Ascension Part Two : He is Risen

[Shae the Bat]

"I am the eternal.. I have watched the events of the eons unfold and have never interfered. The constant, the continual, the battle of my children wages on the surface of an infant planet. My daughter lays defeated, broken, listless on the black sands as my eldest son stands in his ascended form. Looming over the world with his infinite shadow. Let us see now where the events lead.. into eternal darkness and suffering or into peace and prosperity of the light.."

The events prophecied in the ancient texts, forseen by the Star Child Rayne have come true. Syntaru trhe great Demon God of Destruction has fully ascended into the realm of existence. With his Apostles abound, the side of evil clearly has the advantage in this struggle. Aries and Ishillar called out for the other Vanguards, summoning them to the island.. calling for Rayne, Naia, Augustus and the Archer. Lending those who were weakened some of their power to recover.

Slowly, the remaining Vanguards arrived on the island using what remained of the Celestius Nova to teleport. Drained but still standing, the Holy warriors took their stance, ready to strike at the demon. The Apostles too, readied themselves to defend their dark Lord. Then, in a brilliant show of light, the Goddess body began to glow. She returned to her astral form, a heavenly mist with angel wings. Her voice echoed out reaching her heroes in the Chaos Realm and those who had travelled to the surface. Those who she had chosen found new strength, new life, new strength.

She brought them all to the island and spoke.

"Hear me now, my loyal warriors, the power that now flows through you is the hopes, the courage of all Mobians who live under my light.. you must stand toegether if you are to defeat Syntaru.. alas.. I cannot fight alongside you.. my time in this realm nears its end... goodbye and good luck.. heroes.."

With that, the ethereal cloud faded away. With their Goddess gone, the Demon standing before them.. would the Mortals and Vanguards be victorious or would they fail. The time has come, the deciding battle is about to begin on the fragile planet called Mobius.

[Stealth Greyblade]

Stealth gasped as he was trasnported from the rocky and unstable chaos realm..............rigth into the maw of hell itself one end, the goddes all gassy like and the other a dragon from his dakrest and most horible nightmares, it sent a shiver up his spine and made his brave soul feel cold, but he did not run he isntead listend to the goddes words and for the first time his soul was touched he was determined to fight and help get rid of that damned beast. His eyes loooked to the disaples of darkness finaly stopping on that damn lemur from before."Looks likes I can take out two brids with one stone."he said with a smirk as he concentrated on his light energy and with a flash his light blade ignighted in his paw as he charged tword the lemur."LEts do this! For Evergreen For the mortal race..FOR MOBIUS!"he snarled out charging at the dicaple he had chosen to attack.

Simon just chuckled as he brought his weapon systems to full power, crimosn energy crackling over his form. "perfect just perfect, the lord of shadow has arison and the hero wanabees have come. This is too much fun and even as we speak my minions are ready to aid me as I am ready to aid my lord, indeed this is a good day for me, now WICH OF YOU FOOLS WANTS TO TRY TO STOP MY LORD! FOR I AM SURE THAT IT WIL LBE A QUICK LIVED ATTEMPT!"

[Tonixion]

Andre Demockstro. Apostle of Syntaru The Prophet. The gigantic demon stood beside the other followers of his Master. His seething eye reviewed one by one his future opponents. There was Tala, the Queen of Shadows and Martyr for her savior. There was Simon Bloodclaw, the military tactician and mechanical genius. Shae Orion, Betrayer of The Light. And then there was himself...

All his life and unlife, Andre had never been sure where he would lead himself. He never had figured he would have been lead on such a path that would lead him into the blackness of the Void, and back again to be tossed into something he never figured would go as far as it would. The interview with Sage Rayne, however brief it was, had opened his eye for the better.

His was the second steps forward in this battle field of woe. The charcoal foot mixed with the charcoal ground, the splitting setting seemed to be this creature's element. Demockstro took only five steps forward before he turned his back to the Followers of Light, and planted The Reckoner in the soil in front of him. With his unnerving mask facing the three evil-smitten foes, he bellowed out the next few words with shocking clarity in his usually cackling voice.

"Here me now, You Martyrs of Darkness and Saints of The Light! I have played through this conflict with however small a role and however few lines that I have had through this facade of a theater. None of you know me, None of you could care. But you, Lord!" An authorative black finger was pointed at The Prophet. "You are my bane! You have held me by the leash binded to me from our word! Well there is a time for deals to be broken, and that time is now. All deals are off! I shed your mask of destruction, and I break the chains that hold me to your will. Hear me, You false Prophet!" The scorching violet cloak of flames that engulfed him were snatched away by his unworldly claws, and tossed aside to the soot. It let out a shrill cry of a living creature dying, and did just that.

His bare cracked body that told too many tales of misery. The Reckoner blade in front of him began to crack and split in two, falling to either side in a defeated shroud of demonic flame, useless. The mask, a symbol of all the hate that burned within his now-beating heart fell to his feet to reveal a half-scarred face with only one gray eye and half a mouth to smile from. With a bone-crunching crack, the mask was wrecked asunder by the giant's foot. His claws flexed vexingly, eager for one last fight against minions he cared not for, only for one impossible monster.

"I am Andre Demockstro, Apostle no more, and I am -your- bane now!"

[Shae the Bat]

Syntaru looked down at the defiant demon, gnarling his jaw and letting out a low growl. The heaving chest breathing in the sulpher and ash in the high air. He raised his mighty clawed hand in the air then struck down, swiping at the pint-sized Demockstro sending him flying across the blackened sand.

"Defiant welp.. if you will not reign with me, then you will DIE with your beloved heroes.."

One wonders why the Goddess would so suddenly trasnport, heal, and empower her warriors.. then leave them to their own. Was she gone forever, had her light been extinguished? These questions resonated in the minds of her heroes as they stood before the Prophet in his final form. Watching Andre get tossed about like a ragdoll was the final straw.. Aries snapped.. he leapt out, grabbed the flung Demockstro and safely put him back on the soil. Not a second later, a red blast of energy whizzed by his head.

Shae had also grown impatient. His former aly, his former brother in arms, now bitter rivals. Aries dashed away, lashing with his sword, Shae dodging each strike and countering. Aries dodging each counter. The two were holding their own minature battle in the larger struggle against the demon. So determined were they on ending their fued, settling their debt, proving which was best, that they completely ignored the larger picture. Leaving the other heores and villains to make their plans of attack.

[CC]

CC shook her head in absolute shock, for a moment she believed that she had been crushed by the building and was knocked into a nightmare world, but the reality of the situation hit her full force well her eyes settled upon the dark visage of the Demon Lord. The smell of the sulfur assaulted her sensitive nose and her eyes watered in the heat, and if it was not for the comforting words of the Goddess she may have simply fainted on the spot.

The shock was so much and she looked around, her green eyes wide as she saw all of her comrades as well as those who could only be the Apostles of the dark. The demon who she and Amon had fought in the beginning had changed sides and her heart lightened at that prospect... she knew that there was some good in him, she had sensed it from the beginning.

But she had no time to concentrate upon that as he was flung to the ground and then the battle began in ernest with Shae firing a blast at one of the vangaurds and them turning to their own serious personal battle. With a dertermined look upon her face she nods imperceptibly, "For the Godess and for light!" she yells out passionately and then rushes towards the nearest opponent, a dark wolf who looked like he needed to be knocked down a few bars.

Tala was taking everything in, her muddled mind confused and yet quickly sorting out the situation in front of them. The warriors of Light did not have a chance and yet, here they were in front of her. The Demon, he would pay,. he would suffer through the same fate as the rest, she would see to it.

With a deep breath she flexes her claws and bends down into a fighting stance. Surveying the crowd she looks for the weak points of the entire group and smiles evilly when her gaze falls upon the fox that she had battled before. He looked diferent and she could sense that he had accepted darkness into his heart, she would be able to exploit that, she knew. BUt first, to finish of the stronger vanguards!

[Tonixion]

The charcoal giant felt the even larger claw come and swipe him aside, and for a moment he was lost in confusion. It was when Aries caught him and set him upon the soil did he come back to reality. His entire left side was asleep from that heavy blow, and Andre's head was swimming. Still, the determined fallen climbed to his feet and prepared for battle. The crack in his chest had widened from Syntaru's punishment, and it seemed that if it got any bigger he might burst into pieces.

Demockstro surveyed the battles that had sparked up while he was dreaming, and saw that Shae had engaged in battle with Aries. Bloodclaw was being engaged by the wiley cat. Then there was the Queen who no doubt had some sort of zealous hatred towards him now. He extended his own deadly claws of black. Not wasteing a moment, Andre charged his way through the dark sand towards Tala. There was a fire that blazed in his gray eyes again, but it was not a violet flame of regret. In his eye there was only the spark of righteousness.

[Shae the Bat]

Fighters present all seemed to take their battles.. some running off on their own accords. Ishillar finally took it upon herself to lead the Vanguards into battle as well.

"Vanguards, it is clear that on our own we are no match for the great evil of Syntaru, so instead, we will lead a charge against his apostles.. I see now that Aurora has left the fate of the true battle in the hands of the mortals.. the Goddess never intended for us to fight the Demon.. merely stall until all who were called were ready.." said Ishillar.

She panned her fellow Vanguards.. Augustus, Rayne, Naia, Archer and the newly reformed Paladin. She nodded, then closed her eyes.

"Alright.. Naia, Lord Rayne you strike the cybernetic wolf, spare the feline and the vulpine from danger.. Archer, Paladin.. assist the Walker with the Shadow Queen. Augustus.. you and I will stand with Aries against Orion.. and you.. Mortal Heroes.. look inside one another.. and you will see the strength you all posess.. together.. you can defeat Him.. the Goddess believed in you.. and so do I.. now.. Vanguards.. ATTACK!" screamed Ishillar, charging with Augustus towards the dueling Aries and Shae.

Shae had dealt a hard blow to Aries jaw, knocking him skyward, and just as he was about to stream after him, he was nearly run through by a flying daggar. He turned his head to see Ishillar and the bull running at him. He growled and gritted his teeth.

"So.. 3 against one hmm? If that's how they want to play it.. so be it." said Shae, angrily.

He charged a bolt of energy and blasted it in the path of the bull and meerkat, throwing up a plume of black sand and smoke. Using the dust cloud as cover he streamed up into the air.. grabbing Aries by the leg. He spun around rapidly and flung the dazed hedgehog downward, on a crash course towards the bull..

[CC]

CC needed no urging on as she ran quickly towards the wolf, dodging and ensuring that she was never in the same place twice. Her speed was incredible and her agility top notch, she felt refreshed and renewed, almost as if she were starting all over again.

With a quick turn and a slash of her black-furred paws she sends lines of emerald green energy hurtling towards the cybernetic creature in front of her, servant to the Dark Lord. Her eyes sparkle and a grin shows plainly upon her face, her optimism and pure light shining out even in such a dark time adding hope to the cause of the Light Warriors.

In the meantime, Tala sees not only the fallen Demon but two Vanguards heading towards her, and she has to do a double take as her gaze settles upon the form of Paladin renewed. A growl forms deep in the back of her throat but she does not have time to sputter out a sound of disbelief as Demockstro comes within striking distance of her metallic arm. She striekd at him with a strong mechanical backhand and at the same time charges up a ball of shadow energy, delivering it and a sharp punch to his stomach with her other paw.

[Tonixion]

Demockstro had charged forward without viewing the incoming-aid. All his intentions were focused on the solitary goal that was the Queen. She whipped a viscious metal arm at the approaching Andre, only to feel the solid vibration of machinery as it collided with the back of the demon's claw in an expert block. This movement stopped the former Walker in his tracks, and he only looks on in a stoic expression as the energized fist is hurled into his stomach.

The giant muttered a grunt, and half of his mouth grinded together to bear the pain that had been delt. Almost surprisingly, he stood in the same spot with Tala's power engulfed paw still finding finding a wall of muscle. Andre's trained eye was locked onto the creature, an eye that had endured more pain than she would ever know. "For all the power your Lord begets in you, he yields from you the knowledge to use it." Said the demon, grasping a barbed hand around the fleshy paw against him, drawing a slight amount of blood from her wrist as he threw his weight in a spiral to fling her around in the opposite direction.

Andre did not lose a moment as he renewed his assault, chasing after the cyborg as she flew through the sulphur-stained air.

[Stealth Greyblade]

Simons cold laugh could be heard as he gazed at the inbound feline and the vanguards. He watched them with a calculating gaze as his scanners in his cybernetic eye tried to give him as much combat data as it could bfore the could get into range. He smirked as he made up his mind though, he could deal wit hthe pathetic non vanguard kitty later, the vanguards, holy beings of the goddess, they were the bigger threat. So with a snort, all mockinbg ceasing from his form, he drew a single plasma blade and clenched his free hand building up energy in his tesla gauntlet, then with a snarle he pointed his palm to the vanguards bolts of strong crimson lightling leaping out with a crack twords the inbound vanguards his good eye watching their every move while suit sensors keeping an eye on the cat as he bnrought up his plasma blade crimson power blocking the emerald slashes.

Stealth stopped watching the battle between Tala and the demon and sighed."So much for freaking vengence....can a guy get a break anywear."He snarled angrily to himself at being slighted, the darkness in him flaming up agian the dark marks spreading as the body on the dark half of his form glowing an strange red. He turned his gae to the demon and the hatred grew stronger then to syntaru himself and it raged, he gave off a feral scream and rushed at the dark god an open path now with the other disiples busy, his speed and stamina bolstered by feral fury as he sped across the unholy plane his soul saber flaring larger than before as he rushed across the erupting plane going after a target much larger than himself but his dark and light sides sped him on both wanting an end to this, both wanting their homes safe and something to take their anger on, so he rushed forward and at the last second charged some energy into his legs and leaped up high pointing his balde down ward anbd slashed into the dark god, or so he hoped.

[Lucian]

Paladin Twilight recieved a brief message before being torn back into the fray, like some sort of nightmarish recall he was back in Hot Crater Zone admist the battle of the Fallen. A deep sense of longing and loss plauged his mind, having been barely aware for many moments after being defeated the shock of stimulus dazed the deathog only slightly. But aware as he was he recieved his orders from Ishillar and set out to do his divinely ordered work. While still very weak the once-Reaper took a page from the Goddess' book and reached down with in himself. This was taking a bit of his past and using it with his present but his Father had spared him the price of oblivion, so perhaps he had his blessing at last. Standing on the outcropping of stone above the battle Twilight dismissed his glaive and calmed his breathing, then proceeded to do something most unusual.

The vanguard sang.

The song rang out over the din of battle, only slightly magicially enhanced but enough to be heard by all. The sweet melody, was a War Ballad for the Goddess that hadn't been heard in many centuries, remembered by a soul as it passed through the Zones Between Zones. The holy tune permeated everything, exaulting the Goddess in her ever lasting war with the Darkness and condeming the Demon for the upstart whelp he was in the cosmic trio. Where the remains of Celestius Nova emboldended the body and the mind, the song Finitus Valkyries revitalized the spirit. Their Goddesss had not fled defeated, she lived on in each and every one of them, as them, because of them. Life it's self was her domain and their fight for survival would forever proliferate Aurora's will.

The effects were almost immediate, like a prayer the sound washed over the combatants and did it's work. The Vanguards were at once surprised: firstly to see that Syth could sing and secondly that he knew that song. Even in the heat of battle small quirks of smiles found their way to the various faces, all of them knowing each other to be incarnations of their benefactors will. And the vanguards fought on.

To the heroes, no necessarily understanding all the words but the general jist, no longer felt the loss of seeing their Goddess struck down. The pain and anguish of witnessing some one so pure and good being torn swirled from their minds and their tempers knew peace. Calm and collected they knew the task before them and could confront the darkness with no reservations, restrictions, or second thoughts. Perhaps for the first time in centuries Andre knew some bit of sanctuary, Cici's personal thoughts cleared, even the cold hearted Amon had to smile at the gesture. This crusade was theirs to strike back at their darkn aggressors, and the heroes fought on.

The neutrals were the least affected, either having neither chosen a side or were incapable of feeling the spell song's effects. But they were no less impressed at the gesture, after all, that strange fellow had just made himself a very open target against the mountain of evil looming over the battlefield.

Whilst the villains felt something entirely different. The song was never devised to hurt or sting the agents of darkness but that didn't stop trepidation from seeping into their souls. How was it, after seeing their Goddess laid low that they were still able to fight. When their Master was at the height of his essence, having never been so wrought with influence and power, that they still found the resolve to battle on. This went beyond simple fanaticism, this was a knowledge imprinted on the soul, that they would have to fight the champions of shadow. And while the tune played on to have no physical effect on the Apostles, doubt can cripple a fighter just as much as a well placed blow. All of them being logical thinking creatures knew something was happening, and it didn't bode well for them. So the villains fought on.

Whilst the battle with Tala did not relent she would have been mistaken to presume that Paladin not choosing to fighter her directly would have been her boon, for in truth she would only be half right. Only a PART of him was willing to take her on again.

So distracted with battle with Walker she neglected to continue to move above and the patch of cragy ground she did stop upon felt strangely softer than what she'd expect from volcanic stone. The Goddess' departure had empowered ALL of the warriors that would call themselves her champion, including Shade dwelling with in the rock. Like a thick morass of tar, the living shadow pooled himself about the Shadow Queen's feet. Suddenly restricted of lateral movement with Archer coming in fast and the Demon about to enact his revenge on the Chosen Queen of Darkness the battle did not seem so good any more.

Augustus was faring better than he had with Simon, open battle, while not his favorite thing was better than one on one hit and run tactics. A simple, honest battle royale was much prefered for the well versed bull. Having a good many years to recant with Aries his many battles with Shae the vanguard knew the other two of his kin would be hard pressed to battle against that one. In spite of the dust the bull could still hear and a sceaming hedgehog as he plummets toward the ground makes a lot of noise. Giving a grunt and judging as best he can the cow-monk leaps a little ways into the air, staching the hurled vanguard like a tossed ball. Touching down with the hedgehog he had but a moment to speak his words and fly back into action.

"Take that flying rat traitor out of the sky! And say hello to Ishillar for me."

Augustus bent his knees down low, swinging his hand down in the process. A moment before the tactic wise Aries figured out what the bull had thought of and took the presence of mind to tuck into the customary ball akin to his species. Shae was surpised indeed when just as he thought he'd have a bit of one on one alone torture time with the mirkat that a very angry, and very fast approaching ball of holy death was streaking back at him at a pace that would make dodging a tough task indeed.

Lucian how ever, was not enjoying what he was seeing. Being well versed in demonology he knew EXACTLY what was towering befor him just as he knew EXACTLY how very bad it would be to enter this battle. The vampire thanked his lucky stars he hadn't summoned much in the way of power lately for surely if Syntaru himself was risen than he would certainly notice the Vampire, a creature that shouldn't exist in this realm, and investigate.

And no one wants the Demon himself looking into your personal affairs. Hopping on Apophis once more the green eyed monster bid his charge to fly to the far side of the area for survailance. With all that holy energy flying about it was too risky for him to enter combat with no seeming bonus for him in it. Besides, who knows what ether charged goodies would be left for the taking on a battlefield of this varriety. Idly however Lucian worried that there might not be much of a planet left if things continued on the way they were. . . .

[CC]

(ooc- Syth- Tala was flying through the air apparently from Andre's hit... but anyways, will continue from where you left off)

Tala had been thrown around like a rag doll, her hits seemingly doing nothing to the headstrong demon and the moment her feet touched the rocking ground after being sent flying through the air she felt a strange substance sticking to her fur and holding her in place. Then there was that creepily cheerful song sung by the deathog who should have been dead but obviously had been brought back by the damned goddess Aurora. Why were they so happy? What did they have to rejoice about? Their Goddess was gone and Syntaru risen and yet the y fought on as if they had hope!

Things were not going the lemur's way, but she was far from being beaten or giving up. Her mind raced with the possibilities, she was outnumbered and as much as she hated to admit it, the fallen one was correct, she had not had enough training with her newfound powers to use them appropriately, not that she would let the enemies become more aware of that little fact.

Instead, she laughed, it was an evil and half crazed laugh of one who has perhaps being pushed a bit past her normal limit. BUt behind it there was something sinister and she reached down into the blackness around her feet, grabbing at the very essence that is Shade, "Foolish Shadow, do you not realize what you are made of and what I can control. If you will not give yourself willingly over to my great Lord then you will be forced!"

She wraps the shadow around her fingers, drawing it in and concentrating upon the form of Shade, while she was unsure if this would work she did not let that fact cross over her face. Instead, she concentrated energy upon drawing the Shadow out of the stone and controlling him with her motions and mind. Her mechanical arm, in the meantime, was going on automatic, flinging daggers at the approaching Demockstro. She did not have much time and Tala hoped that this ploy would work else she would have to switch to a different plan.

__

CC smiled, the Wolf was not paying attention to her and instead concentrated his energies on the Vanguards... she just shook her head and continued her relentless attacks upon him, she could feel the adrenaline running through her system and the energy coursing through her veins. The song that Syth... no... Paladin, sang brough a cheer to her already happy heart and only made her fight harder. He looked so much like the deathog that she had loved once in life, the eyes were the same and she was sure deep down that it was him, but this was not the time to think such things. She felt the calm run through her body and mind, all her problems melting away like ice upon a hot sunny day. Her heart felt freer than it had in a long time and her movements become less flurried and more concentrated and sure.

The feline brought herself in close to Simon and she watched her energy attacks be stopped by the blade, it did not matter, she had another plan!

"Hey, dog! Why dontcha play with the little kitty for a while? Or are you too afraid to do any real work ya big metal moron?!" she says, mocking him with her bright green eyes as she rushes forward with the intention to hit him straight on, but at the last moment slides to the ground and through his wide stance, ending up directly below him and using her strong legs, backed by her power, to kick straight up.

[Shae the Bat]

The battle waged on with a new found hope. The song sung by the youngest Vanguard endowed the heroes with a new resilliance. Even the traitor Shae couldn't help but admire the enchanting tune. Then he noticed the ball of white streaming towards him, with very little time to dodge the strange attack he outstretched his hands waiting for the precise moment in Aries' revolutions that he could use the attack against him. The moment came and Shae grabbed Aries by the arms, unfurling his ball state, like before he swung the hedgehog around, only this time his destination was not the battle savvy bull.

Instead Shae launched the hedgehog on a screaming path to Syntaru himself. And while Aries was about to meet the destroyer, Shae turned his attentions to Lady Amora and Lord Hillit.

"Hmph.. haven't you realised yet that you CAN'T WIN? Your Goddess is gone, the dark Lord has arisen this day and he looms over you. IT'S OVER.." taunted Shae.

In all his boastings however.. he failed to notice that Ishillar was nowhere in sight. In fact she was only a short distance behind him charging a rather potent blast of Holy energy. She had used the distraction of Augustus and Aries to bide time. When the energy was fully charged she held on to it tightly, then called out to Shae.

"You know something orion? I've noticed something about you and your fellow darklings.. YOU TALK TOO MUCH!" said Ishillar.

She arched back and released the large stream of white energy which encompassed Shae. The light burned more fiercely than the scorching lava below, he screamed in agony and cursed his former allies. When the blast cleared Shae was left smoking, bits of dark purple energy cackling and sparking off of him. He shook his head and the calm expression returned to his face.

"You just don't get it.. do you? Now that he is here in this realm your powers are diminished.. his darkness crowds and chokes the light.. any ammount of damage you could do to me is easily remedied by excess of his powers.. haha you might even say that we of his service are invincible in a wa-" said Shae, cut off in mid-sentance by a second blast of white energy.

It seemed Aries had righted himself and kept his distance from the black Demon. He too had been biding time to strike out at the betrayer.

"The lady is right.. you talk too much.." said Aries

It seemed that the meerkat and the hedgehog had figured out that the key to defeating Shae was not in physical strength, but in getting the last word. The arrogance that grew from Shae's turning is the basis for his downfall. This caused Shae to become very, very angry...

Meanwhile, Syntaru, who up until this point had been observing the battles below.. was growing impatient. His Apostles should have finished off the heroes by now. With all his immense power flowing through them they should be unstoppable. There was an unknown factor here.. a miscalculation, and he pined to figure it out.. fast. As long as the heroes were occupied, he could borrow a tactic from the two Vanguards closest to Shae.. he could build a massive charge of energy, target specifically those in servitude of the light and wipe them all out. Yes, this is what he would do. His body began to glow an all too familliar and eerie red.