Endgame of Arlian

The Gatekeeper smiled grimly as the hundred-degrees flames swept around them, blasting outwards from the core still, the border of the firestorm spreading. Estian was struggling more and more to suppress the flames coming towards them and had resorted to using both hands to fight the fire. The Gatekeeper stood, one arm hanging limp, and shook his head.
%u201CDon%u2019t bother fighting it. The flames will never stop now that I%u2019ve started them. The only thing that could possibly douse it would be a rainstorm of massive proportions. However, I seriously doubt that%u2019ll happen anytime soon,%u201D he said, looking around for his cloak. He found the heavy article a few feet away, lying in the middle of the fire, totally immune to the heat. Tychis glared at the Gatekeeper.
%u201CFool. Because of you, we%u2019ll all perish!%u201D she growled. The Gatekeeper actually laughed.
%u201CYou might, but I won%u2019t.%u201D With that, he gestured to his cloak and sword, and both flew to him. Before Cinos or Tychis could attack, he dove into the flames and disappeared from sight, leaving the three generals to fend for themselves.
The Gatekeeper held his cloak tightly shut as he made his way through the flames, all the way to the core. He narrowed his eyes and peered into it for a moment before finding what he had been looking for; the power he%u2019d sent that had started the firestorm. He willed it to return, and as it did so, he noticed the flames die down very slightly in intensity. The Gatekeeper ran as quickly as he could, trying to get out of the area. He knew that once the power had been taken, the fires would remain for only fifteen or twenty minutes. Just enough time for him to get to the Sephrain Tower from here and, hopefully, deal with the Dark leader before any of them could come to her aid.

He%u2019d been on the move for nearly an hour, and only now was he coming into view of the tower entrance. The Sephrain Tower, while many miles tall, was tucked away deep behind black, Dark-infested passes and caves. Of course, the few weak Dark that remained in those places hadn%u2019t put up much of a fight for the Gatekeeper. He%u2019d bandaged his shoulder and side, but the skin around both of the wounds had begun to turn black, which was most definitely not a good sign. He hurried into the tower anyway, the Longsword held firmly in his right hand%u2014the left was still barely operational.
Immediately inside of the tower stood a large statue, decked in full armor and wielding a slender, elegant sword. The Gatekeeper recognized it immediately as a statue of Elincia, one of the more famous Oracles of the past who had fought off some of the worse evils in the dimensions. However, the statue had been horribly defaced; one arm was missing, and the face had been reshaped with magic to resemble some kind of demoness. The Gatekeeper easily got around the severed arm and grimaced. Everything%u2014the tower%u2019s structure, the statues, pictures on the wall%u2014all of it spoke of past millennia when the Oracles had ruled supreme.
He proceeded to a dual stairwell, with one set leading up into the higher reaches of Sephrain Tower and another leading to the subterranean caverns below. The Gatekeeper never hesitated in his decision, and went as quickly as he could down the steps. As he descended, a sulfurous smell permeated the air, and it began to grow very warm. The steps seemed to go on for hours, with only torches giving off a sickly green glow to light the way. Suddenly, the staircase ended, and the Gatekeeper came out into a bright red area. As his eyes got used to the abrupt bright light, he could peer around the room and figure out where he was.
The first thing he noticed was that the light came from below. The room itself extended for miles all around, and the distant walls were hardly visible through what seemed to be heat waves distorting the air. The Gatekeeper stood a few feet from the edge of what had obviously once been a huge floor or platform. Pillars and other platforms were also visible, each one as ruined and crumbled as his own perch. He stepped over to the edge and leaned out a little, so as he could see the floor of the place. He peered down what seemed to be miles and miles of empty space before it all came to a huge ocean of boiling, swirling magma.
The Gatekeeper frowned and stepped back from the edge and tightened his grip on the Longsword. This was obviously the end of the line for the staircase. He could sense something in here anyway%u2014something that seemed to be little more than a mass of writhing dark energy attached to a flesh and bone structure. He looked up and sized up the gap between his platform and the next one over. He gave a small grin before taking a step forward and launching himself through the smoldering air and onto the next platform. He looked from the edge and realized he was somewhat closer to his goal. The next platform was too far away to jump, but there was a crumbling pillar nearby. He again jumped, but this time, he hit the pillar and jumped from that onto the next platform. He made his way through the cavern like that until he came to roughly the center, and he could finally see a figure standing on a huge platform that was lower than his own. He stepped to the very edge and prepared to drop down when the figure spoke.
%u201CYou. I wasn%u2019t expecting to see you here, Arlian,%u201D said the figure slowly. Her voice was soft and sweet, enough to charm any man into doing her bidding. There was, however, a certain underlying tone that spoke of incredible evil and put into one%u2019s mind terrible things. Luckily, though, the Gatekeeper wasn%u2019t exactly a man. He, however, smiled, and squatted down a little.
%u201CI%u2019m surprised you remembered my old name,%u201D he said after a moment. %u201CIt%u2019s been a long time indeed since I%u2019ve been called that.%u201D He frowned and sighed. %u201CAlthough it does bring back some awkward situations. Hm. Ah, well.%u201D
%u201CAnd what of the body you inhabit? Another pawn?%u201D asked the woman. She turned slightly, and the darkness suddenly dispersed slightly, so that the Gatekeeper could see part of her face. Her eyes were obscured by long locks of dark, dark black hair, and she wore a single piece of armor on her left shoulder. A sword, cruel and curved, was strapped over her back, and it reflected hardly any light.
%u201CNo. No pawn this time. This boy is one of her friends, so I decided that it would be a good choice to use him. Slight mistake, though; he%u2019s a lot stronger than I thought. He%u2019s almost broken out of my hold several times now,%u201D replied Arlian. He stood and sighed. %u201CBut we hardly have time to chat, do we? Our bodies are rapidly failing, I%u2019m afraid.%u201D
%u201CI see%u2026 so%u2026 you are at last succumbing to the Dark?%u201D she asked, one pale hand reaching up to seize her sword. She smiled, and it was enough to make anybody go either mad from fear or insane with joy.
%u201CHardly. This body is just badly worn from my encounter with your Generals,%u201D he replied, and flourished his weapon. She smiled as it reflected the light of the lava below.
%u201CQuite understandable. Now, come fool, and feel the embrace of the Dark!%u201D
The Gatekeeper leapt down and raised the Longsword overhead with both hands. He came down directly on top of the woman, and their blades connected. They sparked and she forced back the Gatekeeper. He landed lightly on his feet and jumped back, one hand unfastening his cloak as he moved nimbly to one side. The thick cloth fell away and landed heavily on the floor, leaving the Gatekeeper uninhibited. He dashed forwards, grunting slightly at the pain in his shoulder, and again locked blades with her. Her free hand came up and she sort of gently stroked his face, but her hand didn%u2019t make contact. Arlian immediately pushed himself back from her, grimacing.
%u201CDammit%u2026 what the hell did you do!?%u201D he growled, feeling a slight alluring after touch of where her fingers had traced.
She laughed, and Arlian felt the darkness emanating from her in waves. %u201CI see. I understand all of it now. I see why you chose the boy, Arlian. That power he has%u2026 the energy coursing through his blood%u2026 he is an Oracle!%u201D
%u201COracle?%u201D Arlian snorted, %u201CThis boy couldn%u2019t be an Oracle. He was the %u2018Warrior%u2019 before I took him. He%u2019s a sort of malformed one, to be sure, but no way this kid%u2019s pureblood Oracle.%u201D
%u201CDon%u2019t be so sure, Arlian,%u201D she replied, and lunged once more. They clashed, their blades ringing against each other%u2019s loudly as they fought across the platform. The Gatekeeper was fighting well, managing to keep up a reasonable defense%u2014after, of course, he%u2019d drawn the Gatekey Sword%u2014while attacking regularly. The woman was astoundingly quick and always seemed to have a satisfied smile on her face. Arlian knew something was going wrong, and it was momentarily confirmed. With a sudden flash of her blade, the woman cut his thigh, then his arm an across his chest. Arlian went down to his knees, and narrowly dodged decapitation. He let himself fall backwards and rolled to the side, again narrowly dodging her sword as it sliced down.
He came up a few feet away, panting heavily, his wounds bleeding badly. The woman laughed for a moment before turning to face him, the edge of her blade dripping blood.
%u201CCome now, Arlian, surely a few small wounds couldn%u2019t hurt you THAT badly? Unless, that is, you%u2019re weaker than you would let on?%u201D
%u201COh no, this is for real. I guess%u2026 I%u2019m weaker than anticipated. Heh%u2026 I%u2026 I guess that I won%u2019t be able%u2026 to help her out%u2026 after all%u2026%u201D the Gatekeeper said as he sagged a little. His strength was rapidly draining. He attacked again anyway, his swords flashing as he lunged up at her. She sidestepped his attacks calmly before striking his back with the flat of the blade. The Gatekeeper was sent sprawling, and the tripped. He laid on his stomach, breathing raggedly, the sulfurous smell filling his nostrils and darkness creeping all around. Faintly, he could hear her voice.
%u201CPoor little Arlian. So weak%u2026 so very pathetic. Not at all like the amazing warrior I knew of old.%u201D As she spoke, the woman walked around to stand in front of him. Her sword tip flipped him onto his back. Arlian was more or less shocked%u2014he never thought he%u2019d be so easily bested. He glared up at her grinning face, at last seeing her eyes. They were slits. Both were a dark violet color and the pupils were slits, just like a reptile%u2019s. She spoke again, a quiet whisper or hiss. It was hard to tell.
%u201CArlian, what happened to you? Even a hundred years ago, you would have won this battle. It couldn%u2019t be the boy, Oracle though he may be; only one with the power of a King could throw your control. No, it%u2019s something more%u2026 emotion, perhaps? Hm. I guess%u2026 that I%u2019ll never know for sure. Farewell, Arlian.%u201D She brought her sword up, and was about to slash down when the Gatekeeper suddenly gasped. She paused in her swing, frowning down at the now convulsing figure.
She stepped back, hissing, as light flared out of the body. She shielded her eyes, grimacing, as the light burned bright for a moment before slowly dying down. It took her eyes a moment to get used to the dark cavern, but when she did, it made her gasp. The Gatekeeper%u2014or at least, he looked like the Gatekeeper from behind%u2014stood, the wound on his arm clearly visible. The sleeve had been partially ripped away, and the black flesh was showing. However, as she watched, the normal skin color slowly crept up, a thin line of light glowing dimly as it repaired his flesh. It passed over the cut, and he was no longer wounded. He turned to face her as the light faded out, and it became very clear that he was no longer the Gatekeeper. Eyes, a bright, vibrant green, stared at her calmly from underneath of hooded lids.
%u201CHe became weaker because he didn%u2019t want to fight. His role came, and he served it. The Gatekeeper, Arlian, wanted nothing more to do with this war of good and evil.%u201D The boy smirked confidently. %u201CHowever, I am entirely willing to do battle. After all, they call me the %u2018Warrior%u2019.%u201D
The woman narrowed her eyes at the boy, and then grinned. Soon, she was laughing loudly, her head thrown back. %u201COh, this is simply perfect! The challenge fades and leaves me this child, this useless boy! And here I thought I may very well die by his hand!%u201D She continued to laugh for a moment before calming herself and flashing a nasty grin at the Warrior. %u201CI can%u2019t believe my luck. So very fortunate. However, you have likely had the worst luck today,%u201D she said, and attacked.
The Warrior smiled and stepped aside, narrowly dodging the attack. He went down smoothly, picked up the Gatekey Sword, and came back up on his feet. He flourished the weapon, and it seemed to shatter. What was left behind was a bright, clear blade, roughly three feet long, with a single tongue of flame etched into the blade. He parried her attacks for a moment, and it felt as if he were testing the metaphorical waters.