Company and Calamity

Daybreak ran up to The Fox as they ran along the path that was being formed "Your'e hurting yourself! let me hold the stick! I don't want you to get hurt more than you already are!" He held out a hand for their guide to place the stick in. The others followed the two close behind occasionally glancing up and around in all different directions keeping an eye out for the monster swooping around above. Kyuubi breathed deeply through his nose and exhaled through his mouth, he closes his eyes and breaths again. His eyes opened, the whites of his eyes had been replaced by an emerald green color and his iris where slits. His eyes glowed the same color, Just like they had in the past, he could now see everything in the darkness. In his vision everything/everyone had a distinct image and emitted an aura, of different colors, that completely surrounded the people he could see. Just in case of potential threats from any and all sides.

The smoke, in Kyuubi's eyes, was still a deep black, but the Nephilims approaching emitted an even deeper black. The group, had their respective auras and the fox had a black aura, like the Nephilims, but had small purple lines surrounding its body. Speaking of the fox, it rejected Daybreak's offer and continued to spin towards the closed door, now visible in the distance.

Life sped up as well to catch up to the Fox "if you won't relive yourself of this pain, let me help you be rid of it." his hands emitted energy that swirled around his hands. he put his hand out and the energy slowly drifted to the fox, "this should help at least lessen the pain but pain can't be cured if it's being done at the same time." he continued to keep up his pace with Daybreak and the fox "And numbing is not the best option right now..." he mumbled to himself. The group kept up behind. Daybreak pulled his hand away realizing that the fox had refused his offer, "I just wanted to help..." Kyuubi noticed something at this time, Daybreak's aura was odd, his aura seemed to be white which he understood was linked to light, but there was something different about it, it was mostly white close to Daybreak but there were other colors among the white that made it look a lot like the northern lights and it changed color just like the northern lights did. He thought about this but focused on the surroundings and what was in it more than this aura he had never seen before.

The fox continues to reject help as it nearly reaches the door. The Nephilim, all of them are grotesque and ruthless. They all seemed to, at one point, be a healthy and fully functional creatures. They attack savagely and without fear, or even sentience.

Kyuubi is the first to react, he quickly whips out his Dragon fangs, he spins them around and swings them at the approaching creatures both as a warning and as a way to damage any of them that step too close. Life puts his arm down, "Your'e quite suborn." Shade seems to move at an incredible speed all of the sudden and he knocks back any of these strange beings that step too close except for the ones who get close enough for Kyuubi to slash.

Upon reaching the door, the stick is slapped against the door, which surprisingly didn't cause the stick to break. The door slowly opens in response. While the outside seems incredibly peaceful, the fresh air does not rush in to greet them. The fox lobs the stick out the door and barks to the group to go with it.

Daybreak paused for only a second in the doorway to look between the Fox and the now open door, "Thank you for everything." he managed to say before leaping quickly through the door after the stick. one by one they all followed, passing through the door. Kyuubi, blades still drawn and who was also the last to pass through, paused at the doorway as well, "Will you be coming with us?" he seemed to ask this with a serious but somewhat hopeful tone.

The fox stood on both its hind legs and grabbed the sides on the door. It gave a mischievous smile before it slammed the door shut, separating the group from not only the Nephilim's Chamber, but the fox as well. There was a locking sound. On the opposite side of all this, Stormfront stood, holding the stick. It caused his hand to spark and rust slightly. It was obviously painful, but he didn't seem to pay it much attention.

Kyuubi ran up to the door just moments before it shut but could not move fast enough and the door shut and locked before he could do anything. He muttered something in Dragon tongue and put his hand on the door, "thanks for your help any way..." he said to the one behind the closed doors, he turned to join the group. Daybreak looked at Stormfront with a bit of worry "A-are you sure I shouldn't hold it?" he said nervously looking at Stormfront's rusted hand, he pointed a shaky finger at the stick.

"No. I am confident I know who among you should be allowed to hold it, but for now, I will hold on to it." Stormfront motions for the group to follow him as he turns and begins to lead the way.

Daybreak drops his hand and he lets out a sigh. Desire puts a hand on his head and rubs it a bit as she walks forward to follow Stormfront and pulls Daybreak along with her by his arm. The group follows Stormfront.

Stormfront leads them through the prison without so much as a word. Somewhere along the way, the group no longer found themselves in the prison and were walking down a ling hall filled with displays containing artifacts of all kinds. Golden Tringles, Organge Spheres, weapons of all kind were found unused and on display.

Kyuubi looked curiously at the artifacts as he passed them, there seemed to be a strange glow to his eyes that wasn't there before. his head turned as he watched the display cases pass as they walked, he turned to look at Stormfront "What are all these for?" he gestured to one of the artifacts as they passed "are you starting a collection of treasure in this room?" he kept looking around.

"It is a hall dedicated to artifacts we commanders have collected throughout the eons. We could keep them separately in our own quarters, but we decided to store them together so we could all admire them collectively." Stormfront passes the artifacts without so much as a second glance. The group was nearing the end of the hall.

Kyuubi let out an interested "huh..." as he listened. He looked at one artifact and slowed his pace before remembering that he had to keep up with the group so he wouldn't fall behind. "some of these look familiar to me. But I've seen a lot of treasure considering where I'm from. We have our own 'collection'." he glanced back at the giant hallway they had just passed through.

Stormfront stops at the entrance to the court yard. "I will go no further. For this part you must walk along the paths by our living quarters as the small grove is but a void. The tree merely floats above it." Stormfront turns to the group. "It'll be Desire or Kyuubi who is to carry this burden." He hold up the stick for reference.

Kyuubi and Desire and Daybreak all look at each other a bit surprised. Kyuubi looks at the stick and at Stormfront's hand, Kyuubi reaches for the branch but is stopped by Desire. She puts both her hands on his to stop him "You have done more than enough for all of us Kyuubi..." she says and pats his hand with hers. "Let me have this one..." She steps forward and takes a deep breath through her nose. Desire puts her hand out for the stick, "It will be me..." Kyuubi and the others look in suspense practically holding their breaths as they watch her.

From the outside, it looked nothing more than Desire taking a stick. She didn't seem to spark and take damage as the fox and Stormfront had. From Desire's perspective, it was much more than that. Desire grabs a hold of the stick. She can feel her abilities increase in power and potency a thousand fold. She could feel the emotions of everyone nearby. She could just as easily obliterate Stormfront as easily as she could yawn. It's power is... Intoxicating... but this was only the beginning, wasn't it?

Desire stood there holding the stick here eyes wide and her face almost blank as she looked at it, she let out a sort of exited laugh as she stood there "This...heh...this is unbelievable! ha...ha ha!" everyone looked at Desire a bit startled and a little confused, however, Kyuubi almost looked...scared? "I...!This...! I cant believe this!" She smiled a wide smile as she held the stick closer to her.

Stormfront seemed almost amused. "I will be on my way now." Stormfront leaned in to whisper to Kyuubi. "Good luck." He casually walks away from the group into the courtyard and then into a door with a thunderbolt carved into it.

Kyuubi kept looking at Desire, he swallowed. Desire kept smiling "well? what are we waiting around here for?" she said cheerfully and she advanced. Kyuubi watched her go by and she paused and turned to look at him "Is everything alright Kyuubi? you seem a little...distressed." She asked "wha-? oh, it's nothing really. but you're right we should get going." he responded and Desire shrugged and went back to walking. the group followed behind and Daybreak walked up next to Kyuubi as they advanced.

As told by Stormfront, the center of the courtyard was nothing but the same cherry tree as before, but this time, there was a void beneath it. The group advances on the outside paths. Door marked with different symbols line their path. At the other side of the courtyard were the same giant double doors leading to the throne room the group went to before.

"Great. So we literally went in a giant circle..." Syrix said sounding disappointed. "True, but it's different this time. In more ways than one." Tide eyed Desire and the branch she held. Daybreak pulled on Kyuubi's sleeve, he looked down at him "yes what is it?" he asked "something's wrong isn't there?" Daybreak asked, "how do you mean?" Kyuubi responded. Daybreak turned his head towards Desire, "I saw the way you looked at her just a few moments ago...you saw something none else saw when she took that thing...what was it? Daybreak sounded very concerned. Kyuubi sighed "What I saw was the reason why we dragons horde treasure...we protect it for this very reason..." he looked at Desire and he spoke quietly "a almost sort of disease seen frequently in the common human but it resides in many other things too..." Daybreak looked worried "Greed...it's small but it's still there none the less..." Daybreak looked down "you see it too then...she's acquired immense power...and now she feels it and enjoys it..." he looked at his wrist where the black ring was "let's hope it's not too much..." he said sounding almost sad. They continued their walking to look at the doors their conversation unnoticed by the others.

The group made it to the doors, and like last time, they opened and a veil shrouded their path.

"well...here we go again I suppose..." Sky said as he looked at the veil. Kyuubi and Daybreak stepped forwards. the group stood together before all entering at the same time.