The Forgotten Zodiac

Forin was quiet for a long while. He started to quiver and tremble, then picked Luna up and sat down with her in his lap. He settled his forehead on her neck, and it was a moment or two before Luna realized that he was crying.

"I'm sc-scared, Luna...so ridiculously terrified..." He murmured, holding her tightly and refusing to let go. "I can't ask Luen for help. He'll get crushed, he's already weakened from last time..."

"B-but he's the only one that can help you!" Luna said, stroking her hand down his back and cradling his head against her shoulder. "I can have Airlia give him my energy, I can...I don't know what else I can do, but please Forin! You can't just give up!"

"Is something wrong?"

Luen glanced up from where he was now sitting with Allie on his lap. He had picked her up and sat down in her wheelchair, with her cuddled close in his lap.

Luna opened her mouth at once, prepared to tell Luen everything.

"Nothing, Luen," Forin said, his voice steady and quiet. "I'm fine. We're just having an argument," He sighed, then took Luna's hand and led it to the bandages around his middle. It still hurt, and they would definitely leave marks. But it was a sign of how determined Dulce was to get his way.

And Forin himself didn't want to be weakened by training. That would decrease his chances of winning. However miniscule they might have been in the first place.

"An argument?" Luen said, his ears flicking down in concern. "But...you just got back together..."

"Not that kind of argument," Luna answered, resting her head on Forin's shoulder as she felt Forin's abdomen. Normally she would've been thrilled with the movement, but now, it only made her upset. She felt tears slip down her face as she ran her fingers over the bandages, slowly feeling the ridges and lines of the wounds. "Oh, Forin..." she sniffled, keeping her hand over his stomach. "What are we going to do...?"

"He was crying?" Luen said at once, quickly turning his head in the direction Forin had gone in, ears standing erect on his head. "Why was he crying? Luna?"

She didn't answer him.

"Luna?" he said, a bit more frantically. He moved to shift Allie and stand up, but Luna beat him to the standing part of that thought. "It's nothing, Luen," she said. "You should stay here with Allie. I need to stay with my boyfriend, and your girlfriend shouldn't be deprived of hers." She fled off after Forin, catching up to him and taking his hand, simply walking with him and being a constant presence next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder, trying to ignore her tears.

Luen listened to them go, then slowly lowered his head, looking confused and upset. He quietly nuzzled the side of Allie's head, seemingly trying to think, but coming up with nothing.

Allie watched them go, then pulled the lever to lock the wheels of her wheelchair. She pulled on Luen until he complied and sat down, holding her in his lap. She tucked into his arms neatly, pressing her ear to his chest and closing her eyes as she listened to his heartbeat.

After a moment, she said, "Let's follow them. At a distance, of course...we can just...make sure they're not in trouble or anything. Okay?" She sighed, pushing the wheels forward and starting off at a steady roll after Forin and Luna.

He kept his arms wrapped around her for a moment, then said "I can still push you. Or at least let me work the wheels." He slid his hands under hers, letting her twine her fingers around his, then slowly began to push the wheels, propelling them forward. He trusted that Allie would tell him where to go.

He bent his head and gently kissed the edge of her ear, brushing his lips against her skin. She could feel that he was stressed out and concerned for his friends, her among them.

Allie smiled happily and leaned back against him, directing his path.

They followed Forin to the dining hall, and were able to ask Titus where he went from there; they went - suspiciously - to the armory. But Forin had already passed and gone. A passing Arachnid insisted that Forin had gone down to the city for some reason. He seemed awfully excited about something or other, but hurried off before they could question him.

Forin's trail led outside the city. It was easy to start following the people trickling out of the city; extremely easy.

Several of them were cheering Dulce's name.

Luen's ears flicked up, listening intently to the noises, felt his heart clench. There was no way...he couldn't be...

"We need to go faster!" he said, standing and depositing Allie into the wheelchair. "Is there anything long around me, like rope or chain or...?" Upon directing him to a long coil of thin chain nearby, he picked it up and messed with her wheelchair for a moment. Once he was finished, he shifted forms and bent his head, feeling for the long chain. He took it into his mouth and said around it, "Use the other ends like reins. I trust you. Let's go!" He yanked on the long round of chain, easily beginning to pull her chair along at a fast canter. His heart was pounding in his chest, fear coursing through him. Forin... he thought softly, his ears turned low.

Allie blinked in alarm, but led Luen confidently through the crowds. She pulled to a stop and had a passing Amnairian help her onto Luen's back after awhile. They were...nearing a larger crowd, who were hustled around a stadium sort of area. It was dark and...well, evil looking.

"Oh goddess...what is this place?" Allie whispered in horror, spotting Luna in the crowd and forcing Luen to walk over there. "What's going on? What on earth is going on?" She demanded, fear obvious in her voice.

Luna had tears still dripping down her face, her gaze fixed down in the arena. "Something we can only pray goes in our loved one's favor," she whispered, folding her hands and beginning to pray softly.

Luen tilted his head at her in shock, then turned his head to the arena and breathed in softly, easily distinguishing the familiar brotherly scent out of all of the others.

"...Forin, no."

He tilted his head in as Luna fell on his neck, sobbing. He pressed his muzzle to her back, keeping his ears down. He wished he could watch Forin, wished he could stop the fight, wished he could at least fight with him...

But he could do none of those things, and the wave of helplessness that washed over him was nearly painful.

Allie turned her eyes to Luen, then down at the arena. She immediately decided something, and pressed her thumb to Luen's forehead. He was able to see what she did, from that. It was draining and Allie wasn't able to move more than her head like this, and she would be numb from the neck down for the next few hours - a side effect of using witch magic that wasn't hers - but this, she decided, was more important than that. Luckily, they had front-row seats. Just as Dulce had requested. Three front-row seats for the soon-to-be-dead's loved ones.

It was a shame Diana wasn't here to watch.

Forin stepped into the arena. What few fans he had were patting him on the back, handing him throwing knives and some other tools, making sure his light armor was clean, and generally wishing him luck. Airlia was with them, offering Forin cooled water from the healing springs, to help him cope with any internal damage he might sustain.

Dulce was receiving similar care, but obviously more. No Amnairans were down at the entrances to cheer him on. Of course not. But he was given a Tartaran Death Mace, a sword, and thick armor, though he refused the helmet.

Titus was waiting at his usual seat. Of course he was. He looked down on the waiting stadium, looking very much unhappy as the prep crews backed off and retreated up the tunnels. Airlia lingered for a moment more, pausing to give Forin a quick hug. She whispered something to him, but it wasn't caught by the amplifying magics. Normally they would cause any spoken word to be heard by everyone watching, but Airlia must have turned it off. Regardless, she left a moment later, returning to the stands and sitting next to Luna, her eyes downcast.

"It's early...they weren't supposed to fight today, but the pair that were supposed to fight before Forin and Dulce dropped out...Dulce did something, I know he did." She shivered, scooting closer to her sister. She didn't really want to stay and watch, but she had to be here. For Luna's sake. Just in case.

"They look so similar..." Allie murmured, mildly confused. She didn't have time to have her questions answered, though, as they were all silenced when Titus stood.

"This is a weaponed deathmatch. Do you both have your desired tools?" He questioned.

Dulce raised his heavy, gleaming mace, an evil grin on his face as he pointed it at Forin. They were standing a short distance away from each other, facing Titus. Forin drew Vorpal; normally, enchanted weapons weren't allowed, but Dulce had been 'generous' enough to allow it. The shorter (and obviously weaker seeming) Tartaran touched his weapon to Dulce's, as was custom for these fights.

Titus spoke again. "Unfair advantages are henceforth removed," He snapped; Forin didn't feel any change, inner or outer. Dulce, on the other hand, lost his wings and horns. His magic was gone, too; Forin could tell from the way he twitched. Everyone did that, without realizing it. Sealing spells hurt a little. Titus looked down on them, then continued to speak, though it was obvious that the crowds were getting restless.

"There will be no killing or harming of spectators, purposeful or accidental." Which was a bit of a moot point, seeing how there were protective enchantments around the stadium that kept anything from getting by. They'd be in effect when Titus gave the word. "The spectators are not allowed to assist in the fight in any way, shape or form, with the exception of if or when I call a break. Otherwise, anything goes. You fight, or you die. Do you both agree to the deathmatch terms?"

"Yes." Forin said. Though it was quiet and far too obviously fearful, everyone heard it. There were a few chortles when the waver of his voice was heard, of course.

"Get on with it, old man," Dulce spat, his own voice brimming with hatred and spite as he glared ferociously at Forin.

Titus sat down, sighing heavily. "The fight will begin in one minute. Speak your piece."

"I have nothing to say." Dulce growled, growing tired of the stupid customs and traditions. He walked away, over to his starting side of the arena.

Forin paused for a long moment, then uttered, "I'm sorry, Luen."

((Music to go with le sceeene: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQihR3GCSPQ Pretty fitting, I thought. Or to be counterintuitive, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5qhNRmMilI

But then there's also this one, that I think would work better with the climax. www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4-Y9Fjvdbk))

Luen squealed at once and attempted to get over the railing, but Luna and Airlia both grabbed him around his neck and Allie clung to his flanks. "No, Luen, you can't!" Luna cried, still crying heavily. "You'll get Forin in trouble!"

"I don't care!" Luen wailed. "Luna, let go! Let go! Let-"

She moved quickly, while she still had the chance. She hooked one slender leg around his metal one and pulled back so hard that the kirin immediately grew unsteady. Airlia snatched Allie from his back as he toppled over with a yelp, struggling to stand back up.

Luna held him down, quietly unsnapping the restraints that kept his metal leg on. "Stop, Luen..." she whimpered, and he grew still. "All we can do is pray and push him onwards with our voices..."

Luen sagged under her, tears forming in his eyes.

Down below, Vorpal suddenly transformed and hovered in front of Forin's face. "My master," he said softly, giving a slight bow. "I have a request. If it should look like you are to fall in battle, by way of death, there is a way you might yet save yourself and return to your family. All weapons have a hidden name that releases their inner power tenfold. In the case of the rare sentient weapons, it gives them control over their own actions for a little while. I, however, am not allowed to say my name to you. Even if I try, I will not be able to. It will look as though I am saying nothing." He shook himself, then said "In your time of need, if it so arrives, I believe you will be able to reach deep enough to find my hidden name. And if that happens...I will protect you." He bowed softly again, then turned and resumed the guise of a sword.

((In other words, Dulce will be about to end Forin when Forin will find the hidden name (you can make it up, if you like) and release Vorpal, who will take a form that will allow him to take the weapon for Forin. He'll die and Forin will then kick Dulce's butt out of rage.

And then he'll get Vorpal back because his spirit just went back into Luen's mind where it was born from.))

((Aww, that's cool. 8D You think of awesome stoof. o3o))

Forin nodded, turning and watching his dear friend struggle. He smiled slightly, then turned away again, facing Dulce.

He was just in time to avoid a full-on hit with the Death Mace. Forin was thrown across the arena, tumbling to a stop against the wall, causing the crowd to gasp in alarm. Most of it, anyway. Some part of it was still cheering. He lay very still for a long moment, and Dulce roared with laughter.

"Look at you now, maggot! You can't even survive one attack with me. Pathetic!" He laughed and laughed, even as Forin staggered to his feet. He had been hit hard on the left arm; it was bleeding badly, but thankfully, he could still move it.

"I'm not....dead yet..." Forin rasped, spitting out a mouthful of blood, then taking up a defensive stance while turning Vorpal to a shield. He had to get rid of that mace...

"Well, I suppose I just have to fix that then, don't I?" Dulce grinned, advancing and preparing to swing the mace again.

Allie was quick to get the spell on Luen working again; it only functioned as long as she was in contact with him, after all. Him pulling away hadn't helped anything. She was determined to not let him go anywhere, but she wouldn't deprive him of watching.

((I do what I can. nwn But yeah, I'd like Vorpal's hidden name to be something starting with V, just like his regular name, but I can't think up anything I like yet. Feel free to give your impute when the time is right.))

Luen remained utterly still, shaking quietly. He almost didn't want to watch, but at the same time, he felt that if he did, perhaps some part of his soul would connect with Forin's and help guide him. It was a fruitless hope, but something to hold onto nonetheless.

Vorpal said not a word, as, since he was naturally a weapon, any impact he suffered would hardly hurt. Other things, like when the lava had melted him a bit, were the things that hurt, since he was made of metal, even as an imp. There were many, many kinds of imps, and Vorpal was one of them. Imps were made from dreams and thoughts that took sentients in the real world. Most of the time, they just floated about as Wisps, never taking a solid form, but Vorpal had been lucky in his crafting.

((Veruku? It should be something more ancient...Vercea?))

Forin used him well. He charged Dulce suddenly, blocking the attack with the Death Mace. He continued forward, jumping and thrusting Vorpal into his foe's head. Dulce stumbled back, but grabbed the shield and threw Forin into another wall. Forin was quicker to get back on his feet, twisting around to avoid the Death Mace again. He backed up steadily, watching Dulce's movements. The larger Tartaran was grinning awfully, a dangerous glint in his eye.

((Veruku sounds cool. Vercea is too pretty. xD Hrm...Verukuin, perhaps? I know I wanted to lengthen it a bit. Verukugetsu?))

Luen winced, watching everything closely through Allie's vision. He saw Vorpal take another wack with the Death Mace, proud of the imp's resistance. He was the strongest metal there was, though still subject to damage like all others, and Luen felt more confidant in Forin's chances of winning without taking too much damage.

Vorpal's energy buzzed loudly in a welcoming hum, and Forin knew he was struggling not to insult Dulce like crazy. It was in the proud imp's nature to be disdainful to anyone other than Forin and the people Forin told him to be nice to.

((Too oriental. Verustuna'an?))

"You can talk, Vorpal," Forin said, breathing heavily. He was far too focused on avoiding being killed to throw insults, or he would have done it already.

Dulce grinned. "Wearing down? Good. You'll fall faster." He flung the Death Mace out again, but this time, Forin avoided it entirely. It thudded into the ground a short distance away, and Forin was quick to bring Vorpal down on the chain. Dulce growled and yanked back; the head of the mace shot forward, slamming into Forin's arm and pinning it between the spikes and Vorpal. Forin cried out in pain, but quickly stifled himself and focused on what he wanted Vorpal to do. Cut the chain. Cut the chain, and Dulce wouldn't be able to use the mace anymore. Before he managed to do it, however, Dulce gave another sharp tug and pulled his mace back towards himself. Forin stumbled back and had to go back to blocking.

((Hmm. I like that one the best so far, but my last throw before deciding on the permanent one is Verukunian. What you tink?))

Vorpal immediately sharpened his edges to paper-thin, super-sharp ridges. "One more time, Forin! I am ready!" he cried, then turned his attention on Dulce and let loose.

"You have to be the most foul, disgusting excuse for a Tartaran that I've ever seen in my few short years of life! You are a pitiful, ugly, pathetic piece of soul that is obviously held together by little more than crap and rubbish! I care not that Master Forin apparently was the one that fell from you, because when you lost him, you lost the best thing that ever happened to you! Master Forin is a grand person, better than you could ever hope to be! If I could, I would spit on you, you twisted roach! I could be sick merely looking at you!"

Once released, he just went on and on and on, his big mouth not hindering his dutiful helping of Forin in the least. He was still fully conscious of every command or thought Forin would send to him, ready to react in a split second.