Post by angelofmusic1992 on Nov 3, 2017 0:11:42 GMT
((Takes place after this:
Yang sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest, gazing down at the city below her. It had been almost 24 hours since Weiss had run off, and the Others Unit had had no luck finding her. Even from where Yang was, perched on top of a tall building where the city ended and the bayou began, she couldn’t see her at all. And time was running out. She closed her eyes, thinking back to the Others Unit’s last meeting before the search started.
“Wait, so what exactly do they want with her?” Yang asked, feeling a little confused.
“They want to use her as a vessel,” Riku replied, his voice grave. “Like a puppet.” He paced back and forth, while the rest of the Others Unit watched. This was dark voodoo magic, and if anyone could understand voodoo, it was Riku. “The shadow spirits probably been slowly taking over her for months, ever since Mardi Gras. And now, they’re closer than ever. If we don’t find her soon, she’ll be gone for good.”
“You mean, she won’t be…there, anymore?” Jim asked.
“Precisely,” Riku answered. “The Weiss we know will have disappeared. The only thing left will be her body and the spirits that inhabit it. And with a powerful witch doctor like her, they could wreak untold havoc.” His hand clenched into a fist. “It’s probably what they’ve wanted all along.”
“So, how do we stop them, and save Weiss?” Sunshine asked, who was looking at Riku with worry. He hadn’t been this agitated since Weiss had been kidnapped by Thrax, and who could blame him? It seemed like this sister was constantly in danger, one way or another.
“First, we find her,” Riku replied. “Once we do, I need to get to her. I’m the only witch doctor here strong enough to banish these shadow spirits for good. I have to make sure they don’t just go away temporarily, like when my mom did it.”
“Then we should split up,” Shadow said. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”
“Right.” Riku nodded. “If any of you guys find her, do not engage. She might run off again and then we’ll have to start the search all over again. We can’t scare her off. Just radio in her location and I”ll get there as soon as I can. You guys got it?”
Everyone nodded affirmatively. They knew the stakes were high, and they were determined not to fail. They just hoped they could find Weiss in time.
Yang opened her eyes, feeling guilty. She’d had a feeling that something was wrong. Weiss’s parents had kept insisting that their daughter was recovering from Thrax’s kidnapping just fine, but Yang, and several reporters, had thought otherwise. But now, it was too late to act on any of their suspicions. They’d hesitated for too long. She let out another sigh, but before she was about to move on with her search, something caught her eye. She blinked twice, looking hard to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. But, her eyes weren’t deceiving her. Weiss was down there, her shadow spirits by her side, making her way out of the city and into the bayou.
Yang fought back the urge to whoop for joy. Maybe luck was on her side tonight. She pulled out her radio, holding down the button as she said excitedly “Guys, I found her. I found Weiss.”
Riku instantly responded. “You have? Where is she? Where is she headed?”
“She’s going towards the bayou,” Yang replied, keeping her eyes fixed on her. “Her shadow spirits are still with her. And she’s not looking so good.” Even from here, she could see Weiss’s tattered party dress and how thin she already was. It seemed like the shadow spirits were literally sucking the life out of her.
“Of course,” Riku said. “Taking over her completely will take some time. The bayou would give them the perfect opportunity to do it, away from us and any prying eyes.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Keep an eye on her, Yang. I’m heading to the bayou now. I’ll bring some back-up if I meet anyone from the Others Unit along the way.”
“Right. I’ll call you if anything changes,” Yang replied. Hitching her radio onto her belt, she leaped down the building, using a fire blast to cushion her fall. Then, she hurried after Weiss.
Figuring out how much distance to keep was tough. According to Riku, these shadow spirits were very observant. If they sensed Yang nearby, everything could be ruined. But Yang didn’t want to let Weiss out of her sight for a second for fear of losing her. Nervousness flowed through her like blood in her veins as she tracked her. The only hesitation she had was upon reaching the entrance of the bayou.
Bodies of water didn’t scare Yang to death anymore, but she wasn’t exactly about to go jumping into them either, except if it was with Adrien on a private beach. Not to mention, the bayou was where her parents had died. It wasn’t her favorite place in the world. But, she knew she couldn’t let her fears get the better of her now. She had a mission now: keeping track of Weiss until Riku could catch up with her. And she wasn’t about to fail now. So, with a deep breath of determination, she headed inside, keeping Weiss in her sights all the while.
There was barely enough moonlight to see. Yang had to constantly switch between keeping an eye on Weiss and looking down at her feet to make sure she didn’t step on anything that would make a lot of noise. Causing a stick to snap or falling into a puddle would give her away in an instant. But, she managed to keep herself hidden all the way to the middle of the bayou.
Yang wasn’t sure why Weiss was coming here. The only significant thing about the middle of the bayou was that there was a huge space of clear water, almost like a lake, where no trees or roots blocked the way. Usually, it was a place where kids dared each other to swim, since there were rumors of leeches and alligators and who knew what lurking in the water. The place was pretty quiet tonight though. Maybe the rumors weren’t true. Or maybe animals that were nearby were smart and were trying to get as far away from the shadow spirits as possible.
Weiss was quiet, although Yang could see her glancing at her shadow spirits often. Were they communicating in some way? Yang couldn’t hear her talking at all. But, the purple marks on her arms bothered her. They glowed unnaturally, and they seemed to criss-cross on her skin like veins. Elsa had mentioned them in her phone call, and Riku had said it was a side effect of being linked with the shadow spirits. Being so close with dangerous creatures like them could alter someone’s body in unexpected ways.
Suddenly, Weiss shut her eyes, and took a step forward. Yang’s eyes widened. Weiss’s foot should have gone right through the water, soaking it completely. Instead, it stopped right on the surface, and she walked across the water as easily as one crosses the street. Yang bit her lip. Something was going on. Weiss stopped once she got to the middle of the lake. Then, she raised her arms and started to chant. Yang couldn’t make out what it was. It almost sounded like French, but different. Maybe it was Creole French? She had no idea. All she could do was watch from what she hoped was a safe distance.
The chanting went on for a while. Yang wasn’t sure how long. Was this the beginning of a ceremony that would bond Weiss and the shadow spirits together forever? Where was Riku? She glanced around her anxiously, hoping he’d show up soon.
“You know, it’s rude to spy on people.”
Yang’s head whipped around, and she gasped. Weiss was looking directly at her, with eyes there were as black as coal. Her body had been altered again. Her shadow spirits curled around her like snakes, grinning maliciously. Yang swallowed nervously. Nobody had thought to ask Riku what they should do if Weiss spotted them. Should she try to fight her? Just keep her busy and stall for time? Yang felt like the latter option was safer. She couldn’t beat Weiss and her shadow spirits at the same time.
“Yang Xiao Long. It’s been a long time.” Weiss’s voice was ice cold, and her mouth was curved into a smirk. “Looks like you’ve come a long way, from what Thrax did to you. I have as well.”
“Do you really think you have?” Yang asked, trying to keep the conversation going. “You’re connected to monsters and you’re not yourself. Do you call that recovering from what Thrax did?”
“I’m exactly who I’m meant to be,” Weiss retorted. “I’ve never been a good person. Surely Riku has told you as much. It’s only fitting that I merge with these shadow spirits.” She petted one affectionately on the head. “They’re the only ones I can trust. Anyone else might hurt me, or betray me. If I become one with them, I won’t feel afraid or angry or sad ever again. All I’ll have is power, and I’ll become the strongest voodoo queen this city has ever seen.”
“Is that what they told you?” Yang asked, glaring at the shadow spirits. “Did they tell you that they were the only ones who understood you? That you should cut yourself off from your friends? Weiss, that’s what abusers do, people who want to manipulate others to do what they want. They’re using you and erasing all the good in you. You have to fight it.”
“There was never any good in me to begin with,” Weiss replied. “Being with these shadow spirits has taught me my true nature. They’ve been there for me when nobody else was. Now, we can be together forever.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Yang said, her hands curling into fists. “I’ve moved on from the trauma I’ve endured. You can too. Just let us help you.”
Weiss glared at Yang with her black eyes. “Nobody can help me. And I’ll stop you before you even have a chance of stopping me. You have no idea the power I have inside me.”
Yang was about to argue, but then the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She heard a quiet slithering sound. She whirled around, and her eyes widened. Long, thick green vines raised up in front of her, coiled to strike, like a cobra hunting its prey. Weiss had been making them slowly sneak up on Yang during their conversation, and they were ready to attack.
Yang jumped out of the way before the vines smacked hard against the ground like whips. All thoughts about saving Weiss or trying to make her see sense went out the window. All she cared about was getting out of this alive. She dodged whatever attacks she could, and those she couldn’t evade, she blocked with a blast of fire. Some vines burned easily. Others were so soaked with water that they barely got singed. Yang had to find a way out of this. The attack would never stop if she kept going for the vines. She had to get to Weiss.
She sucked in a breath before letting out a huge fire blast. Several vines got singed. Others coiled away from the blast. When the flames died down, Yang was no where to be seen. Weiss frowned.
“Come out, come out, Yang,” she called in a sing-song voice as she turned in slow circles, keeping her eyes peeled. “I didn’t take you as the type who’d run away from a fight.”
Suddenly, there was a rustling from a nearby tree. Weiss’s head spun around in time to see Yang launch herself from the branches with a blast of fire. She shot out like a bullet, her fist pulled back as she headed straight for Weiss. But, the witch doctor was one step ahead of her. Raising up her hand, a wave of water emerged, towering over Yang. The blonde only had time to widen her eyes before the wave crashed down on her.
Yang realized instantly that she’d made a wrong move, and she was in a bad situation now. She reached the surface quickly, gasping for air, but Weiss already had another wave at the ready, and it slammed into her. The water pushed her down again and again, driving her further away from the surface each time. She could barely see which way was up or down, and the ache in her lungs got worse the longer she went without air. She could feel panic settling in, the same panic she’d experienced when Cinder had tried to kill her. But Pitch wasn’t here to save her this time. She had no way out.
Weiss laughed coldly. “I’m not hesitating this time!” she yelled as she made wave after wave crash down on Yang. “I won’t be weak again! Anyone who wants to hurt me will die!”
“Weiss, stop!”
Weiss froze. The wave of water she was moving halted before dissolving back inside the lake. She spun around. Riku stood at the shore, his eyes determined and unyielding.
Weiss gave another hollow laugh. “Really? Of all the people they send to stop me, they send you? Forgive me if I don’t take you seriously.”
With Weiss distracted by Riku’s arrival, Yang finally managed to get her head above the water. She coughed and sputtered, trying to get her breath back.
“Hang on, Yang. I’ve got you.”
Yang looked up. It was Aqua, her wings shimmering in the moonlight. Before Yang could even say anything, Aqua hoisted her up and easily carried her back to shore.
“Are you okay?” the fairy asked.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Yang said distractedly. “Weiss is tough as hell. We need to help Riku.”
“Yang, he’s got this,” Aqua said. “Just watch.”
Yang frowned. Could Riku really take on Weiss by himself? But, Aqua seemed pretty sure of what she said. Yang decided to trust her. She looked back out to the water, where Weiss and Riku were still looking icily at each other.
“You wouldn’t dare hurt me, would you Riku?” Weiss asked mockingly. “I’m your dear little sister.”
“You’re not my sister,” Riku replied. “Those shadow spirits have led you down the wrong path, and turned you into something you’re not. I know the good in you is still there, Weiss. And I’m going to find it.”
Yang almost didn’t notice it at first, but she soon saw a yellow glow start to surround Riku’s body. It was faint for a moment, but then it grew stronger, and brighter. In contrast, dark energy spiraled around Weiss. Her teeth gnashed together, and with the glowing purple marks on her arms and her midnight-black eyes, she hardly looked human anymore.
“You think you can get rid of us?” she asked. “Mom already tried, and her light voodoo magic was pathetic. What makes you think you can do better?”
“My mother is far from a good person,” Riku answered. “That’s why her light magic is weak. But the thing is…” His hands curled into fists, and his blue eyes flashed as he looked at Weiss. “I am not my mother.”
Whether it was his words or the look in his eyes, Weiss shrank back half a step. That was all Riku needed. His light magic shot him forward like a rocket and his power clashed against Weiss’s like a bomb going off. Yang and Aqua shielded their eyes, and when they looked again, Riku and Weiss were going at each other as hard as they could. Their feet danced along the surface of the water as they struck this way and that, black against yellow, dark against light. The shadow spirits struck like snakes, darting in and out, but Riku deflected every blow with a wave of his hand a burst of light. It slowly wore Weiss down, and she started to get desperate.
“I will not be beaten!” she yelled. “This is what I am! This is what I was meant to be!”
She shot her hands forward, trying to strike Riku with a blast of magic. But her brother was faster, and his hands locked with hers. They pushed against each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. But it was clear that Riku was winning. Weiss’s arms shook and she was forced onto one knee. The power around her seemed to glow with more intensity, but Weiss’s body simply couldn’t handle it. Riku’s light magic was starting to chase away the darkness the shadow spirits put in her.
“You’re not evil, Weiss!” Riku shouted. “You’ve done some bad things, but all of us have! Even me! But that doesn’t mean we’re meant to stay in darkness!”
“No!” That was all Weiss could yell before Riku pinned her to the surface of the water. No matter how much she struggled and fought, she couldn’t escape. The shadow spirits tried to strike at Riku, but they just bounced off like ping-pong balls.
“You spirits have no business controlling my sister,” Riku growled. “And I’m making sure you can never hurt her again.”
Riku started chanting in Creole French, and Weiss started screaming. Yang hated the sound, but she could see Riku’s magic working. Light coursed along Weiss’s body like blood flowing through a vein. Weiss squirmed and screamed and shouted, but it did no good. Her eyes changed from black to yellow, and then she gave one final shriek. Black smoke erupted from her mouth like water from a pipe, and Yang thought she could see the shadow spirits tangled up in it, shrieking as well. Just when she thought the screaming would never end, it suddenly stopped.
There was a heavy moment of silence, and Yang felt herself frozen in anticipation. Had it worked? Was Weiss okay? Was she dead? Were the shadow spirits gone? Aqua finally spoke.
“Riku?” she called. “Did it work?”
There wasn’t a response at first. Then, Riku carefully scooped his sister up in his arms and turned towards the shore. Weiss was limp in his arms, but the purple marks on her arms were gone. Surely that meant…could it be…
“She’s okay!” Riku called back. “She’s just unconscious. Call in the paramedics.”
Yang gave a sigh of relief. Aqua immediately started calling an ambulance as Riku walked along the water’s surface, back to shore. Yang sank to the ground, her adrenaline wearing off, and leaving her a bit weak. She’d had another near-drowning experience, and she was a little shaken up by it. But she bore no ill will towards Weiss for it. She knew it wasn’t her fault. She just hoped that the girl could recover from this. Maybe, if she needed help, Yang could give it. She and Weiss had been strangers for a long time, despite the fact that Thrax had hurt them both terribly. Perhaps it was time for Yang to change that.
((Duh duh duh! XD Hope you guys enjoyed this. The last part for this plot will be posted in a week at the latest.))
Yang sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest, gazing down at the city below her. It had been almost 24 hours since Weiss had run off, and the Others Unit had had no luck finding her. Even from where Yang was, perched on top of a tall building where the city ended and the bayou began, she couldn’t see her at all. And time was running out. She closed her eyes, thinking back to the Others Unit’s last meeting before the search started.
“Wait, so what exactly do they want with her?” Yang asked, feeling a little confused.
“They want to use her as a vessel,” Riku replied, his voice grave. “Like a puppet.” He paced back and forth, while the rest of the Others Unit watched. This was dark voodoo magic, and if anyone could understand voodoo, it was Riku. “The shadow spirits probably been slowly taking over her for months, ever since Mardi Gras. And now, they’re closer than ever. If we don’t find her soon, she’ll be gone for good.”
“You mean, she won’t be…there, anymore?” Jim asked.
“Precisely,” Riku answered. “The Weiss we know will have disappeared. The only thing left will be her body and the spirits that inhabit it. And with a powerful witch doctor like her, they could wreak untold havoc.” His hand clenched into a fist. “It’s probably what they’ve wanted all along.”
“So, how do we stop them, and save Weiss?” Sunshine asked, who was looking at Riku with worry. He hadn’t been this agitated since Weiss had been kidnapped by Thrax, and who could blame him? It seemed like this sister was constantly in danger, one way or another.
“First, we find her,” Riku replied. “Once we do, I need to get to her. I’m the only witch doctor here strong enough to banish these shadow spirits for good. I have to make sure they don’t just go away temporarily, like when my mom did it.”
“Then we should split up,” Shadow said. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”
“Right.” Riku nodded. “If any of you guys find her, do not engage. She might run off again and then we’ll have to start the search all over again. We can’t scare her off. Just radio in her location and I”ll get there as soon as I can. You guys got it?”
Everyone nodded affirmatively. They knew the stakes were high, and they were determined not to fail. They just hoped they could find Weiss in time.
Yang opened her eyes, feeling guilty. She’d had a feeling that something was wrong. Weiss’s parents had kept insisting that their daughter was recovering from Thrax’s kidnapping just fine, but Yang, and several reporters, had thought otherwise. But now, it was too late to act on any of their suspicions. They’d hesitated for too long. She let out another sigh, but before she was about to move on with her search, something caught her eye. She blinked twice, looking hard to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. But, her eyes weren’t deceiving her. Weiss was down there, her shadow spirits by her side, making her way out of the city and into the bayou.
Yang fought back the urge to whoop for joy. Maybe luck was on her side tonight. She pulled out her radio, holding down the button as she said excitedly “Guys, I found her. I found Weiss.”
Riku instantly responded. “You have? Where is she? Where is she headed?”
“She’s going towards the bayou,” Yang replied, keeping her eyes fixed on her. “Her shadow spirits are still with her. And she’s not looking so good.” Even from here, she could see Weiss’s tattered party dress and how thin she already was. It seemed like the shadow spirits were literally sucking the life out of her.
“Of course,” Riku said. “Taking over her completely will take some time. The bayou would give them the perfect opportunity to do it, away from us and any prying eyes.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Keep an eye on her, Yang. I’m heading to the bayou now. I’ll bring some back-up if I meet anyone from the Others Unit along the way.”
“Right. I’ll call you if anything changes,” Yang replied. Hitching her radio onto her belt, she leaped down the building, using a fire blast to cushion her fall. Then, she hurried after Weiss.
Figuring out how much distance to keep was tough. According to Riku, these shadow spirits were very observant. If they sensed Yang nearby, everything could be ruined. But Yang didn’t want to let Weiss out of her sight for a second for fear of losing her. Nervousness flowed through her like blood in her veins as she tracked her. The only hesitation she had was upon reaching the entrance of the bayou.
Bodies of water didn’t scare Yang to death anymore, but she wasn’t exactly about to go jumping into them either, except if it was with Adrien on a private beach. Not to mention, the bayou was where her parents had died. It wasn’t her favorite place in the world. But, she knew she couldn’t let her fears get the better of her now. She had a mission now: keeping track of Weiss until Riku could catch up with her. And she wasn’t about to fail now. So, with a deep breath of determination, she headed inside, keeping Weiss in her sights all the while.
There was barely enough moonlight to see. Yang had to constantly switch between keeping an eye on Weiss and looking down at her feet to make sure she didn’t step on anything that would make a lot of noise. Causing a stick to snap or falling into a puddle would give her away in an instant. But, she managed to keep herself hidden all the way to the middle of the bayou.
Yang wasn’t sure why Weiss was coming here. The only significant thing about the middle of the bayou was that there was a huge space of clear water, almost like a lake, where no trees or roots blocked the way. Usually, it was a place where kids dared each other to swim, since there were rumors of leeches and alligators and who knew what lurking in the water. The place was pretty quiet tonight though. Maybe the rumors weren’t true. Or maybe animals that were nearby were smart and were trying to get as far away from the shadow spirits as possible.
Weiss was quiet, although Yang could see her glancing at her shadow spirits often. Were they communicating in some way? Yang couldn’t hear her talking at all. But, the purple marks on her arms bothered her. They glowed unnaturally, and they seemed to criss-cross on her skin like veins. Elsa had mentioned them in her phone call, and Riku had said it was a side effect of being linked with the shadow spirits. Being so close with dangerous creatures like them could alter someone’s body in unexpected ways.
Suddenly, Weiss shut her eyes, and took a step forward. Yang’s eyes widened. Weiss’s foot should have gone right through the water, soaking it completely. Instead, it stopped right on the surface, and she walked across the water as easily as one crosses the street. Yang bit her lip. Something was going on. Weiss stopped once she got to the middle of the lake. Then, she raised her arms and started to chant. Yang couldn’t make out what it was. It almost sounded like French, but different. Maybe it was Creole French? She had no idea. All she could do was watch from what she hoped was a safe distance.
The chanting went on for a while. Yang wasn’t sure how long. Was this the beginning of a ceremony that would bond Weiss and the shadow spirits together forever? Where was Riku? She glanced around her anxiously, hoping he’d show up soon.
“You know, it’s rude to spy on people.”
Yang’s head whipped around, and she gasped. Weiss was looking directly at her, with eyes there were as black as coal. Her body had been altered again. Her shadow spirits curled around her like snakes, grinning maliciously. Yang swallowed nervously. Nobody had thought to ask Riku what they should do if Weiss spotted them. Should she try to fight her? Just keep her busy and stall for time? Yang felt like the latter option was safer. She couldn’t beat Weiss and her shadow spirits at the same time.
“Yang Xiao Long. It’s been a long time.” Weiss’s voice was ice cold, and her mouth was curved into a smirk. “Looks like you’ve come a long way, from what Thrax did to you. I have as well.”
“Do you really think you have?” Yang asked, trying to keep the conversation going. “You’re connected to monsters and you’re not yourself. Do you call that recovering from what Thrax did?”
“I’m exactly who I’m meant to be,” Weiss retorted. “I’ve never been a good person. Surely Riku has told you as much. It’s only fitting that I merge with these shadow spirits.” She petted one affectionately on the head. “They’re the only ones I can trust. Anyone else might hurt me, or betray me. If I become one with them, I won’t feel afraid or angry or sad ever again. All I’ll have is power, and I’ll become the strongest voodoo queen this city has ever seen.”
“Is that what they told you?” Yang asked, glaring at the shadow spirits. “Did they tell you that they were the only ones who understood you? That you should cut yourself off from your friends? Weiss, that’s what abusers do, people who want to manipulate others to do what they want. They’re using you and erasing all the good in you. You have to fight it.”
“There was never any good in me to begin with,” Weiss replied. “Being with these shadow spirits has taught me my true nature. They’ve been there for me when nobody else was. Now, we can be together forever.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Yang said, her hands curling into fists. “I’ve moved on from the trauma I’ve endured. You can too. Just let us help you.”
Weiss glared at Yang with her black eyes. “Nobody can help me. And I’ll stop you before you even have a chance of stopping me. You have no idea the power I have inside me.”
Yang was about to argue, but then the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She heard a quiet slithering sound. She whirled around, and her eyes widened. Long, thick green vines raised up in front of her, coiled to strike, like a cobra hunting its prey. Weiss had been making them slowly sneak up on Yang during their conversation, and they were ready to attack.
Yang jumped out of the way before the vines smacked hard against the ground like whips. All thoughts about saving Weiss or trying to make her see sense went out the window. All she cared about was getting out of this alive. She dodged whatever attacks she could, and those she couldn’t evade, she blocked with a blast of fire. Some vines burned easily. Others were so soaked with water that they barely got singed. Yang had to find a way out of this. The attack would never stop if she kept going for the vines. She had to get to Weiss.
She sucked in a breath before letting out a huge fire blast. Several vines got singed. Others coiled away from the blast. When the flames died down, Yang was no where to be seen. Weiss frowned.
“Come out, come out, Yang,” she called in a sing-song voice as she turned in slow circles, keeping her eyes peeled. “I didn’t take you as the type who’d run away from a fight.”
Suddenly, there was a rustling from a nearby tree. Weiss’s head spun around in time to see Yang launch herself from the branches with a blast of fire. She shot out like a bullet, her fist pulled back as she headed straight for Weiss. But, the witch doctor was one step ahead of her. Raising up her hand, a wave of water emerged, towering over Yang. The blonde only had time to widen her eyes before the wave crashed down on her.
Yang realized instantly that she’d made a wrong move, and she was in a bad situation now. She reached the surface quickly, gasping for air, but Weiss already had another wave at the ready, and it slammed into her. The water pushed her down again and again, driving her further away from the surface each time. She could barely see which way was up or down, and the ache in her lungs got worse the longer she went without air. She could feel panic settling in, the same panic she’d experienced when Cinder had tried to kill her. But Pitch wasn’t here to save her this time. She had no way out.
Weiss laughed coldly. “I’m not hesitating this time!” she yelled as she made wave after wave crash down on Yang. “I won’t be weak again! Anyone who wants to hurt me will die!”
“Weiss, stop!”
Weiss froze. The wave of water she was moving halted before dissolving back inside the lake. She spun around. Riku stood at the shore, his eyes determined and unyielding.
Weiss gave another hollow laugh. “Really? Of all the people they send to stop me, they send you? Forgive me if I don’t take you seriously.”
With Weiss distracted by Riku’s arrival, Yang finally managed to get her head above the water. She coughed and sputtered, trying to get her breath back.
“Hang on, Yang. I’ve got you.”
Yang looked up. It was Aqua, her wings shimmering in the moonlight. Before Yang could even say anything, Aqua hoisted her up and easily carried her back to shore.
“Are you okay?” the fairy asked.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Yang said distractedly. “Weiss is tough as hell. We need to help Riku.”
“Yang, he’s got this,” Aqua said. “Just watch.”
Yang frowned. Could Riku really take on Weiss by himself? But, Aqua seemed pretty sure of what she said. Yang decided to trust her. She looked back out to the water, where Weiss and Riku were still looking icily at each other.
“You wouldn’t dare hurt me, would you Riku?” Weiss asked mockingly. “I’m your dear little sister.”
“You’re not my sister,” Riku replied. “Those shadow spirits have led you down the wrong path, and turned you into something you’re not. I know the good in you is still there, Weiss. And I’m going to find it.”
Yang almost didn’t notice it at first, but she soon saw a yellow glow start to surround Riku’s body. It was faint for a moment, but then it grew stronger, and brighter. In contrast, dark energy spiraled around Weiss. Her teeth gnashed together, and with the glowing purple marks on her arms and her midnight-black eyes, she hardly looked human anymore.
“You think you can get rid of us?” she asked. “Mom already tried, and her light voodoo magic was pathetic. What makes you think you can do better?”
“My mother is far from a good person,” Riku answered. “That’s why her light magic is weak. But the thing is…” His hands curled into fists, and his blue eyes flashed as he looked at Weiss. “I am not my mother.”
Whether it was his words or the look in his eyes, Weiss shrank back half a step. That was all Riku needed. His light magic shot him forward like a rocket and his power clashed against Weiss’s like a bomb going off. Yang and Aqua shielded their eyes, and when they looked again, Riku and Weiss were going at each other as hard as they could. Their feet danced along the surface of the water as they struck this way and that, black against yellow, dark against light. The shadow spirits struck like snakes, darting in and out, but Riku deflected every blow with a wave of his hand a burst of light. It slowly wore Weiss down, and she started to get desperate.
“I will not be beaten!” she yelled. “This is what I am! This is what I was meant to be!”
She shot her hands forward, trying to strike Riku with a blast of magic. But her brother was faster, and his hands locked with hers. They pushed against each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. But it was clear that Riku was winning. Weiss’s arms shook and she was forced onto one knee. The power around her seemed to glow with more intensity, but Weiss’s body simply couldn’t handle it. Riku’s light magic was starting to chase away the darkness the shadow spirits put in her.
“You’re not evil, Weiss!” Riku shouted. “You’ve done some bad things, but all of us have! Even me! But that doesn’t mean we’re meant to stay in darkness!”
“No!” That was all Weiss could yell before Riku pinned her to the surface of the water. No matter how much she struggled and fought, she couldn’t escape. The shadow spirits tried to strike at Riku, but they just bounced off like ping-pong balls.
“You spirits have no business controlling my sister,” Riku growled. “And I’m making sure you can never hurt her again.”
Riku started chanting in Creole French, and Weiss started screaming. Yang hated the sound, but she could see Riku’s magic working. Light coursed along Weiss’s body like blood flowing through a vein. Weiss squirmed and screamed and shouted, but it did no good. Her eyes changed from black to yellow, and then she gave one final shriek. Black smoke erupted from her mouth like water from a pipe, and Yang thought she could see the shadow spirits tangled up in it, shrieking as well. Just when she thought the screaming would never end, it suddenly stopped.
There was a heavy moment of silence, and Yang felt herself frozen in anticipation. Had it worked? Was Weiss okay? Was she dead? Were the shadow spirits gone? Aqua finally spoke.
“Riku?” she called. “Did it work?”
There wasn’t a response at first. Then, Riku carefully scooped his sister up in his arms and turned towards the shore. Weiss was limp in his arms, but the purple marks on her arms were gone. Surely that meant…could it be…
“She’s okay!” Riku called back. “She’s just unconscious. Call in the paramedics.”
Yang gave a sigh of relief. Aqua immediately started calling an ambulance as Riku walked along the water’s surface, back to shore. Yang sank to the ground, her adrenaline wearing off, and leaving her a bit weak. She’d had another near-drowning experience, and she was a little shaken up by it. But she bore no ill will towards Weiss for it. She knew it wasn’t her fault. She just hoped that the girl could recover from this. Maybe, if she needed help, Yang could give it. She and Weiss had been strangers for a long time, despite the fact that Thrax had hurt them both terribly. Perhaps it was time for Yang to change that.
((Duh duh duh! XD Hope you guys enjoyed this. The last part for this plot will be posted in a week at the latest.))
