For The Soul of The Stars: Challenge Accepted!

Written By: Lynderia

Disclaimer: I do own For The Soul of The Stars, however I do not own the Outlaw Star characters therein. Rats!! ^_^

The clouds darkened. A brisk wind came through picking up the fallen leaves. She stood and watched in horror as five figures went through a transformation. Her horror was not shown, no, she would not show her fear, or she would break her promise. She knew if the ones she made the promise to saw her now they would be proud of her. So, Kat stood and watched with a flat expression.

Proteus’ eyes filled with tears. Why was she risking herself for him? Hadn’t she said he should have died? So why was she doing this? Suzuka had advised her to get away from them, and now they were beginning to fuse themselves together. At this point in time, he felt fear like he never felt it before, but he didn’t feel fear for himself, he felt it for her; he felt it for Kat.

The transformation was nearly complete, and Suzuka felt her legs tighten. The power she was feeling was so incredible. Suzuka didn’t even believe it was even possible for that kind of high level of power to exist. She knew Kat was done for; she felt it in her soul. It would take a miracle if Kat survived, but there was no talking Kat out of her decision to fight, that Suzuka knew.

Gene tightened his grip on Jim’s shoulder. This entire situation didn’t look good. He was the Guardian of Uriel, he couldn’t fail, especially since Jim was Uriel. Gene began to question the thought of Jim being Uriel. It almost didn’t make sense. If they were after Jim because he was Uriel, why were they fighting Kat for Proteus? But, then again, why did they send Jaguar to get Jim if he wasn’t Uriel? Gene felt confused. One would think that if you were a guardian you would know exactly what you were supposed to protect.

She didn’t want to say anything that seemed wrong but, “Gene, shouldn’t we leave. Kat told us to take Jim and leave.” Melfina said. She was standing next to Aisha, who was standing next to Jim.

“I agree. I think she can handle this fight on her own without us being spectators.” Aisha agreed. This was the right thing to do. They had to save Jim, and Kat had given them the chance they needed. She just hoped the girl knew what she was doing.

Gene didn’t know what to say. His gaze fell on Kat who watched her adversaries in their new form. He felt something as he watched her, but didn’t know what it was.

The new figure stood wearing a dark gray hooded cloak. An abrupt laugh came from under the hood. “You can’t leave just yet. The entertainment is about to begin.” It took them years, but for them it felt like a couple of hours, to perfect this form. Nothing could stop what they had planned. The figure’s gaze fell on the girl who had foolishly taken the challenge. “What is it that you call yourself again? Oh, yes, almost forgot, Kat. So Kat, are you ready?” the figure’s voice held an edge of humor.

This was only a game for them. They knew who she was, and she couldn’t run away. She would have to fight. This wasn’t really about Proteus, that she knew now, this was about her strength to stand up against them. Kat said nothing and stood in a defense stance. Her face still held a flat expression, not revealing the emotions she was feeling.

Kat was aching all over, but she wouldn’t let them know that.

“You were always such a stubborn girl, weren’t you. All you have to do is give in to us, and I promise you, we will stop.” the figure said pushing Kat back into the broken ground. The Dark Stars knew that the current form they were in she wouldn’t stand a chance. She hadn’t change much since she was a child. She had gotten better at that expressionless face she like to wear.

Kat stood, blood running from her wounds. All the power shields she had to put up to protect herself and Proteus & Company were wearing her out, but if she didn’t they would look worse than Jaguar did the other night and she would look close to that. Kat opened her hands as waves of energy erupted from them. The energy was directed toward the figure. As a result, there were multiple explosions. Kat strained her blood stained eyes to see if she had at least hit the enemy.

A beam of energy headed straight for her. The earth raised to make a wall in front of Kat to protect her. Kat moved from the wall as it was easily destroyed. The figure appeared in front of her and started kicking and punching her repeatedly. The figure used the rest of the wall to smack her into it. The figure performed a round house kick sending Kat sailing into the air. Before Kat could remember to breathe, the figured began jumping on her chest. The ground beneath her cracked from the pressure. Kat sunk into the earth, as the figure continued to pounce on her. Kat, not once, cried out in pain, or screamed for mercy. She remind expressionless and quiet. The figure stopped and waited.

Jim watched as tears fell freely from his eyes. He held Kat’s cloak tighter, trying to hide himself within its depths. He wanted The Dark Stars to stop, but there was a part of him that was enjoying the spectacle they were making Kat out to be. Jim felt ashamed for these feelings, but he knew that the feelings he was feeling weren’t his, at least he didn’t think they were his; he hoped they weren’t his. He didn’t want to lose himself in the horrible darkness because he didn’t know if he would ever return. Whatever was inside of him or whatever he was becoming was dominating. Jim just didn’t want to disappear.

She guessed Kat couldn’t have handled this; but she was scared. Yes, a Ctarl-Ctarl warrior like herself was scared. She didn’t want to fight, and was happy there was a shield protecting them. Aisha stretched her hand out, and it connected with something; something overcame her senses. Aisha could somehow tell the shield was reinforced. If that was true, it would make sense why Kat used a wall to try to protect herself. Aisha felt wetness by the corner of her eyes as a sudden realization hit her. If someone didn’t do something Kat would die. She would die protecting people she called ugly, and claimed she wanted dead. ‘Why is she doing this?’

Kat used her arms to try to push the rest of her body up. She would try to accelerate her healing but it would be no use. Her Gift and Ki were nearly depleted.

If anyone could see the figure’s face, one would see an angry expression. “What, are you stupid? Stop getting up!!” the figure shouted at Kat as she continued to push herself up. The figure kicked Kat’s arms breaking them. Kat fell flat on her face, but tried pushing the rest of her body up with the support of her legs. “Why do you try so hard? Must you be so stubborn!!” In a rage the figured shot an energy beam at the Outlaw Star group, which was reflected into the air. “Why must you protect those inferior to you?!! You have always protected those inferior to you!!!”

Kat stood shakily on her legs. She looked at the figure and said nothing. They were scared of her. They were always scared of her. The Dark Stars couldn’t read her, they couldn’t read her emotions. If they could she wouldn’t be standing here right now. They knew human emotion is a weakness for all humans, and that was one way to control them. Her facial expression remained flat.

The figure swung a left hook toward her face, which she swayed out of the way only to be hit with a right hook. Kat flipped back trying to use her legs to push the figure away, but the figure caught her leg and swung her towards Proteus and Company like a rag doll. “Look at her. Tell her to give up. Tell her to stay down!!”

Proteus tried to speak but his throat was dry. ‘Oh Kat.’ he thought looking down at her.

Suzuka didn’t know what was wrong with this girl. Why hadn’t she just stayed down? “Don’t get up. They’ll kill you if you do.”

Kat seemed to be ignoring her and trying to push herself up.

“Listen to them” The figure began pushing her down with one foot. Red energy erupted from Kat’s body pushing the figure away. “So you still have fight in you. Always a crowd pleaser, but it’s time to go; it’s time to go home.”

Kat got to her feet and said nothing. She wasn’t going anywhere, she was staying right here. She wasn’t going home and definitely not with them.

The figure slowly removed the hood. “Don’t fight us. You have no choice in the matter. You belong to us.” The figure had green frosted eyes, which was glowing with power. The hair was almost a color of blue flame. It was the face of a man that had killed and felt no remorse.

“Jabal.” Kat finally spoke.

“We may have Jabal’s face, but in this form we are Eltanin.” Eltanin watched as Kat held a steady expressionless gaze at him. For the first time he noticed how much she had grown; how strong she had become, but she was not strong enough it seemed. His hand latched onto her neck, “It’s time to go.”

In response to Eltanin’s demand, lava erupted from beneath him. Kat was thrown to the ground. He stepped through flames and heat. “Must I beat you into submission. So be it!!” he screamed ready to form energy into his hand.

He couldn’t take it anymore. Something was gnawing at him. There was a part of him that knew her so well, and the other part didn’t. This was a feeling he couldn’t describe. He had to do something. “Stop it!! Leave her alone!” Gene shouted for all he was worth.

Eltanin’s head snapped toward Gene. Didn’t he know it was a bit too late to interfere? He had already failed in his duty. “What will you do if I don’t? Will you make an attempt at killing me?” Eltanin pushed back his head and laughed.

Gene felt his body begin to shake. He never felt fear like this. Why was he so afraid? He had near death encounters so many times before, what was different about this one? “I…I…”

“I…I…What?!” Eltanin mocked. The Dark Stars were blessed with immortality, as in eternal youth, but they felt immortal because no mortal stood a chance against their power, so in a way they had eternal life also. Eltanin began to walk toward the group. He was going to take care of the ‘Guardian’ once and for all.

Gene’s hand held his caster shakily. He didn’t know if Kat’s shield would hold in her current condition. His other hand held a bullet. It was the caster shell that he shot a Kat, twice. He hoped it would bring him some sort of luck.

Suzuka gripped Gene’s arm showing some support, which was a surprise to her, and was thankful he didn’t turn around to see who it was. She, too, was scared like the rest of her friends. They couldn’t hide behind this shield forever.

Eltanin began his power attack on the shield.

With each hit, Kat felt her body convulse in pain. She couldn’t give up, she had to keep it up or she would, again, be the cause of death. She then noticed Gene holding the caster shell he had shot at her, and a smile graced her battered face. Kat dropped the shield and gathered her strength.

Eltanin smiled, “Time to die, Guardian!” His hand wrapped itself around Gene’s neck and began to squeeze. He wanted to feel his victim slowly die; he wanted to feel him take his last breath, but most of all, he wanted to feel his victim’s pain.

Gene couldn’t breathe. It was the must uncomfortable feeling he had ever experience. His hand slowly raised his loaded caster to aim at his attackers chest. He was now seeing colored spots. Gene’s gaze fell on Kat. She was smiling. This puzzled him. Was she smiling because he was about to die, or did she know something he didn’t?

“No, don’t!!” Melfina cried out. She didn’t want Gene to die, not dear Gene.

Eltanin began to laugh at Melfina outburst.

Gene fired his caster.

Eltanin’s laughter stopped. “You think that can stop me!” He was angry, how dare this mortal man insult him. Eltanin tried to tighten his grip around Gene’s neck but his strength was leaving him. It didn’t make any sense. A caster shell couldn’t stop him, and even if it was a special caster shell he was no novice, unless the shell was no longer what it seemed and was changed. Eltanin dropped Gene. Walking away from Gene, Eltanin suddenly dropped to his knees.

Gene took in all the air he could until he choked on it. He didn’t know what was going on but was thankful nonetheless.

Eltanin looked up to find Kat staring at him with glazed over eyes. Her face held no expression, which made him almost cower away from her.

“Have you lost something?” Her tone held no emotion.

“I commend you with empowering him.” Eltanin laughed.

This was the last of her power. This was all she had. She was thankful Gene had shot her with that shell and kept it. “Be Eltanin no more. You shall be what you were. Disperse.”

A column of light descended on Eltanin’s form as he screamed in pain. That caster shell had upset their perfect balance. The form of Eltanin could no longer be held. There was a violent scream of pain. The light ascended back to the heavens leaving five figures clad in their respective colors.

Kat felt energy leave her body. Her legs were ready to give out. ‘Not yet.’ Kat buckled her knees and stood strong.

The figures stood. They were exhausted. They had used so much power and they still hadn’t succeeded. Damn it.

“I, the Knight of War, commend you on your victory.” the red hooded figure commented.

“It was great fun. A must do again. From the Knight of Mystery.” the black hooded figure giggled.

“It seems you have bested us. It will not happen again. I, the Knight of Spirituality won’t allow it.” the purple hooded figure said sorely. He was such a sore loser.

“You’re still clever as every. You have grown well. But the Knight of Intelligence has much more for you to learn.” the blue figure bowed.

“Yes, she has grown well. We will leave for the time remaining, but will get what we came for. Sooner or later, Kat. The Knight of Balance has spoken.” the figure in Grey-Silver said disappearing along with his fellow knights and Jaguar, who was still in the broken wall.

Kat lifted her head to the heavens. The Knights. Red, Black, Purple, Blue, and Grey-Silver. Morrigan, Desdemona, Reginald, Tai, and Jabal respective to each color. Her life was one big playground for them. She made a promise to be strong; to not be or show weakness in front of anyone, to protect what she thought was worth protecting-her love ones, to stand against all odds. This promise she made to her parents when she was five. That promise made her what she was today. Known to be devoid of any emotion to many, heartless to some, and a girl who, when she wanted to be, caring to almost none. Kat felt tears form in her eyes, and wished it to rain so that know one could see her being weak or know her pain. The strength in Kat’s legs finally left, and Kat fell slowly to the ground.

The rain at first came as a soft drizzle, then it was a heavy down pour. The rain soaked their clothing, making it cling to their forms. Each individual stood or, in Kat’s case, laid in the rain. No one moved a muscle.

Gene found his courage. He figured no one wanted to move because they didn’t want to know if Kat was dead or not. “Can I borrow this buddy?” Gene asked.

Jim silently nodded. He felt so ashamed, but at the same time he wasn’t.

Gene took the wet white cloak from Jim and slowly walked to Kat’s unmoving form. He took noticed the pool of red rain around her body. Gene gently moved Kat’s black and gold strains from her face. She looked so peaceful. Gene placed a hand in front of her mouth, then check her pulse, which was almost nonexistent, but Kat was alive, barely. Gene wrapped the cloak around her body as he picked her up. He turned to the group, “Let’s get out of here.”

They sadly silently nodded.

End

After Thoughts: The Dark Stars weren’t joking around when challenging Kat. I think that’s one of the best battle scenes I ever written! ^_^ If you have any questions and comments please e-mail me. ~~Lynderia