āDear me. I had no idea there were so many friends of yours around!ā he laughed, eyes glowing at the challenge, āWho knew that we were going to be having so much fun?!ā
Like arrows the tentacles shot forward, spinning through the wet air to leap and twist and swivel around through the air in a dance. They attacked, but not seriously, tripping and pushing around themselves. Azian laughed, his spirits bright and high as one would grab hold, twisting up the captured with little stem-like branches going up around their legs till the shadow was cut by one of its own. It would wither, the amputated bits turning to water as soon as he lost control of it but not before another replaced it. Within a matter of seconds the darkness had him tied and bound, held steadfast.
āCome on darling! Watch!ā he ordered and removed his hand from her, shoving her down beside her own body. Suddenly she turned and smashed against his nose.
The darkness froze, his eyes wide as he looked at her, giving a tiny smirk, "Thatās the way you want to play it?"
There was a sweeping sound, wind like but rougher, and the spirit of Earth's eye, the goddess of Debris and Decay, seeped into the spirit realm, taking her regular shape. Her figure was tall, two meters or more. She looked lithe and strong, but her exact outline was difficult to make out because wearing nothing, her skin was dark grey, constantly shedding dust, forever dispersing and disappearing. Her hair was black like charcoal and had locks clearly distinguishable, not looking all that unlike dreadlocks, although being less voluminous and more gathered behind her back. From all of her hair combusted black smoke, the tips of the locks, their length in height with the bottom of her shoulder blades, pouring it our most intensely. Her right eye was black, blacker still then the charcoal hair. Her left eye was regular, with an Iris ice blue. The eyes of a pleasantly sharp face expressing more than anything almost arrogant confidence.
āA trial here would be painful at best, if anything youāll be weaker here in spirit form,ā he warned, his eyes narrows into lavender slits, his breath a menacing hiss as he took a step towards her. He still hadnāt noticed the woman behind him, stunning, frightening. Ammy did, her eyes wide as she threw herself away from a strike from his blade. He turned, catching sight of the woman, his lips pulling back into a snarl. Azian stopped his advance, his body slowly turning as he came face to face with the woman of Ammyās vision. Her stomach dropped and she scrambled back, away from both of them as Azian took his sword, pointing it at the goddess, his attitude towards Ammy changing greatly.
āStay behind me, Ammy. Donāt let her touch you.ā
"Excuse me." Her grey face always felt like it was smiling even when it wasn't, giving off the feeling that on the inside, she is always either laughing at you or with you.
"I want to know what is happening here! You!" she was referring to and aiming her face at the man "Who are you?"
āAzian. That's my name, now we're going to play a game. You ask I answer, I ask you answer. Equivalent exchange. What are you doing here,ā he spat, lowering the sword but keeping a protective stance, āWhat does it matter to you?ā
"MmmMh, I don't like you now. But okay. I am here and I need to know your name because someone, hehe, that guy, asked me so persistently to know it and how could I say no?"
"Oh and what game are we going to play?"
āYou donāt have to like me. I certainly donāt like you,ā he growled, looking over his shoulder as Ammy stood behind him. He suddenly decided that he no longer wanted her presence. āWell now you knowā¦leave us!ā
"Awww don't be like that... I don't like you, that does not mean I don't want to get to know you!" She began walking closer, her decaying essence leaving a dim trail in her wake. It looked as though she was soaring, even though it was totally clear she really was walking.
"Quite the opposite actually, Iām dying to know what you are"
āThatās close enough, witch!ā his sword was raised again, eyes flashing as he suddenly smiled. āWouldnāt you like to know; Decay, Chaos, lady Death. The end all, be all for us Spirits, isn't that right Debris?ā
*Yaawwwn* *sniff* *blink* Hm? I apologize dear, I failed to hear you. Now what was it he wanted?...Oh!" Her eyes glinted for a fleeting moment upon recalling. "What's up with her?"
She was definitely laughing at him on the inside.
"Don't look at her," he said softly. "She is nothing, and nobody."
"HmmMM?" Grey tilted her head unnoticeably little.
"No, that is not what he meant, fool, you are dull. Not what she is, but what's wrong with her. That is the meaning of the question!"
"Nothing," Ammy said gently, speaking for the first time. "Nothing at all."
"Hush, girl," Azian growled softly, turning half towards the woman and haft towards Ammy, his eyes warning her with a single glare. He turned towards the woman, smirking softly, "How about we strike a deal? Hmm? I'll release your host if you release mine."
Grey completely ignored Azian "Ah, here we have sensible person." She smiled, and it seemed that she was laughing with Ammy.
"Well, I have what I need. Hehe. I don't care about you anyone."
She began glancing around curiously, as though searching.
"Now where is he..."
"He?" she asked stepping forward and past Azian even as he yanked her back.
"Aha!" For a moment her face looked concentrated and her body balanced, and in through a hole that was nowhere seeped a white and golden essance. It took shape and formed Earth.
"She said there was 'Nothing at all' wrong her." Grey said.
Not including high angled golden ponytail, he was shorter then her grey contour. And his great glory sword was not suspended on his back.
"...That is good. And who is he?" Said Earth who seemed not to be disturbed or surprised at all for being suddenly sucked into a
different dimension.
"HmmMM? That is not something I agreed on finding an answer to. But I will tell you anyway! He is Azian."
"Okay." With that, Earth sat down as he always did.
Ammy stared, her muscles trembling as Azian growled, "Run Ammy."
"But-but...I know him" she began to struggle, Azain's grip tight around her wrist as one hand grabbed at her shoulder.
"Stop Ammy!" he shouted as she ripped away. She ran, yanking away from Azian and throwing herself at Earth. They collided, tumbling forward as Ammy wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, burying her face into the crook of his neck, her breath soft against his skin. He caught her with one arm, hauling her in, holding her closer, while bracing himself against her impact by placing his other hand against the ground behind him.
"Okay. What for?"
"T-trapping you....I did do that, right?" she cocked her head, confusion flickering across her face.
"No, that was her." Earth flicked his head in the direction of the grey woman spirit.
"Oh," she blushed, sitting upright across him as she moved to pull away.
"Why are you here?"
"...It-I...." she stammered, trying to come up with an excuse as she looked away quickly, down at her hands.
"Hm? You don't need to answer."
"Thanks," she blushed, "What are you doing here?"
"She pulled me in. Probably on a whim, out of laziness." 'She' somewhat snarled.
Ammy shook her head, giggling as her nose bumped his own, "I meant, why you even came to the clearing?"
"Because of you."
"Me? Why would Earth concern himself with a shape shifter?" she frowned, staring point blank into his face.
"Why? I do what I feel, and I felt like finding you"
"Why?"
"I want you."
She stopped, smiling almost shyly, color flushing her cheeks as her eyes shimmered.
"I--"
He came running, sword flashing as he lunged forward at Ammy. His eyes were narrowed, twisted in a rage as dark tendrils raced forward. She turned her head, gasping as the darkness pierced her soul, going through her as she was suddenly thrown off of Earth.
āHow could you forget?ā he smirked, āYouāre here for me. Not him!ā Azian ran forward towards her with a cry, his hand outstretched as she tried to dodge it. He grabbed hold of her hair and slammed her back against her body, watching with a little smirk as her chest began to rise and fall, having shoved her out of the spirit world. He looked back towards the two, passing through with her.
"There they go" said the grey woman.
"HmmMM. He can force people to pass between the realms, that is unusual. I don't like it, you should kill him."
"I don't want to."
"What? But he is terrorizing your woman! What was the blunt sweet-talking for then?" She was not actually surprised, but making a point of his how strange his behavior was by acting so.
"... ..."
"Hmhm, okay."
There was someone else there, another human touching Ammy, trying to move her and Azian snarled. Nothing touched her! Nothing lifted her before breaking Ammy's connection ad ruining her. The Tendrils came again, moving both humans, trapping both in tight, stifling and hot. For a moment he ignored the second man. He walked around to her face, nudging her cheek with his bare foot as her eyes suddenly fluttered open. Her lips parted and she saw Earth. Her eyes blinked, bright blue as her muscles quivered. The tattoos on her skin were covered with mud and as she slowly rose to her knees she brushed the mud from her body. Azian smirked, stepping back as he let her rise.
āDo not interfere human,ā Azian spat, even as the darkness nearly broke in the transition from Ammyās body back to his own form, āI wonāt hesitate to kill you.ā
āSave it Azian. Letās get this over with,ā Ammy said sharply, completely ignoring the newcomer. Azian was the real threat.
Ammy and Azian faced off on the forest floor. The clearing was wide enough to keep Earth from getting in the line of fire, and that brought Ammy some peace; no one or anything would suffer because of Azianās challenge. Azian smiled, throwing off his dark cloak and revealing a man clothed in a black tunic and long tight fitting pants, bound together with a rope around his waist. His face was scrunched up in anger and excitement. Slowly he drew the sword from his side, the blade making a hissing whisper as it was removed from the sheath. All the while, he held Ammy directly in his gaze.
Ammy had nothing. She was naked, her only weapons her fists and her reflexes but he wasnāt about to fight an unarmed woman. Azian tossed her a cloak, very similar in his own as she slid her fingers though the sleeves. It morphed, tightening and slinking around her curves until she was wearing almost the same thing as Azian. The only difference was that her sleeves had been exchanged for two gauntlets on each wrist.
āWhat, no sword for me too?ā
A smirk, āDonāt hold back or Iām going to break you.ā
Ammy shrugged her shoulders, smiled, and slowly brought her leg up behind her back. She held it there for a moment, holding out a palm to say āwait.ā
Azian cocked his head in curiosity.
āWish me luck,ā she said to no one in particular, turning her full attention back on him as she let her foot slip back into the dirt, āNowāwhere were we? Oh. Right.ā
She beckoned with her hand, settling low. She wouldnāt make the first strike. All she had to do was defend herself for the time. Let him wear down a bit before going on the offence. The fight was on.
Azian rushed at Ammy. He dipped and weaved right as he was about to reach her and slashed downwards with the sword. She parried with one of her gauntlets, and the blade clashed against the metal strapped to Ammyās arm with a shriek that sent sparks skittering like lightning bugs into the air. Azian was quick and changed the bounce of his sword into an uppercut slash, attempting to catch Ammy m stem all the way to stern. She managed to side step to the right just enough, her body leaning back as the blade passed a hairās breadth from her nose.
Quickly, before Azian could respond with a fallow-up, Ammy swiftly punched him in the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him and stunning the shadow for a moment. He could be hurt, that was good. At least now she stood a chance of at least survivingāmaybe even beating him. Azian hadnāt regained his standing, his lips gasping like a fish as Ammy moved in again. Her foot swung through the air, her foot catching him in the stomach, doubling him over. She quickly followed that with and uppercut.
Even she winced. By doing so she hesitated and Azian smiled, pointed teeth glimmering as he took the opening. He used the environment to his advantage, his own foot returning the kick as she slid back, nearly falling into the mud. He pushed himself off of the bark of one of the trees, speeding towards her with a determined look, his hand tightening on the blade, his eyes wide with the scent of her blunder. However, this was a game to him too and just before he reached her, his body flattened out, feet first. His ankles wrapped around her neck.
It startled Ammy, her eyes widening as she too had just finished gathering her wits. She gasped as he gave her an almost apologetic shrug, his lips grinning. Azian used his momentum to be creative; instead of piling into her, he instead twisted his body forcefully. Her body dropped, pulled down by his yank on her neck and he leapt off as she went face first into a puddle of mud. He landed directly behind her, watching as she slowly pushed herself up, wiping the mud from her eyes and mouth as she spat. He allowed her the time, a small smirk on his face as she looked away. He approached, sword resting by his side. She waited till he was close enough, grabbing hold of his wrist and throwing Azian past her body.
There was nothing to slow him down, the water creating a slip-and-slide of mud and dirt as his body went barreling towards the stump of a tree. He was finally stopped by the tree, a groan escaping his lips as the pain form the attack stared to set in. She didnāt give him a chance to get up. She ran forward, her arms pumping as she let out a small cry. She was getting ready to kick when all her momentum was suddenly thrown forward into her leg.
The world went quiet for a moment, the forest holding its breath.
Azian rolled. It was a testament to his experience in battle, having moved just at the right time. Ammyās leg smashed into the ground, slamming into the root with her shin and knee. The wood splintered, rising up in a torrent of splinters. Most would have let their opponent rise, as an honorable fight, but Azian had no such concept. As the splinters were still rising and she was turning back to face them he moved. With the speed of a cat, he swept towards her head. The attack was so fast that it didnāt hurt Ammy, rather sent her a foot into the air.
Why hadnāt that hurt?
It was Azianās intention. Swiftly, he rolled forward and under her back, facing Ammyās back. Air whooshed from her lung as she was pushed back up by a kick from Azian. She flew forward, hitting the mud again as she skidded forward, coming to a stop into
a massive puddle.
āThis is going to hurt you just as much as itās going to hurt me,ā Azian said softly, rising and sweeping back a strand of hair from his face. He ran forward, picking her up by the collar of the robes. He threw her up, crouching under her body as he exploded upwards to the body. He grabbed her by the waist, twisted midair and arched the two of them towards the ground, easily angling her head first.
She screamed, her ears going flat against her skull as her eyes closed and her shoulders rose up to her chin. He grunted, his shoulder hitting the ground first as her lower back struck next. There was the sound of a shoulder splitting with painful cracking and crunching sound as the bone shattered under enormous pressure. Ammyās body hung vertical for the briefest moment, suspended in an ephemeral moment in time, then she collapsed. Her body went limp in an uncomfortable position but she was still breathing.
Azian let her go and slowly stood, rolling his shoulder as the bone began to rearrange, snapping and crackling back into place as he gave a huff of laughter. He turned, looking back at her as brief sadness flashed across his face before it replaced by a smile.
āThat had to hurt,ā he said to himself, smirking as he played with his sword, debating on slicing her open. It was only then that he noticed the blood. It was from his nail.
āDAMN IT! I broke a nail!ā he exclaimed in frustration.