisted the copter to make the blades push the Demon Lord down. My vision was still full of doused blossoms, but I got hold of the Demon Lord.
   "Catch me!" I ordered.
   Keesa hung onto the helicopter, then managed to grab my shirt. She hauled me into the copter, and we all panted heavily.
   "Why... did you want to save him?" I asked Will.
   "The boy who caught you, then tried to kill you, wasn't with the Demon Lord. It's best we try to get the Unborne on our side, and fight whatever the boy's side is."
   "No," Keesa shook her head. "We can't trust the Unborne. They're flipping evil!"
   "I agree," I said, and felt where my heart was. I coughed a little, then checked my palm. It was uncontrollably too advanced.
   I'm panicking. I told myself. The mark will advance if I don't stop worrying.
   "We'll set him down on the ground, and we'll use the chopper to get to the volcano." I said.
   "Agreed," Keesa and Will said.

                                                         ~❂~

   I set the Demon Lord gently on the ground. He seemed badly cut, as if the boy who 'saved' me gave him a few good blows.
   "Let's hurry," Will said, and we loaded back into the copter.
   I buckled my seat-belt, and Keesa went into the passenger seat. Will took the controls, and we hovered back into the air. Staying close to the ground, we headed off toward the volcano. I couldn't stop thinking of my mark. It just looked so horrible, I wanted to throw up!
   Worrying, I reminded myself. Must not worry.
   "It'll be alright," Will said, as if reading my thoughts. "Just don't think about it."
   I could only take a deep breath. We inched closer to the volcano, and I took a deep breath. Suddenly, a gigantic shadowy creat.
   ure popped out from beneath the ground.
  The earth trembled as the shadowy creature roared, revealing a green clock and decaying skin. The eyes were only hallow sockets with a green light floating in it. the skin near it's lips were ripped, showing yellow colored teeth.
   "A lich!" Keesa shrieked. "How the kazoo did it get here?"
   The lich grabbed the helicopter, and shook it around. I grabbed onto my seat for security. "What do you mean?"
   "Liches only live near the Mysterious Lands!" Will said, trying to shoot the decaying skin.
   "Liches can possess your bodies, too!" Keesa said. "Never touch it!"
   I nodded, shaking all around. The face looked so horrid! It was a decaying, gigantic creature I never wanted to see!
   The glass from the windows shattered. The lich's fingers poked around in it, trying to touch us. I screamed, and unbuckled my belt. I hung onto the top most parts, dangling on the little pipe.
   "Help!"
   I suddenly saw Keesa and Will slipping and sliding on the flooring. Then, The lich touched both of them at once.
   "No!" I screamed.
   My friends' eyes turned emotionless and dull. I saw the same green light in their eyes, then they stared at me eerily.
   Face it. I told myself. Your best friends are gone.
   The lich laughed evilly, and Keesa and Will began to walk eerily toward me. I took out my sword, and tried to slice and dice them.
   Will took out his gun. My heart pounded so hard, I almost heard it.
    I kept deflecting the bullets. Keesa came, and took out a whip. Where the cabbage did she get that?
   I felt one powerful whipping, then I jumped out of the copter and dived headfirst into the ground. I stood up, a little dizzy, then ran toward the lich.
   "Want a piece of me?!" I asked.
   I dug my sword into the lich's decaying flesh, then threw myself up, quickly taking the sword with me. I plunged my sword right in between his sullen eyes, then was threw off.
   Just as I hit the ground, the lich was screaming in pain, maybe from the attack. It was screaming and shaking all over the place, the earth trembling. The ground split apart, and I saw molten lava. The lich was gonna fall into the lava, taking my sword with it!
   "You're fire now." I reminded myself, and dove into the magma. I immediately felt intense heat, and broke out sweats. I came back to the surface, waiting for my chance to get the sword.
   This is for Will and Keesa!


    "Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here,            and now." -Final Fantasy

Chapter IX

    Ally






   I dreamt of walking on moonlit grass. I could clearly see a volcano in the distance, although much more eruptive than before. I walked towards it, as if in a trance.
   "Come," The magma seemed to say as I got near the volcanic summit. "I have what you seek."
   I slowly put one foot in front of the other, and stopped at the edge of the crater. The magma bubbled fiercely, and I then saw a star fall from the sky. Many stars followed, and around me, little drops of starlight rained down. A sphere rose from the volcano, and exploded with the call of a bird.

    I sat up right away. It was dawn, where the sun was just beginning to stretch out it's first rays of sunlight. The sky was a grayish beige, clouds dotting the sky.
   "Will, wake up," I heard Keesa's voice whisper.
   I slowly rose out of my bed and walked to the other room, where a rice door had crumpled up. Will was snoring, looking miserable from his wounds.
   "Oh, morning Ally." Keesa greeted as soon as she saw me walk in. "Will feels broken. It turns out he also severely injured his leg."
   "The blow knocked him into a wall, debris falling onto him." I said, remembering the moment. I thought about the starlight rain, and the volcano. Maybe it was one of the longer visions, possibly about the future!
   "What time is it?" Will mumbled. "It's death o' clock."
   Keesa tilted her head, concerned. "Will...?"
   Will suddenly sat up, quick and scared. His face relaxed a bit when he saw us. "Oh, phew. I'm still alive. I had a terrible nightmare."
   Before Keesa could react, Will limped up and opened up a closet. There was three sets of separate clothing. We all stared at it.
   "Sicapa must've put it here before she... disappeared." I said. Will nodded.
   I took the set of clothing that was navy blue. Will took one that was green and brown. Keesa took one that was black and crimson.
   "We'll change quickly, and then go to the volcano," Keesa said.
   I nodded, and went back into my room. I shut the rice doors as best as I could, and then slipped on the navy blue fabric. I looked down, and it turned out to be a navy blue dress, with black leggings to run easily in.
   I walked out my room, and saw Keesa putting on a black mini-jacket. She was wearing a red shirt, with black jeans. Will walked in, wearing a green polo shirt and brown pants.
   "Ready?" I asked.
   Will nodded, and Keesa gave me that reassuring smile.
   "This is your 5th day." Keesa said.
   "We'll try our best." Will said.
   We ran out the giant hole the house's entrance was, and across Demica's large field. Up ahead was a black triangular figure, with smoke rising out of it. I shivered, and shook my head. It was fine. I'd make it.
   "Shoot! Hide!" Keesa said.
   I looked up, and saw several black helicopters flying directly towards us. We all ducked behind a boulder, and heard bullets firing, lighting the glass on fire. I turned my head and saw the Unborne flying at Demica's Village, bombing it and causing commotion.
   "They think we're there," Will murmured. "The Demon Lord must've told them."
   I growled. "The little stuck up snot!" I said.
   "The poor villagers," Keesa said in sadness. "They're being harmed!"
   I saw people collapsing on the grass. They were seared and hurt from the impact. It was because of me.
   "I have to save them," I said. "It's my fault."
   I ran up to the village, and yelled with all my might. "Yo indigo babies!" I called. "I'm the one you want!"
   The helicopters hovered for a moment, then began to fly towards me. Bullets flew past me, but I quickly jumped onto a low helicopter's ladder and hauled myself up. I gasped as I saw the person in the helicopter; Chef and the Demon Lord.
   I was too dazed to attack, and fell off the helicopter and onto the hard ground. Bullets nearly hit me, and I was scarred at the new Chef; an Unborne. A much more fit Chef with indigo skin and skinny, sharp teeth. I thought of Will, who was risking his life for me. I needed Will's avenge, and that was enough to boost me with energy.
   I stood up again, and jumped onto another nearby helicopter, and opened the door. I punched the driver out of the helicopter and took the wheel. I shot a rapid fire at the Demon Lord's helicopter, which caught on fire.
   "Ally!" I heard Will and Keesa yell. "Watch out!"
   I looked behind me, and saw the rest of the Unborne fire dozens of attack at me. I screamed in horror, and felt an intense heat. My copter was catching on fire! Wait. I was immune to that junk!
   The helicopter wasn't though, and from way up high, I was plummeting towards the ground.... fast.
   I climbed into the fire, feeling sweat break out. I saw a tank leaking out oil, which the flame's tongues tried to reach. I felt nauseous for a moment, then tried getting the little tunnels leading to the tank to reconnect. It was no use.
   Some more bullets were fired at me, making a large gap in the helicopter. I looked around for any emergency kits, and took a bloodstained kit and opened it up.
   I grabbed the duct tape, and taped the little pipes together. Then, there were the wires.
   I wasn't immune to electricity, which was a problem.
   I gritted my teeth as I grabbed the copper wires, giving me a jolt. I took duct tape and taped them together, and felt a huge headache from the electricity.
   Dodging more attacks, I took the control stick again, and went up, just before I hit the ground. I turned to the other helicopters, and gasped.
   Keesa and Will were climbing onto another helicopter, and then saw a blue figure get pushed out. I smiled, and we hovered next to each other as more of the Unborne charged at us.
   I did a corkscrew and made my bullets go straight through the enemy's engine, making a huge explosion.
   My helicopter swerved down, and I jerked the stick left, then crashed right into a helicopter.
   I shrieked, seeing the glass shatter and felt myself being jerked a whole lot of times, and then a piercing pain.
   My eyes closed as I fell out of the control seat, feeling the pain cover my whole body, knowing it was an Unborne who had attacked me.
   I saw the wrecked helicopter the Demon Lord and Chef was in coming right at me. In a few moments, me and the gun would be aligned, a perfect opportunity to kill me in a second.
   Instead, I was surprised to see Chef being shoved out, then felt a gloved hand catch me.

Chapter VIII

     So I've been thinking (with the help of a friend), I knew I couldn't leave you on chapter 7! No, and the fan fiction? FORGET ABOUT IT! Ok..... I'm very sorry.... so, I decided to CONTINUE MAH STORY! Yay! Go ahead if you're a fan, and cheer! (Do I sound like a loser?) Here's the chapter 8, my best recopy of it!!






    Ally




   I sighed with relief as I saw Will pull himself out of the rubble. He had a twisted ankle, bruises, and a black eye, but seemed strong enough to pull himself up and about. Awesome.
   "I think we have to stay here for a while." I announced.
   "Nooo!!" Will said sarcastically. "You think? Ah, yes! Thinking we have to stay is not cleared enough at all!"
   "And you must've been a military brat when you were in the army," I said. Will shut his mouth. Yes, that was the end of that conversation.
  "Tomorrow will bring us to 3 days before your... transformation." Will said, and took his cousin out of my hands, then laid her on a charred pillow. "You're on pressured time."
   "I know, I know!" I threw my hands onto my ears. "I know that, of course!" I turned to the giant hole in the house. "And I don't need to be reminded."
   "I'm sorry," Will mumbled.
   The sun began to set. The sky was a purplish yellow, which kinda reminded me of the sickening face of the Demon Lord.... although he did look like a human bathing in purple dye.
   "I'll go ask the villagers and see if they have any yummy eats for us," I said. "I mean, we're out of food anyway..."
   "Agreed." Will said, then paused a moment thoughtfully. "Suppose the villagers are scared of you?"
   "Eh, I dealt with them while you were freeing yourself." I said. "But I do think they might be scared of me.... meh! A human's a human!"
   "Why don't I just ask them instead?" Will said, then looked at me with a grimace. "And you're not adorable."
   "Hey!" I snapped. "What's more different from you and me?"
   "You're not... what I say ugly, but you can't beat my pup face!" Will said.
   "You mean dog face." I replied, rolling my eyes. "Just go get the food!"
   Will ran... I mean, limped off into the village. At that moment, Keesa opened her eyes, gasping for breath.
   "Keesa!" I said. "You're awake!"
   "No duh." Keesa replied. "What happened?"
   "Sicapa, I guess, died, and a thing went into you and possessed your bod." I said casually.
   "Oh," Keesa said. "And I guess I tired myself out and the thing went out of me."
   Then I thought of the idea of the Demon Lord in Keesa, and gagged a little. "You know, I think it was the Demon Lord who possessed you."
   Keesa paused, her eyes showing that she was thinking of lots and lots of thoughts. "The Demon Lord.... while I was sleeping, I had a dream... it was far too much to bear. You see, it turns out the Demon Lord was a..."
   "Imma back with a bunch of apples, bread, butter cakes, and... I think it's either fruit punch or berry blood. No one can tell the difference!" Will laughed, bursting into the house. "Who wants to eat outside, like a picnic?"
   "I guess Keesa needs some fresh air," I said, curious on what she was about to say.
   "Alright!" Will said, and we all walked or skipped out of the house and onto a hill that separated our little shelter from the village.
   Will passed out the apples; red for me, Keesa with yellow, and himself with green. Then, Keesa tore the loaf of bread into three separate pieces for us, and the butter cakes were plenty to go around.
  I bit into the apple, juicy with crisp texture. It tasted a bit funny, like the apple's flesh went tart like a cherry, then a bit spicy like cinnamon.
   "What kind of apple is this?" I said, taking another bite. "Red delicious? Fuji? Macintosh?" I asked.
   "Wha?" Keesa asked. "Those names for apples are ridiculous! Who names an apple red delicious? That's plain weird!"
   "You're eating a Cinna-Cherry apple. Best red apple there is! It has the flavor of cinnamon and the nutrients of a cherry, along with the texture and looks of an apple!" Will said, then showed me his apple. "This is a sour apple. It's very sour. I like sour things." Will then showed me Keesa's apple. "She's eating her favorite, a wheat apple. It's juice tastes like grains and cereal."
    "Interesting," I said. "I never heard of these names for apples."
   We all bit into the bread in unison. It tasted perfectly baked; a crunchy, golden outside with soft fluffy-ness on the inside. I curiously took a sip of the juice provided. I instantly tried my best not to gag.
   "This is very.... tart?" I said, then it tasted spicy, then bitter, then salty, and then sweet."
   "Oh, must be berry blood." Keesa explained. "The taste plays on your taste buds, and then puts you right to sleep!" Her expression drastically changed. "We better go inside before you fall asleep!"
   "M-hm," I said, my eyelids suddenly heavy. Just a nap.... just a nap...
   I heard Keesa and Will packing up the butter cakes into a napkin. They helped me stand up along the way. Will put me onto a broken bed.
   My whole body felt as if it were on fire.... I thought about the accident, when I first waited for my parents... I missed them..... and the Demon Lord.... seemed so scary.... how could I ever fight him? Sure, he's my age, but he was the leader of Unborne......
   At least by tomorrow we'll be at the volcano... hopefully...
   And as I fell asleep, I saw the Phoenix vision, and the majestic fire bird gave me a kind smile, yet sad and solemn.... I wondered what that vision meant.
   I wondered what my life meant.

Chapter VII

   You're probably wondering what the bit with the boy was. Take it out of your little heads (or big). That wouldn't be figured out 'til... I guess near the very end. I'm such a teaser, aren't I? Well, as author I prefer such mysteries! (Sorry if it's predictable). ~Kallik (The teaser)

    Ally

   Will frowned. "If you insist..."

   "Ally, did you have another vision lately?" Keesa asked me.

   "N-no." I said, mumbling the words. "Of course not!"

   We stopped at the foot of a steep hill, but not steep enough to be a mountain. I pulled myself onto it. "C'mon! The clock's ticking!"

   Will followed, then Keesa. She took out a crossbow, and fired it quickly at a blurry shadow. "The Unborne is following. Hurry!"

   I saw a thick mass of violet and black blurs, filling the entire wasteland like water. I whimpered and climbed up fast, scraping my hands and knees. I dangled on a rock, and Will shoved me up. Keesa rapidly fired arrows every now and then. I shivered, and ran to the top of the hill, drawing my sword. Will took out his gun.

   I swung my sword, and close by were bullets. I guess I was getting better. I jabbed and swung, gradually increasing speed. I could only make out that the Unborne were demons. They were either violet or black, with large bat wings and a collection of skins as their clothing. They had beady red eyes, and bore various daggers. I aimed for their wings first, then did the final blow.

   My ears ached hearing the angry yells of the Unborne, and the sounds of Will's gun firing. Keesa was silent, but killed the demons in one shot. The mob grew less and less.

   We all lay on our backs, catching our breath. I closed my eyes, feeling drowsy.

   I opened my eyes, seeing a wooden roof. Smells of soup filled my nose. I rubbed my eyes, and looked out a window. I saw a flat plain with a far mountain wall. Green grass rippled in the wind, and wildflowers swayed.

   Demica Valley.

   I turned to my sides, seeing Keesa and Will fast asleep. How long was I sleeping for?

   A young lady walked into the room, with a tray of soup. "Thank goodness you're awake! Found you and your friends sleeping on the Tall Hill while picking some daisies!"

   "You have a house in the middle of a..."

   "No, no!" The lady said quickly, stroking her dirty blonde hair. "You're in the one and only town of this valley; Demica's Village!"

   Another great person used as a name.

   "Have some soup," The lady said. "You look thin and weary, yet powerful."

   Then, a thought struck me: did she know I was human?

   I took a sip. "What's your name?" 

   "I'm Sicapa!" The lady said. "Excuse me for not mentioning it before. I'm the finest chef in town! And I know you're human."

   "You do?" I spit out my soup.

   "Yes," Sicapa answered. "I'm a mind reader. I know what you're thinking of, when I listen closely and focus on you."

   "Nice." Talk about privacy.

   "Anyway," Sicapa said. "You and your friends were bleeding. So while I bandaged you up I saw..." She took my palm. "A curse. Where do you intend to go to?"

   "A volcano. If I don't reach there in 7 days, I'll be a monster." I said. "A race against time."

   "How many days have you traveled?" Sicapa asked.

   "2 days." I said.

   "Must be 3 now," I tensed as Sicapa sighed. "Found y'all yesterday."

   "Oh~!" I whined. 4 more days until doomsday. My marking now looked like this: (✑◊❂) overlapping. I squeezed my hand. "I can't believe it."

   "It's alright!" Sicapa said. "In case you need one, a traveling prophet I am!"
   "Really?" I asked, genuinely amazed.
   Sicapa nodded, then laughed. "Everyone here in Demica Valley is a prophet!"
   I found my mouth ajar, and closed it. "Can you give me a prophecy, please?"
   Sicapa ran over to another room, and returned with an orb in her hands. It was cracked, and I could almost see white mist emerging out of it. "The brutes here. Kage always break into our house. I'm afraid I can't...."
   Suddenly, the orb shined bright, blinding me. I shut my eyes, and heard a crack! When it felt like it darkened, Sicapa was gone, and the orb was now just shards... that seemed like it was possessed.
   Will turned in his bed, then jerked awake. "Ally! Did you hear that?"
   I shook my head. "No,"
   Keesa opened her eyes calmly. "I am fine." She said in a flat voice. Her usually upbeat depth to her skin had turned dull and a shade of gray.
   "Keesa?" I asked.
   "I am fine." Keesa repeated. "Just need to rest."
   Will scratched his arm, and I felt itching, too. "Those shards are going wacko." Will told me, and he was right. The shards rose up into the air and circled around Keesa. Strange letters were like a force field around her.
   "Go!"
   Will pushed me out of the way, just as an intense lightning bolt was shot. "No!" I screamed as Will got hit, becoming limp as a rag doll. I quickly ran around the house. I smelt burning gas, making me cough.
   I darted right out of a window, and tumbled down a hill. I threw myself one way as I dodged a lightning bolt, and continued to run across the village of Demica.
   "Help!" I screamed.
   Confused townsfolk looked out. Then they all ducked as they saw the possessed Keesa.
   "Help the girl, help the girl!" Everyone called out. Then some people gave out laughs and teases. "She is from here, isn't she? Where are her powers?"
   That's right. Powers.
   I skidded to a halt, and felt my mark burning. I turned around and blasted the puppet Keesa with lava. "Whoa," I breathed, and repeated it.
   Then, I got out these fire bombs and threw it at her, causing destruction in the village. I waved my hand as if I knew what to do, and took out a flaming shield, then drew my sword.
   I ducked, and sliced the puppet. Keesa was thrown backwards, and a shadowy essence appeared, stepping out of Keesa's body. It turned into a strange boy.
   "You are strange," The boy said, sneering at me. "But you cannot defeat me, the great and powerful Demon Lord."
   That was so boastful! Perfect for a demon. I yelled and charged at him, but got thrown backwards by an invisible force.
   "How foolish of you. You don't even know how to fight. We shall meet at the volcano." The Demon Lord said simply, and vanished into thin air.
    "ERRGH!" I screamed. A blast of heat erupted from me. "Who does he think he is?"
   A bunch of villagers surrounded me, some shaking with fear.
   "She is cursed!" A villager screamed. "The cursed never survive! Let us end her life while she still lives!"
   "Wait!" I said, holding up my hands. "I'm a savior! I'll help you! I'm human!"
   "Human?" Another villager sneered. "Bah! Humans aren't cursed!"
   "But I am!" I protested. "What about Rina?"
   "Rina? She's nothing but a lie! We all believe Demica was our savior!" Several people yelled angrily.
   "Please!" I begged. "Please! I'm pretty sure that Will is dead and that Keesa could have a possibility of death and..."
   Ooh! I could trick people by throwing a tantrum!
   "MY PARENTS ARE MISSING!" I cried, trying to get out my fake tears. "They're lost in my world!" I put my hand over my forehead. "And I have to live a teased life!"
   The villagers didn't seem like they were buying it. Time to kick it up a notch.
   "Oh!" I wailed, forcing out tears. "You are teasing me too!" I grabbed someone's leg and held it. "Oh! The pain! You have no feelings for a poor, innocent, 12 year old human! What happened to your worship of Demica? Was she human too?"
   "Elf," Someone coughed in the crowd.
   "Almost same thing!" I wailed. Then I threw out my greatest tantrum, tossing tears and whacking myself with my carelessly thrown arms. "Have mercy on me!"
   "Fine," Someone said, the voice ringing in my head. "I'll give you until you kill the Demon Lord."
   I suddenly stopped, and felt as if time froze. Killing that boastful boy. Simple enough.
   "Deal," I said, staring into the ground.
   Turning around, I picked up Keesa and dragged her into the wrecked house.

Chapter VI

Keesa








    We loaded into the car, and Chef came in, holding a tray of pastries. We each took one, snacking on it as Chef began to drive.
   "This is so awesome!" Will said, his mouth stuffed with food. "I finally get to go outside of my house!"
   "So you'll come with us?" Ally asked excitedly.
   "Oh yeah!" Will punched the air enthusiastically.
   I smiled. "Good for you."
   Suddenly, the car went in circles. I blinked a couple of times to stop the dizziness, and Chef wasn't in the car anymore. We weren't even in that forest.
   We were in a fiery wasteland.
    "Dad!" Will said. He flailed his arms abruptly, whacking me in the face.
    I looked around. "I see Chef's skeleton."
    We all turned to where I was pointing, and saw a skeleton with a chef hat and apron. That is definitely Chef. Poor, overweight Chef.
    "Who did that?" Will suddenly said. I noticed his shoulders were down and his head hung low, like in that ominous way. "Who killed my dad?"
   Snap. I forgot that was Will's dad.
 
   Ally






   "Erm," I said. "Definitely not us. Maybe an assassinator!"
   "Not everyday an assassinator sneaks away killing you in front of your eyes." Keesa mumbled. Then, her eyes went wide. "Snap! Duck!"
   I fell onto my belly, and turned my head. Will was floating in the air, still in his frozen position. A dark purple fog surrounded him like a blanket, nearly black.
   "The Unborne is close by. They're watching us. They're taking Will's anger and making it into his evil copy." Keesa pointed to another Will, the real Will, who was groaning in the ground, looking like he was having a nightmare.
   I drew out my sword. "Let's fight," I said. The words felt a little sour in my mouth. I didn't even like arguing! Fighting with a sword was a whole different level. "The anger."
   Keesa nodded. She took out a slender, wooden stick shaped like a "Y". The stick had one electrical rope on each of the ends on the "V" part, dotted with thorns. "A ChicaStick. Useful for one single battle."
   Then, I got pushed backwards. The Anger was already fighting. I shook my head, and put my sword in front of me defensively. When the Anger got up close, I jabbed my sword into it. The feeling felt as if I was stabbing thick fog.
   "Hyah!"
   I did a tumble, feeling sick to my stomach. The thought of fighting made me feel faint. Then, I put in one more jab into his chest, and took it out. The Anger was laughing, even if that hurt him a bunch. His eyes went crazy, and turned into an advanced Anger, growing tentacles and a thinner body, like skin and bones.
   Keesa whipped the Anger, now called the Fury because it advanced, small gashes appearing on the thin layer of skin. I swung my sword unprofessionally, hearing clashing. I heard a crack, and the other wave of laughter hit the Fury. The Fury grew 4 more arms and legs, and his skin went into a thick, black liquid. The eyes were sunken, and it was like a huge mutation of Will.
   I stuck a jagged rock into the liquid skin, which disintegrated into dust. My sword couldn't turn into powder!
   I ducked as the advanced Anger, Rage, threw it's arms this way and that. Splatters of the goo was tossed around this way and that. A tiny sprinkle of it hit my arm. I suddenly saw pure fire, but then something different; a boy standing, looking bored as if he was waiting for someone who never showed up. I blinked, and the vision went away. I gasped for breath, as if I couldn't have breathed.
   Then, I blindly took my sword and swung it at the Rage. Luckily, I hit it directly in the heart and it exploded into tiny sprinkles of goo that didn't hurt. Hisses and threats were throw up into the air, then silence followed. I knew that boy. He was so familiar. If I could only remember him, I'd at least get one mystery done.
   "Will!"
   I looked up, seeing Keesa shaking her cousin. Will groaned a few times, then his eyes fluttered open. "Dad's gone, isn't he? Forever?"
   I looked up at the fiery wasteland. "Most likely."
   I put my hand over my heart, and stared at the dancing tongues of the fire. "How did this wasteland.... be so barren?"
   Will tilted his head. "This is called Fier's Death. We have a legend that while Rina was here, someone named Fier was battling the Unborne here. Of course, he died. It's amazing how there's still fire, huh?"
   "Indeed," I murmured, spellbound by the new addition to my visions. I checked my palm, which was still the same.
   "A few miles straight and we'll be at Demica Valley, which is  beautiful meadow!" Keesa said, pointing in between two distant steep hills.
   "Demica Valley," I echoed. I felt for my necklace, warm, yet cold. A mysterious wave of curiosity hit me after I had that vision. It was probably nothing. "Let's go."
   "Ally... you feeling alright?" Will asked.
   "Yes," I answered. At least I hoped so.