Chapter 9 - Burning Vigor, The Power of the Warlock by Melchoir

            Marle, Frog, and Ayla stepped out of the Time Gate. They were outside the Guardia Forest.

            “So, here we are.” Marle said with a whistle “Now, we are in time to stop the flow of events that will change the Destiny of Guardia.”

            “I supposeth that thou’rt correct.” Frog said with a bow “We must reacheth the Queen immediately to warn her!”

            “Right!” Marle took of running towards the woods. Frog chased after her, and Ayla leapt from tree to tree. Soon, they reached Guardia Castle.

            “Here we are.” Marle walked to the door. Frog’s eyes widened. “Fair maiden, look out!”

            “What?!” Marle was pushed aside as Frog took the brunt of the blast. The doors had exploded. “Frog! No!”

            “Froggy hurt?!” Ayla snarled “Coward show self!”

            “And here I am.” A familiar voice said as a short person with overly feminine features walked out. Her face was small and cute. Her red-gold ponytails hung low over her shoulders. She was a he.

            “Flea!” Marle whirled her crossbow around “So you wish to fight again?!”

            “Indeed!” Flea laughed, spinning his staff “In the name of Lord Laguna, I have come to take your life.”

            Marle took a shot from her crossbow at Flea, who easily dodged it.

            “You see, Princess Nadia Guardia…” Flea gave another laugh, his hands glowing “It seems my Destiny has been changed. I am to kill you all. And, of course, destroy Guardia.”

            “Thou shalt not do that!” Frog charged Flea with all his might. Flea merely smacked him away with his staff. Frog flew into a tree. “I shall stop them…”

            “You mean she-man! I get you!” Ayla was flying at Flea, performing a kick attack. And it was a strong one too, with speed lines and glowing energy and everything. A kick such as that would defeat all that stood in its way.

            Flea disappeared, leaving Ayla ramming into a tree. Flea appeared again, and giving a laugh, shot huge bolts of energy everywhere.

            “Such foolishness…” Flea gave another laugh “You fell right into our little trap. Ha!”

            “Thou shalt not be allowed to do this!” Frog drew up the Masamune “I shalt destroyeth thee, for my honor!”

            “You have no honor, worm!” Flea shot another bolt at Frog, who slowly approached her. The bolt seemed not to deter him. Annoyed, Flea shot a giant blast at Frog. He kept going. Seriously irritated, Flea blew up the entire forest.

            “Thine time hath ended.” Frog spun the Masamune and, staring down the astonished Flea, stabbed him through the chest.

            “Damn.” Flea removed the sword from his chest and chucked it away. “I’ll be back.”

            In a flurry of rose petals, Flea disappeared. Frog collapsed.

            “Frog!” Marle grabbed her fallen companion “Frog, are you alright?”

            “Ayla hurt bad” Ayla got up, trembling “Ayla can’t barely move.”

            “Too bad.” Marle jerked to attention at that voice. “Just too bad, isn’t it, Princess?”

            “You…!” Marle screamed, looking at the chuckling figure. “It can’t be…!”

            “But it is.” The figure was shrouded in a gothic black cloak, with a hood over him, but his silver hair and elf ears were still visible. The figure held a particularly wicked scythe in his arms. He gave a laugh.

“Princess, you walked right into the set trap, protecting your ancestors. My Destiny is to kill you, and take all that you love. Princess, I shall take all that you love.”

            “No!” Marle shot her old companion with her crossbow, watching the arrow go through his shoulder “Magus-sama, you can’t do this!”

            “Get ready, little girl.” Magus laughed and sent out a giant burning fireball. Marle countered with an ice spell, but was unable to hold it up for long. “What’s the matter? Too weak?”

            “Water 2!” Frog had gotten up and added his spell in. Together, the two spells barely kept Magus’s at bay. “This isn’t like thou, Magus! We’rt allies!”

            “No longer.” Magus snapped his fingers, and the fireball exploded, sending the two flying. “My Destiny no longer makes me your ally.

The Black Wind begins to blow…”

            “Can we do this?” Marle asked weakly, looking at the mild wound she had caused Magus earlier. It wasn’t there. “We’re not strong enough…”

            “Magus! I kill you!” Ayla slammed her fist into Magus’s stomach. Then his jaw. Then she kicked him in the shin really heard. Then a strong punch in the stomach. Then an elbow slam to the back of the head. She prepared for another strong punch…

            “You damn bitch!” Magus said calmly, and proceeded to slash at her with his scythe. Ayla fell, bleeding. “Anyone else?”

            “Take this, Magus!” Frog had recovered his Masamune, and hurled it at Magus with all his power. Magus chuckled in amusement.

            “My Destiny is not to be defeated by this Masamune again, child.” Magus tossed it back at Frog. “Well, I have other business to take care of. If you would like to battle, I shall be in Guardia Castle. At Midnight, I destroy Guardia.”

            Marle looked at her watch. There was three hours left until midnight.

            “Magus-sama… how can we beat him?” Marle though to herself as she closed her eyes. “How can we…?”