Prophesy Fulfilled

How had she made it here…? Where was she? Her breath came short, almost not all. It was hard to differentiate between the already blurred line between her reality and the sick twisted heap of nerves and matter that made up her tired, overworked brain. She could feel her body, cloaked in rags, twitch harshly against the rough sand. Was she back? Her nerves were ragged and the dull grating sound of her mad giggle ripped through her head. She hated her existence. She wanted to die… But what had that enigmatic figure said to her in the bowels of the fiery underworld…? Something about "molding her own path?" Why could she not just wither and die. Die like the ones that came before… Die and rot in darkness. In, darkness at least she could breathe, and her cackles were not as ominous, as harsh.

And then light, her adversary, poured forth into her tired, bag encircled eyes, and her face felt tight. She blinked hard for a moment, clearing salt water and grainy sand. A tear or two threatened, but she wiped them away with a painfully sore arm. She stared above her, a young face, cast in shadow by the overhead sun looked upon her. A face from her memories, and her nightmares… Her life was a waking one. She had seen this face for many a long moment, and longed to destroy it, utterly destroy it. And now, at the greatest chance, she could not…

"Rae…" her groan, her sick grating voice still spoke the anger, and the hate…

Rae stared at her in shock, shook her head, blinked once, twice, then straightened.

What the hell was she doing?

And then in a flash, two well placed finger jabbed into Loa’s neck, and all went black.

Unconsciousness, Loa now decided, was a good thing. An ally in this sea of betrayers. At least in the state of unspoken and unrealized dreams, she was safe from her madness. From that accursed black dragon… But then again, wasn’t SHE the black dragon. None of it made sense. Not one bit. But when had that ever made a difference?

Footsteps, and scared brown eyes snapped open, cover was reestablished, and that same ice coldness raced over them once again, the mad smile burned once more. The crystal, onyx in shade, glowed in a strange way.

Rae came into her view. Loa groaned softly, and the other girl circled around and stared down at the ruined warrior.

"You came back."

"Not willingly." Loa groaned.

"You were dead… At least that's what everyone thought. I knew that a demon like you couldn't stay in hell forever though."

"Thanks for the compliment." Loa breathed in slowly. She was being… civil? Rare, to say the least.

"Why did you come back to haunt us."

"Sent."

"What do you mean." Rae narrowed her eyes. The question was posed more as a command.

"I was sent by someone…" Loa began coughing roughly.

Rae stepped over her, and walked to the corner of the cave and came back with a small water skin. "Drink." She commanded and dropped the skin near Loa's head.

Loa struggled to sit and with an aching body reached over and picked up the skin. She took a long sip of the water. It was cool and clean, and she could feel it trail down her esophagus and into her empty stomach. How long had it been since she had eaten…? A hunger pain raced up her side, she clutched at it, and gasped for a minute. She looked at the ground.

"Hungry?" Rae asked, her tone cold.

Loa still stared at the ground, shook her head yes.

Rae moved out of her view again, and when she returned, she held an apple. She threw it down next to the water skin, and then perched herself on a small outcropping of rock.

Loa ate, and drank, trying to ignore her bodily aches and pain. Those twinges were irrelevant now. She had a greater mission to fulfill. When she had finished, Rae looked upon her again.

"I shouldn't even be wasting my time." Rae muttered.

"So why continue to sit here?"

"I do have something called responsibility. I will not allow you to run rampant… In short, leave you unattended. I learned my lesson about you long ago… When you ran me through with your daggers."

"Save the speech, Amazon."

Rae's eyes turned cold. "Loa, don't try my patience, I don't care who you are, I don't care what kind of power you pretend to have, you are weak, and I can and will strike you down if necessary."

"Threats? That's all you can say?" Loa sniffed. "You're still afraid of me aren't you?"

"Afraid of a monster like you? Never."

"You say that, but your eyes tell me otherwise. You remember our last battle… The fire and the flames… Did the academy get totally destroyed?"

Loa watched as Rae's hand balled into a fist. She could sense her anguish. Then Rae turned her face away.

"Shut up." Rae growled through gritted teeth.

Loa ceased to speak. She wasn't listening per se, to the command… But there was nothing more to say…

"Why'd you come back? To torment us some more?"

"You think this is all about you?!" Loa shouted, now growing indignant. "It's not, I was sent here."

"By who? A ghostie?" Rae laughed at her own joke, and her tense face loosened.

"I thought that you would be the first to realize our days of playing and joking are over."

"I was being serious."

"Yeah, whatever… You wouldn't believe--" Loa stooped abruptly.

Rae snapped her head back to face her when she heard labored breathing.

"Loa?" she asked looking at the still upright figure.

Loa did not respond, her eyes rolled up in the back of her head… She was far away now…

__________________

Japan… The smell of the air was crisp in her lungs… Home? Where exactly was she…? A hill of sorts, and all around her was green countryside. A little ways away was a small village… Memory struck her like an iron hammer. This had been her home… Before her mother's death… Before ninjas, and dragons…

Who was that at the foot of the hill? A girl? Long black hair, braided… Tan skin…

Wait… Loa? No… It couldn't be herself…

"Ming?" a name touched her lips like an ordain from some God.

And then she the vision shook and wavered, and a feeling of helplessness flooded her, and then her eyes snapped open. Rae was close to her, shaking her shoulders hard.

Loa snapped her hand out and pushed the Amazon away, gasping for breath. Her hand fell to the cold stone ground, and loose strands of black hair draped over her sweat soaked forehead.

"What happened?" Rae asked, slinking back to her seat on the outcropping.

Loa breathed heavily still, and did not at first respond… "I really… Don’t…" Then the crystal at her neck burned, singed her skin. She screamed.

"What?!" Rae dashed back over to her side.

"Get away from me!!" Loa screamed at her. What was happening? Her mind exploded a thousand times through, thoughts flooded, and she could feel… The demon. She cackled wildly as she writhed on the floor like an animal.

Rae stared at her with haunted eyes. She reached for her sword.

Loa jumped to her feet and walked about two paces closer to Rae, before slumping to the ground, spent. Carefully, Rae approached her.

Just as Rae was to reach down and check her pulse, Loa’s eye’s snapped open. They were different then before. Wild. Like that night on the cliff. She was mad again…

"Hahahahaha." Loa giggled.

"Get a hold of yourself Loa!" Rae commanded.

Loa buried her face in the cavern floor for a moment, and then she turned back to Rae, her face twisted in some weird expression. "I know… Where we have to go." She said softly.

"What?! We?" Rae asked, surprise written across her face.

"Yes… I saw it, a vision. We must go to Japan…"

"Why?"

"We must find my sister." Loa sat up, her face calm now; her eyes tired and dull.

"Sister? You have a sister?"

"Silence."

"Who do you think you are? Coming in here now, after all you’ve done? I saved you, I could have left you on that beach to die."

Loa looked up at Rae, solemn. "If you don’t take me to Japan… Everything dies."

Something in her eyes flickered, and Rae opened her mouth to say something, but stopped halfway. She believed her.

"I’m evil." Loa whispered. Her voice was not high-pitched anymore. It was normal… Reminiscent of the old days… Of bell-towers, cheese, and jokes. "I always was, but my spirit has been reawakened just recently. Blood sacrifices… Shang knew." Loa continued, bringing a hand up to sweep away matted strands of hair. "I killed, and the Dragon came back… And if I don’t find my sister… All is lost."

"How do you know this?" Rae said, she knew Loa was devious. Was this just another trick?

"Someone in the underworld told me my salvation awaits."

"Who?"

"Someone from my past, another lost soul… Destined to die, but left a legacy behind." Loa’s worlds were cryptic and she did not offer further explanation.

"How do you expect me to help you?"

"I know you have a power too, Rae." Loa was still calm. "A power that can hold mine for a short time, until I find my sister, the Yin to my Yang… The person that can limit the Dragon inside of me." Loa touched her chest, to where her heart was. "I cannot do this alone… I don’t have enough strength, and even with you, the Dragon will take over again…" She gestured to the onyx stone on her neck. "This stone allowed me to see my sister… Allows me to speak to you now, but its power is not everlasting…" Loa shook her head, and then gasped. "I have to go now…" she muttered. "It’s back."

Then she fell back onto the clammy stone and the cave was silent. Rae stared at the girl… Wondering what was the truth.

________

The next morning, Rae awoke, in the cave. She had not trusted Loa enough to even leave her unconscious form by itself. Dubiously, she watched Loa, still sprawled over the stone floor. Could she indeed be telling the truth? After all the lies, all the games? How could she trust her? How could anyone expect her to?

She killed me... She ran a dagger... she touched her shoulder. Here... A slow tear ran down her pale cheek and her breath caught in her chest. How can I trust...?

But before the thought’s end had come, there was a stirring at the other end of the cave. In the shadows and the pale darkness, Loa moved. A soft, low moan echoed up into the cave’s ceiling. Rae swallowed hard and steeled herself. Pushing the silent tear away she moved back into the darkness to see what the girl had to say.

Another low moan echoed into the cavern. A slight chill ran down Rae’s spine.

"Ra—" Loa’s harsh whisper was choked out like a shrill wind.

Rae inched towards the other, her hand shook slightly. Why was she so afraid? Loa was as good as an invalid...

"Rae..." the choked cry slithered forth into the depths of the shadows that enveloped them and Rae quivered a little more.

"Yes?" she said, steeling herself.

"Wa—water..." Loa whispered.

Rae nodded, and walked to the other end of the cave and retrieved the water skin. She brought it back to Loa, and the injured girl drank hungrily. Loa took deep, sharp breaths as she drew the skin away from her mouth. She brought up a bruised and limp arm to her forehead and wiped away droplets of sweat. She cast the skin aside, and almost fell right back onto the stone floor.

"We have... we have to hurry."

"What?" Rae said, surprised, she was shocked that Loa was even speaking, let alone bringing up... Leaving again.

"We got to... If we don’t it’s gonna come..."

"It...?"

"I told you."

"I don’t believe all that."

"You have to Rae!" Loa said, her forceful tone took Rae by surprise.

Rae narrowed her eyes. Again, her guard was up.

"Please Rae.... Just once. Just trust me one more time..."

Rae was losing patience. "You don’t understand Loa! How can I trust you? You speak of trust like it’s a game! You killed me! You KILLED me! And now you sit here, spouting words and promises and threats and you want me to go willingly? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" she screamed.

The echo bounced against the stone walls of the cave horribly and Loa winced and shrunk back against the wall.

"Rae... Rae..." Tears were coming to Loa’s eyes. "I..." the tears come in torrents. "I’m sorry! I’m sorry, ok? I’m sorry for hurting you! I was wrong... But I cannot control myself anymore! Don’t you see? I’m not me anymore... I was never me. I don’t know who or what I am. I am as a good as an animal. My mind is gone. I only know that someone told me I can be free and live a life and be happy... Just like you... Just like them." Weakly, Loa gestured to the cave entrance. "The Amazons... I never belonged here... You brought me... And you’re gonna get me outta here. You will not endanger these people any longer."

"Blame it on me?" Rae said, astonished. "I thought I was doing the right thing! Why is it my fault that you’re a messed up person?"

"STOP! Just stop! Stop throwing your petty insults and hate! I hate you and you hate me. That’s been established. We don’t like each other. We’ve done bad things to one another. But we have to do what’s right, not for just us, but for the world... For the people we care about." Loa pleaded. "I have no one left. I don’t care for this world, but I must try to fulfill the prophesy I was told of. Fate will carry me through if that is what will be." she looked at her hands, waiting for Rae’s response.

Quiet seconds raced past, a small noise of trickling water passed overhead. Rae looked away, her eyes seemed distant, tired.

"We’ll leave at nightfall." she said, turning. "Make sure you’re ready."

She walked from the cave, and Loa was left alone. She dried her wet cheeks, and stared out of the mouth of her dwelling.

... You promised... Lao Ma.... Her mind slowly echoed the words, gruesomely in her empty head. She clasped a trembling hand around the black onyx stone, and closed her tired eyes.

******

Rae looked around the small dock that housed the boats used for transport and hunting. She saw a slightly worn one, and a sharp breeze raced past her face. She remembered:

The memory snapped back like a broken rubber band, and Rae opened her eyes with a gasp, and she steadied herself on the dock’s support. She had thought... No, at that time she had known that Loa was good at heart. How could she have been so blind? What had happened? She shook herself free of the haunting thoughts, and looked for a boat. She needed a study one. The trip to Japan was not too far... A good day or two. She shivered slightly. Could she really stay in a boat with Loa for that long? She was uneasy... But she couldn’t allow that to be seen. She knew Loa by now. Loa would use that uneasiness in Rae and feed on it, and make everything... Wrong.

She couldn’t think of that now. It was time to get the supplies for the journey, and make final preparations. But something, deep inside of her, nagged at her subconscious. Should she tell the others of Loa’s presence on the island? Or should she remain silent... Disappear. Stealth won over honesty, and Rae hurried off to prepare.

*******

When Rae had returned to the cave, near nightfall, Loa laid in a shadowy corner, clinging to the stone around her neck, muttering nothings into the tiny space around her. She huddled closer to herself as Rae approached. The other’s shadow stretched over Loa, and she whimpered as Rae gently touched her shoulder.

With a gasp, she came back into consciousness with a sharp start.

"Calm down."

Loa panted, and pushed herself against the wall behind her. "Oh God." her voice was dry and crackled, like dead leaves against the ground.

"Are you ok?"

"I... Did you get the stuff?" she looked down, hiding her frightened eyes in shadow.

Rae stood, slightly put off. "Yeah."

"Then let’s go." Loa tried to struggle to her feet, but her legs gave way from beneath her.

Rae looked at the young woman, and shook her head. This could not all be an act... A trick. Loa would never feign such weakness. She had never...

"Please Rae..." Loa muttered, and then stumbled to her feet, grasping the craggy rocks behind her.

Rae stared at Loa for a moment, and then reached over and grabbed her by the shoulder. "Come on." she said quietly.

Loa just grasped Rae’s arm with a shaky hand and was guided from the cave. It was apparent, though, that the aura between the two was strained and tense, at best.

******

It was near midnight now, the dark ocean wavered beneath the small boat, and the wind spread over the waters like a dead breath from beyond. Tiredly, Rae steered the boat through the oncoming waves. The ocean was calm, and Rae could probably have let herself rest, but her mind was too active to allow for rest. On the other end of the boat, huddled in some blankets that Rae had stowed on the vessel, lay Loa. She was shivering slightly. Rae had noticed that Loa had a fever that came and went. There was nothing to be done. Rae merely left the water skin within the other’s grasp, and returned to her position.

The waves were soothing, the sounds of the sea crashed back and forth. Everything had taken on such a different shade in the darkness, and Loa... Loa lying there, quiet. Flashes of memory assaulted Rae with the salty air.

The had gone, together... What had happened since then? Why had the lines between them blurred? That day... Loa had left her, Loa had left the tribe. It had been her choice. But why had she? Hadn’t they been good friends? Hadn’t they treated each other with respect? She had known from the beginning Loa was different. She had a lot of anger, and pain in her soul. She had come from hell... A hell governed by people who made her kill for her to be accepted... But she couldn’t forgive her actions. She had killed so many... She had killed Rae... If it were not for the other amazons, then she shuttered to think of what could’ve happened.

Rae stared over at Loa and then at the black sea. This was it though. After this, she would help Loa no more. Her consciousness would be clear. She had done all that she had to...

And so the waves came again, and the night thickened.

********

Rae came awake with a start the next morning. She had fallen asleep somehow. As she squinted in the early morning dawn light, she looked above her to see a speck of land in the distance.

Japan.

They had traveled far, fast. She was glad to see that had made this much progress in such a short time. Slowly, Rae stretched sore muscles and leaned over. She got to her feet and shakily shook Loa. Loa groaned and gasped and then blinked bleary eyes.

"Are... are we here?" she muttered, peaking out from under the blankets.

"Yeah. Get up and have something to eat... We have to get moving."

Loa stirred and took a piece of bread and some fruit from the sack in the corner of the boat. Rae returned to her place. The wind had picked up, and the only sounds around them were the strong wind and the waves lapping around the boat. Slowly Loa ate her fruit and bread, and swallowed down some water.

"Rae," she began after some silence.

"Yeah?" she replied.

"You realize, that there are a lot of people on this island that want me dead."

"So?"

"Well... It’s gonna be dangerous."

"I’ve been in worse danger." Rae shot Loa a look.

Loa stopped talking. She finished her breakfast and glanced at Rae. Seeing her face, she decided against speaking and waited for the shore to come.

*********

"So where is your sister?"

"I don’t know."

"So how the hell are we going to find her?" Rae demanded.

"I know... I’ll know ok?"

"Yeah... right."

Rae and Loa had disembarked from their vessel and were heading off the beach in the direction of a small town.

"Where are we?"

Loa stopped in her unsteady tracks momentarily. "I think..."

The wind picked up and moved around them, the sea behind them roared and crashed.

"We’re close... This is Ni Shang’s land."

"You mean... Your master?"

"My ex-master. He’s always been a fool..."

Rae said nothing, just inclined her head to look up at the sky. "So? Now what?"

"We have to find my sister..."

"Where?"

"We’ll know when we get there."

Rae just shook her head and followed Loa as the other young woman stared out at the scenery around her... Her home...

********

They walked for a long time, until they reached the nearby town. They traversed the town square. The townspeople watched the two warriors, one in amazon raiments, the other...

"Ano kuroi ryu! Ano kuroi ryu!" a woman screamed, dropping her vegetables. Loa bowed her head, and shielded her face as a crowd began to gather.

"What did she say?"

"The black dragon... they know I’ve returned..." Loa looked down at her armor, although it was dirtied and scratched, the impression of a black dragon was still there. As well as the ominous black dragon emblazoned on her daggers and their sheaths.

As Rae and Loa pushed through the crowd, Loa shifted uncomfortably. "I’m worried."

Rae looked at her. "Why?"

"I know where my sister is."

"Huh?"

"She’s... here..."

"What? What are you talking about Loa?"

"She’s close by..."

Loa spun around and stared around. Some of the market crowd was dispersing, some were rushing Loa with offerings.

"Kuroi ryu kami." some said, and shoved fruit, money, and clothes at Loa’s feet.

Loa could not speak, and Rae stared dumbly after her. "Why do they give you all that?"

"They... they fear me."

to part two (the dramatic conclusion)