As the Dark Elementals lunged at the group, Terra stomped the
ground, causing a massive tremor. The whole place shook, and caused the assailants to stumble forward!
"That's our chance! Let's heat it up!", Emby shouted, and released
a wave of fire from his hands, blasting the Dark Elementals
back up the stairs.
"Good work, Emby! Let's get out of here!", Ruin exclaimed,
and the group quickly ran out, and across the singed bodies.
The commotion alerted some of the others nearby, and they quickly
sunk into the shadows. As any elder Elemental could tell you,
Dark Elementals have the ability to travel through shadows,
be it from an object, animal, or even a person. That is why they're
known for their sneaky tactics, and quick escapes.
"The exit is not much further, guys. Just a little ways to go!", Ruin
told them, but immediately was shoved into a wall!
"Oh my gosh, Ruin!", Aquaria called out.
"Ooh, so close...", they sneered, as they grabbed his limbs, and
pulled him to a wall. Being non-Dark, Ruin couldn't pass through
the shadows, which made it pretty painful being pressed against a
wall, and pulled.
"Let him go!", Clover yelled, as he whipped out his leaf sword, and slashed off the hands. Ruin clambered back to his feet. Clover helped
him up.
"Are you alright"?
"... On the plus side, that catch in my shoulder's gone", Ruin chuckled.
"Thanks for the assist".
Meanwhile, Jade heard the noise, and stood up.
"What's wrong?", a squad member asked. "We weren't done yet".
"... It's nothing. I'm just gonna take a little looksee", Jade assured, and sank into the shadows.
As she traveled, thoughts scurried in her mind about Ruin. She knew she didn't kill him, but she wondered if that was really him
downstairs. Curiosity peaked, she went faster.
Back the group, they finally made it through an exit!
..Or so they thought.
It was in the back of the Dark Elemental fortress.
"Terra, are you sure we came in THIS way?", Ruin asked.
Terra scratched his head. "I...think? Maybe we should've turned right?", he wondered.
Clover facepalmed. "Well, that's just great. We're lost. What else
could go wrong"?
No sooner did he say that, a HUMONGOUS behemoth came down a slope.
"Clover, maybe I should weld your mouth shut", Emby grumbled,
trembling.
They all backed up, as the giant beast thundered over, its massive
maw drooling at the sight of an assortment of tasty-looking
Elementals.
Not wanting to let his friends get eaten, Ruin gripped his blade,
and ran at it!
"Ruin, are you insane!? Get back here!!", Clover yelled.
But unfortunately, Ruin's mind was set. It was either the beast, or
his friends, and he wasn't going to let anyone else be taken away
him again. He jumped at the beast, charging fire in his blade,
as the behemoth charged Ruin! Blade and claw clashed, and sparks
went flying!
Suddenly, the behemoth scooped up Ruin in its mouth, catching him
by surprise, and closed its mouth shut.
"RUIN, NOOOOOOOOO!!!", Emby wailed.
"That idiot, I told him...", Clover groaned.
Suddenly, the beast groaned in pain, and it fell to the ground! Everyone had a shocked expression! What happened? Did it get indigestion??? That's when Terra looked up, and saw the slender curvy figure of a girl, standing on top of the beast's head.
"Uh, guys? Something tells me she's the one who made that thing
fall..", he said, pointing up at her.
She flipped down, and proceeded to walk over to the group. She eyed them all with her purple eyes, and focused on Terra.
"You look strong. Open that thing's mouth for a girl?", she asked, placing her hand on her hip.
Terra blinked. Obviously she was a Dark Elemental, no mistake about it. But e wasn't trying to kill them, AND she wanted to go INSIDE the behemoth? Pushing those thoughts aside, he walked over
towards it, and with one hand, lifted its maw open. She hopped up on its tongue, and grinded down its throat. After a few minutes, she
came back, dragging Ruin out!
"Ruin!", Aquaria exclaimed for joy, making her way towards him.
"Ewwww, you reek like rotted meat, dude", Emby coughed, holding
his nose.
"Why? Just tell me in what way you thought that was smart?", Clover
scolded.
"Eh-heh... Guess it wasn't, huh? Sorry bout that", Ruin chuckled, as Aquaria poured fresh spring water over his head, washing off the drool. He then looked up at Jade, and immediately recognized her face.
"You-!", he gasped, quickly standing up into a stance.
"Is that you say thanks to someone who just saved your life? You're
terrible, boy~", she teased.
"It's true, Ruin. She wanted me to open that thing's mouth so she
could get you out", Terra explained.
Ruin cocked his head to the side, confused.
"What, you want a reason? We Dark Elementals do what we want. I think that's reason enough. You idiots better get going before Jhuter shows up. He won't be as kind", Jade said, as she posed sinking down
into the shadows.
They all looked at each other, confused as to what happened. But shaking it off, Terra, now outside of the cursed fortress, dug a tunnel, leading the group out of the Valley of Shadows. Miles away, they decided to rest for a bit. Ruin was still up, thinking why did Jade
save him? He was going to get revenge on her kind, after all. But now that this event happened... Now he wasn't so sure.
"Y'know, I always kinda liked Null hair. So silver and white. Like the moon", Jade said, coming up from Ruin's Shadow. Her voice startled him, and he fell over.
"You again...! I guess I owe you one for saving me", he said, sitting up.
"Like I said, I do what I want. That wasn't for you, I was just bored. Besides, the way you still came back after I left you in that state
impressed me. You're pretty durable for a Null".
"Gee, thanks... So, why are you here?
"I, uh, got to thinking... About your people Jhuter and his group killed. That must suck a lot".
"... If you came by to make fun of me...".
"Hear me out, alright? Geez, you sure you're not a Fire Elemental?
Anyway. Maybe I know a way for them to come back...".
"What, really!? My mother too"!?
"Easy, keep it down. I did say 'Maybe'. Now, there's a rumor among
our folks that the Light Elementals can bring a being back from the dead. Not sure if it's true, or not, but hey, let's say it is. What do you
say"?
Ruin could barely contain his excitement. There was a chance that he could restore his people! It made him so happy, involuntarily hugged Jade.
"Thanks for selling me that! Really, you don't know how happy that
makes me!", he said happily.
"H-huh!? Yeah, I get it-! Nngh, lemme go!", Jade exclaimed, looking away to hide her blush. "You're a bit too h-appy about a rumor, boy.
It could not be true, you know...", she stammered, trying to get her
cool composure back. "However...If you still wanna give it a shot, I know where they are...I could show you"..
Ruin didn't even think it over, which would probably bite him later.
"Sure! Join up with us! We'll follow you!", he exclaimed happily.
It seems as though Ruin as let a new Elemental join them The Dark Elemental, Jade.
But how will the others respond to his decision?
Will they be as accepting as him?
And can Jade be trusted???
Part 17 End~
ground, causing a massive tremor. The whole place shook, and caused the assailants to stumble forward!
"That's our chance! Let's heat it up!", Emby shouted, and released
a wave of fire from his hands, blasting the Dark Elementals
back up the stairs.
"Good work, Emby! Let's get out of here!", Ruin exclaimed,
and the group quickly ran out, and across the singed bodies.
The commotion alerted some of the others nearby, and they quickly
sunk into the shadows. As any elder Elemental could tell you,
Dark Elementals have the ability to travel through shadows,
be it from an object, animal, or even a person. That is why they're
known for their sneaky tactics, and quick escapes.
"The exit is not much further, guys. Just a little ways to go!", Ruin
told them, but immediately was shoved into a wall!
"Oh my gosh, Ruin!", Aquaria called out.
"Ooh, so close...", they sneered, as they grabbed his limbs, and
pulled him to a wall. Being non-Dark, Ruin couldn't pass through
the shadows, which made it pretty painful being pressed against a
wall, and pulled.
"Let him go!", Clover yelled, as he whipped out his leaf sword, and slashed off the hands. Ruin clambered back to his feet. Clover helped
him up.
"Are you alright"?
"... On the plus side, that catch in my shoulder's gone", Ruin chuckled.
"Thanks for the assist".
Meanwhile, Jade heard the noise, and stood up.
"What's wrong?", a squad member asked. "We weren't done yet".
"... It's nothing. I'm just gonna take a little looksee", Jade assured, and sank into the shadows.
As she traveled, thoughts scurried in her mind about Ruin. She knew she didn't kill him, but she wondered if that was really him
downstairs. Curiosity peaked, she went faster.
Back the group, they finally made it through an exit!
..Or so they thought.
It was in the back of the Dark Elemental fortress.
"Terra, are you sure we came in THIS way?", Ruin asked.
Terra scratched his head. "I...think? Maybe we should've turned right?", he wondered.
Clover facepalmed. "Well, that's just great. We're lost. What else
could go wrong"?
No sooner did he say that, a HUMONGOUS behemoth came down a slope.
"Clover, maybe I should weld your mouth shut", Emby grumbled,
trembling.
They all backed up, as the giant beast thundered over, its massive
maw drooling at the sight of an assortment of tasty-looking
Elementals.
Not wanting to let his friends get eaten, Ruin gripped his blade,
and ran at it!
"Ruin, are you insane!? Get back here!!", Clover yelled.
But unfortunately, Ruin's mind was set. It was either the beast, or
his friends, and he wasn't going to let anyone else be taken away
him again. He jumped at the beast, charging fire in his blade,
as the behemoth charged Ruin! Blade and claw clashed, and sparks
went flying!
Suddenly, the behemoth scooped up Ruin in its mouth, catching him
by surprise, and closed its mouth shut.
"RUIN, NOOOOOOOOO!!!", Emby wailed.
"That idiot, I told him...", Clover groaned.
Suddenly, the beast groaned in pain, and it fell to the ground! Everyone had a shocked expression! What happened? Did it get indigestion??? That's when Terra looked up, and saw the slender curvy figure of a girl, standing on top of the beast's head.
"Uh, guys? Something tells me she's the one who made that thing
fall..", he said, pointing up at her.
She flipped down, and proceeded to walk over to the group. She eyed them all with her purple eyes, and focused on Terra.
"You look strong. Open that thing's mouth for a girl?", she asked, placing her hand on her hip.
Terra blinked. Obviously she was a Dark Elemental, no mistake about it. But e wasn't trying to kill them, AND she wanted to go INSIDE the behemoth? Pushing those thoughts aside, he walked over
towards it, and with one hand, lifted its maw open. She hopped up on its tongue, and grinded down its throat. After a few minutes, she
came back, dragging Ruin out!
"Ruin!", Aquaria exclaimed for joy, making her way towards him.
"Ewwww, you reek like rotted meat, dude", Emby coughed, holding
his nose.
"Why? Just tell me in what way you thought that was smart?", Clover
scolded.
"Eh-heh... Guess it wasn't, huh? Sorry bout that", Ruin chuckled, as Aquaria poured fresh spring water over his head, washing off the drool. He then looked up at Jade, and immediately recognized her face.
"You-!", he gasped, quickly standing up into a stance.
"Is that you say thanks to someone who just saved your life? You're
terrible, boy~", she teased.
"It's true, Ruin. She wanted me to open that thing's mouth so she
could get you out", Terra explained.
Ruin cocked his head to the side, confused.
"What, you want a reason? We Dark Elementals do what we want. I think that's reason enough. You idiots better get going before Jhuter shows up. He won't be as kind", Jade said, as she posed sinking down
into the shadows.
They all looked at each other, confused as to what happened. But shaking it off, Terra, now outside of the cursed fortress, dug a tunnel, leading the group out of the Valley of Shadows. Miles away, they decided to rest for a bit. Ruin was still up, thinking why did Jade
save him? He was going to get revenge on her kind, after all. But now that this event happened... Now he wasn't so sure.
"Y'know, I always kinda liked Null hair. So silver and white. Like the moon", Jade said, coming up from Ruin's Shadow. Her voice startled him, and he fell over.
"You again...! I guess I owe you one for saving me", he said, sitting up.
"Like I said, I do what I want. That wasn't for you, I was just bored. Besides, the way you still came back after I left you in that state
impressed me. You're pretty durable for a Null".
"Gee, thanks... So, why are you here?
"I, uh, got to thinking... About your people Jhuter and his group killed. That must suck a lot".
"... If you came by to make fun of me...".
"Hear me out, alright? Geez, you sure you're not a Fire Elemental?
Anyway. Maybe I know a way for them to come back...".
"What, really!? My mother too"!?
"Easy, keep it down. I did say 'Maybe'. Now, there's a rumor among
our folks that the Light Elementals can bring a being back from the dead. Not sure if it's true, or not, but hey, let's say it is. What do you
say"?
Ruin could barely contain his excitement. There was a chance that he could restore his people! It made him so happy, involuntarily hugged Jade.
"Thanks for selling me that! Really, you don't know how happy that
makes me!", he said happily.
"H-huh!? Yeah, I get it-! Nngh, lemme go!", Jade exclaimed, looking away to hide her blush. "You're a bit too h-appy about a rumor, boy.
It could not be true, you know...", she stammered, trying to get her
cool composure back. "However...If you still wanna give it a shot, I know where they are...I could show you"..
Ruin didn't even think it over, which would probably bite him later.
"Sure! Join up with us! We'll follow you!", he exclaimed happily.
It seems as though Ruin as let a new Elemental join them The Dark Elemental, Jade.
But how will the others respond to his decision?
Will they be as accepting as him?
And can Jade be trusted???
Part 17 End~
