NationStates Jolt Archive

"If not fun, then useful. Within a week, your mastery will have increased tenfold."

"If my mind and body can last the week that is"

"You'll make it."

He smiled, and kissed her,"Well, so long at least one of us has faith"

"I know you well enough to know that you'll be exhausted, but definitely alive...and whatever damage is done can be repaired easily enough."

"I will be exhausted, both mentally and physically... moreso than ever before"

She gently runs a hand through his hair. "You've let it grow out. Planning on going back to the old look?"

"Actually no, I just haven't had a chance to get it cut recently. I'm going to leave it until after this whole damn buisness is done"

She nods.

"Why, do you prefer it this way?"

"I actually prefer it short." One side of her mouth twists up in a wry grin, against her best efforts.

Of course, now he'll probably grow it out...maybe not. He's had it short since we were married...a long time, for a human.

He smiled,"Odd. Growing up in a society where everyone has long-ish hair, I would have thought you preferred it... oh well."

It does get in the way more like this... but it also has that air about it... I don't know... does it really matter?

"Well...that's a good point. I happen to think you look better with short hair, but I married you when you had long hair, didn't I?"

He laughed,"It doesn't matter either way... sometimes having long hair can be a real pain"

"I have centuries worth of experience to know that with." She smiles.

He smiled,"That you do"

He leant into kiss her, enjoying the time they could spend, whilst also secretly dreading his lesson that day...

*Three PM*
He was stood, waiting for Renor, just like yesterday

"Today's lesson will be more difficult than yesterday's, but also should be more productive."

Renor appearing from nowhere was common to him now,"I understand. Can we begin?"

"Yes. Tell me, what do you know about the nature of Order?"

"The nature of Order? It's the anti-thesis to Chaos... it exists to serve as the balance. Instead of causing chaos, it strives to order things... make them logical"

"What are some of its flaws?"

"I'm not quite sure, to be honest with you"

"It is inflexible, unbending. It does not allow for change, either progress or regress."

Cougar thought for a moment,"Sometimes the rules must be broken in order for the aim to be achieved"

"And change prevents a culture from dying."

Renor begins manipulating the sands.

"Yesterday, I showed you what Chaos did to a body. Today, I will show you what Order does."

A cube formed itself around the body, and crossed through several times.

"Nothing seems to have happened right away, does it?"

"Not straight away, no... delayed effect?"

"Yes. You see...Order takes away all imperfections...including microbes essential for survival. So, over the course of a few days..."

The figure shrivelled up and died what looked like an excruciating death.

"So, it's just as dangerous in it's pure form as anything else"

"Exactly. However, some of our spells require more or less Order than is in the local fashka. You already know how to convert it...just never so extremely."

"So, instead of converting the small amounts I've been used to up till this point in time, I'll be converting pure Order, which of course takes more control"

"You have to know its feel to be able to convert pure Chaos into it."

They shift...to a perfectly geometrical plane.

Cougar looked around,"Everything here is perfect... from a logical point of view. This is a plane of Order, isn't it?"

"Your guessing skills are unparalleled. Now...first, use the fashka as it is neant to be used."

Cougar tried this, and found it resistant to want to change. This didn't come as a huge surprise... but he found it more resistant than he had expected. He found himself really having to force it to change to anything usable. He again went for something simple first, making it materialise. But it collapsed as he couldn't hold it any longer,"It's much harder than Chaos"

"Yes. Much harder. But are you familiar with what it feels like?"

"Yes... I think I've got it"

"Then change it into Chaotic energy."

Cougar breathed out, then in. He got a pattern established, and started to attempt what Renor was asking of him. The Order fashka strained against his will, but he eventually managed it. Chaotic energy in the plane of Order... it was a strange sight

"Let it go."

They shifted into Chaos.

"Now...try making it into Order. This should be easier...Chaos is mutable."

He tried it, and found it easier. Having worked with Order made it easier to work with Chaos than before

For hours, the practice lasted...Renor finally shifted them back at around eleven in the evening.

He would have teleported back, but didn't have the energy or the willpower to do it at that moment, so instead he walked. Eventually, he managed to crash about midnight. A solid nine hours of uninterrupted sleep was what he needed. He just collapsed on the bed, barely able to move anymore.

Rhenna's in the room, and smiles slightly as he collapses. She sits down next to him, and starts to gently rub his back. She doesn't say anything...she'll let him complain or fall asleep at his own leisure.

He smiled, and moved into the rub slightly, his muscles relaxing. Barely speaking, he said,"That was... insane"

"I know...I remember." She leans down to kiss his cheek. "But you'll be okay." She rubs his back a little harder...it had been a rough day.

He smiled slightly,"What about you?"

"I did what everyone's been telling me to do...in other words, pretty much nothing."

"Sorry to hear about that," he groaned slightly, as she hit a tender patch on his back

She eased up slightly, and ran a very mild healing spell through her hands.

"Your magickal training does more to you physically than I ever would have thought."

"I'm not used to that much raw energy... my body also isn't adapted to using magick that hard for that long"

"I know. Don't worry...you'll feel better in the morning. Go on and get some sleep."

He smiled, and rolled over to kiss her before rolling back to go to sleep. He was gone within a minute.

She kissed him back, and smiled at how qucikly he went to sleep.

Renor must be training him especially hard...not that I blame him...I would, too.

After an hour or so, he started twitching, as if having a nightmare. He was trapped in his own mind... what was he fighting? It didn't take much imagination to figure that one out.

She laid down next to him and kissed his forehead, while starting to run her fingers through his hair.

It took a while, but eventually, he calmed down and returned to his normal sleep

She curled up next to him. The strain is really starting to get to him...if I were that tired, I doubt I'd dream at all.

He snuggled closer to her, and settled into a deep sleep. With no lesson with Renor that day, he could sleep all day

She's still awake, having spent virtually no energy that day, but she smiles slightly as his arm goes around her, and takes his hand.

His hand squeezed hers, and he kept it there. He eventually woke at about nine the next morning, his eyes opening lazily

She'd managed to fall into a light sleep by then, but would wake as soon as he moved.

He shifted slightly, and sat up on the edge of the bed. He summoned a glass of water to him, and sipped at it.

She was awake instantly, and sat up as well.

"Good morning."

He smiled weakly, sipping some more of the water,"I would ask if you slept well, but you didn't sleep"

"Not really, no."

"Lucky you"

She moves over to sit beside him. "That bad?"

His eyes are covered in shadow,"Sometimes"

She puts a hand on his arm. "What happened?"

"He... he... he won. He destroyed it all. Snake Eaters, Kaymiril, Warhaven... all of them, gone"

"He won't win, James. I promise you...he won't."

"It was all so real... I seriously could not tell the difference between the dream world, and the real world... I'm scared, Rhenna. I don't know if I'm going to make it through this and come out as the same person"

She hugs him gently. "I can't tell you that...but no matter what hapens...no matter how you change...I love you, and I'll still be there, no matter what the outcome. There's nothing that can change that."

"What if I change into something like him? Consumed by hatred... a dark warrior. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt anyone here... or anyone I care about"

He didn't hug her back straight away, just letting her hold him. However, after a moment or so, his arms went round her, and held her close

"I've seen you come through worse and still recover to yourself. You've always been true to yourself...for better, or worse...but you aren't him...and I don't believe you could be."

"He's a side of me that I've repressed... like all humans, I have violence in my blood. Also... I don't know if I can beat him. Physically, he and I are exact duplicates... magickally... even with this advanced training... there is something else there."

"Stop it, James. Self doubt is a self-fulfilling prophecy in situations like this. And if you intend on going out there to die, why did you go to all the trouble to save me?"

"I went out there because I didn't want to loose you"

She pulls back from his embrace.

"Do you think I want to lose you? Do you think I want to see you die so soon? If you go out there with that attitude, you will, because you're already defeated. I'd rather have died of that disease."

She's so hot when she's like this... not now, James... maybe later

"I'm sorry, Rhenna... stuff like this... it gets to me, y'know. I've spent my entire life pretending I'm not afriad of death... it scares the hell out of me"

"Then stop pretending. Courage isn't the absence of fear...it's being afraid and going anyway. If you don't acknowledge your fear, it will consume you. Like it has been doing since you woke up."

He smiled slightly, and put his hand on her cheek,"Thanks... I doubt others could manage that"

She smiles slightly, and grips his hand.

"Just don't let it happen again."

"I'll do my best"

After he finished speaking, he leant in towards her, kissing her softly, making it last

She kisses him back, letting the anger of a few minutes before pass.

He moved his other hand to the base of her spine, resting it there lightly.

She cuddles in closer, letting the kiss continue.

He held her close to him, having missed all of this whilst she was ill, and since they had come home. He'd been busy... and it was a shame. He ran his other hand down her spine, and continued to kiss her with soft love.

She eventually, relunctantly, ends the kiss.

"As much as staying here seems like a good idea...I go back to actually teaching today."

He sighed,"I knew it was too good to last"

She smiles and kisses him softly, then gets up.

"The day is still early." She reaches out and ruffles his hair (which is now long enough to do that to properly), and starts to prepare herself for the day.

He scowled slightly as she ruffled his hair, then laughed,"It is still early... now, I've got to figure out what to do. Renor has told me not to attend class today... I don't know what I should do. I'll find something"

"I'm sure you will."

He lay back on the bed, watching her get ready.

When she finished, she went over, kissed him again, then left.

He watched her leave, then turned his attention to what to do with his day. He settled on working more on what Renor had taught him, and spent much of the day working on converting Order to Chaos, Chaos to Order, and everything inbetween.

Vedt stopped by, and watched for a bit.

"Do you want to see how well your magick will hold up now?"

Cougar stopped what he was doing, and looked at his teacher,"Against you, or something else?"

"Against me."

The Velkyn stepped into the room.

"After all...an object cannot think, cannot adapt. A living being can."

"That much is true, I suppose"

The room filled with Chaos oriented fashka, and Vedt stepped in.

"This will be good practice for you."

"Good, but hard," he said, grinning slightly,"Just what I need"

"Do not hold back here, Cougar. I will not, nor will your enemy. If you can kill me...then do so. Then you will be ready, or almost."

Can I kill my teacher... if he commands it, yes, I can do that.

"As you say"

Cougar drew in the Chaotic fashka, making it work for him in order to bolster his natural defences and attack strength... but where to go from here. Vedt knew every trick in his book... in theory anyway.

Vedt gathered fashka as well, and would have waited for Coguar to attack first...but this was not how it was going to go.

A Chaotic spell (which while not deadly, would hurt) closed in on Cougar from all sides.

Order counters Chaos

Cougar fought against the Chaotic energy with an Order spell, which manifested as the White Flame spreading out, pushing the negative energy aside, giving Cougar a clear shot at Vedt with a Chaos spell.

Vedt, working with Chaos energies, merely absorbed the energy, while shunting aside the effects of the spell.

"What has Renor been teaching you these past days, you fool?"

"Lightening" crashed around Cougar's head, as a vortex opened above him. The energies around and within him grew erratic as the spell intensified.

The Order spell was proving more difficult to maintain than before, but Cougar was managing to hold it together... barely. Three days of training hadn't prepared him enough to fight someone of Vedt's skill and power... but he wasn't about to admit that. Instead, he cast overlapping Order spells, nullifying the Chaotic energies around him, and then launched tri-directional attacks of Order, the training at Chathdelmar being put to good use to form a fire spell infused with Order.

Vedt raised a sheild of Chaotic energies, which deflected most of the attack. What got through slammed into the mage, knocking him back, but not throwing off his concentration.

As he stood back up, he charged a spell, which formed as a wave, and plunged toward Cougar with the force of a hundred men.

Cougar was now maintaining multiple Order spells to deflect the Chaos all around him... and Vedt was using that same energy to attack him. The wave crashed into the Flame and the two did what water and fire would do. Destroyed each other. But despite this, a significant portion of the power got through, perhaps as high as 70%. It hit Cougar, forcing him backwards. He flipped with it, his feet pressing squarely against the wall, pushing him off. As he moved, he charged an Order spell, once more infused with fire, and launched a tide of raw power. Less control, but more power.

Vedt used the fashka that was around the spell to eat away at it, absorb and balance it out.

What little there was left destroyed his already weakened sheild, but did no further damage, and he charged another one.

From behind Cougar, a different spell, shaped in the likeness of, ironically, a cougar, lunged for the human's back.

He smiled slightly, noting how the spell behind him was his namesake. A ghostly hand smashed into it's 'chest', driving Order deep into the heart of Chaos. At the same time, he launched another attack at Vedt, trying to take advantage of the temporary lack of protection. He was, per Vedt's instructions, not holding back... he doubted the mage would allow himself to be killed, but it paid to take this as real as possible.

The spell brushed past the sheild as it was forming, and Vedt would have no choice but to take the blow.

As this was registering, all spells dissipated, and the room's fashka balanced back out.

R -- "A good match...I'd say you have a way yet to go, but you are much closer than you were."

Cougar powered himself down, his eyes and hair returning to normal, before bowing his head to Renor,"It is only thanks to you I lasted that long"

R -- "Indeed. You may both go."

Vedt teleported out at his master's dismissal.

Cougar left on foot, and made his way to another training room.. and another... and another. He found he just couldn't settle into a training regieme for the day... and it was only one in the afternoon. He leant against the cold stone wall, his neck straight, his eyes closed, his every sense attuned to the world around him.

He was, for the most part, left alone. The others had things that they had to do, and he had things he had to do.

After a while, he started training in his Order spells, converting fashka of all other types to Order. It was tough, but it was worth it...

*************************************************************
Matthew Cougar cursed softly, and turned away from the demon held in bondage in front of him. By sacrificing an innocent life, he had managed to summon one to him, and it was now telling him all it could, obviously scared of him.

"So, brother, you are still alive... and still training... I can feel your power growing... it is indeed impressive. But you must be a fool to try and beat me... though I enjoy the challenge"

"Yes, but it is not he who interests my god"

"Quiet, demon, before I return you to your master... I'm sure Slaanesh will be happy to hear what his nephew can do"

He cracked his knuckles in the worst cliche in history, and then clasped his hands behind his back, staring out the window of the Planet Killer. Abaddon had allowed him it's use for a peroid, until a ship for him could be found. He sighed, and looked out,"It is coming..."

Rhenna came and found him at about seven.

"Long day, James?"

"Not so much long, as quite difficult... still, I enjoyed, in an odd way, the match with Vedt this morning... even though he held back, I still believe I did well. I hope."

"Ah, yes. He says you have work to do yet."

Then again, Rhenna knew, there was no one in this entire city that wouldn't have to work on their control...not until death.

"I thought he would say that, and he's right of course. Still, everyone needs work in some things"

"Always. Renor, who has the most power and control of all of us, works at perfection...probably harder than the rest of us, as well."

As a demi-god, that doesn't surprise me

"He is the Master... I would expect nothing less. The Master used to work harder than any of us at home. Anyway, what about you? Enjoy your first day back?"

"It was good to be able to do something again...it was also more tiring than I'd anticipated."

He hugged her,"It normally is... but it's good you're teaching again"

She hugs him back, smiling.

"You don't have to tell me that. I know."

He smiled,"I felt like telling you regardless...you hungry?"

"A bit."

"Good enough. Care to join me?"

A slight grin pulled up at the corners of her mouth.

"Well...maybe."

Her hand, which had already been on his arm, slid down to take his.

He smiled, and took her hand,"Perfect answer there"

He led her to the canteen, and brought over two plates. He'd taken to helping in the kitchens, and even cooked for the city on occasion... the food had gone down well, for the most part. Although, if he remember correctly, Shan wasn't fond of some stuff... the spices in particular. He chuckled softly at this thought. He set the plates down, and then sat down himself,"Looks good tonight"

"It should be. Shan and Jovin aren't the ones that create that orange mess that Tari and Ashra do."

"And no one ever finds how they manage it... and no one ever eats it either. Except of course, those two"

"There are a few that eat it. It's actually got an ingredient that you have to have a certain genetic predisposition for liking, as far as we can tell."

"Interesting... obviously one of those rare things... kinda like something back home. You either love it or hate it"

"Pretty much."

He started to eat, savouring each bite... food tasted that much better when you'd worked for it

She smiles.

"You're probably finding it better than it is...not that it's bad, by any means, because you're hungry."

He nodded,"All it needs is an ice cold beer... but I've cut back. A huge way."

"Probably because there's not much alchohol to be found in the city."

"I can't even remember ever having seen anyone else in this city even touch the stuff... I never did it a large amount, only a little bit"

"Then it made it that much easier to adapt."

He smiled,"That it did... oh well, beer isn't needed"

"Well...we've never found it so."

She smiles, and reaches out to take his free hand.

He put his cutlery down, and squeezed her hand, smiling back at her, his eyes shining slightly in the light, helped by the light behind his eyes themselves. He was finished anyway.

"Ready to go?"

He smiled,"Absolutley. Lead on, my dear"

She stands, her hand still in his, and begins walking with him.

"So...where should we go? The forest, cavern, or back to our room? I'd suggest the sand room...but you've probably seen more than you wanted to of that for a while."

He chuckled,"You'd be right there... the forest seems like a nice place to go... we haven't been there in so long"

"That sounds like a good idea...it has been a while."

She turns accordingly, and they're soon walking through a 'forest.'

He looked around, his eyes roving over the beautiful, lush jungle, illuminated by the moon. The moonlight glinted off a few of her scales. He smiled, and brushed her cheek with his hand.

She smiles, taking his hand. "How long has it been since we've been here?"

"A good six months since we came here in particular... what a six months"

"I know. I can't recall such a hectic time since well before we met."

"Neither can I... what with the Shivans' still making threats at Snake borders, and god knows how many insurgents I've had to eliminate... bloody free radicals"

"And I can't tell you...for multiple reasons...how much trouble has been brought to Kaymiril because of the doubt that the more traditional nobles have in the Queen."

"I knew you were going to say that... if I'm honest, a tactical analysis was carried out when she first came to power... this was to be expected. But now is not the time to dwell on other matters... all that matters is us"

She smiles. "For the moment...that sounds like a good idea."

He kissed her softly, his lips just brushing hers.

She kisses him back, keeping it just as soft.

One of his hands snaked round to the back of her neck, whilst the other traced it's way down her spine, coming to rest on her waist

The kiss deepened as he gently pulled her closer, and one of her arms slid around him.
With the other hand, she started playing with his hair.

He made a slight noise, one of relaxation and comfort, but didn't break the kiss.

If I could pick a perfect moment...I think this would be it.

He smiled, and broke the kiss softly, staying very close, his face buried in her neck as he kissed it softly,"Someone looks happy"

She smiles softly, her cheek pressed slightly to his neck. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Good answer"

She smiles. "But what about you?"

He kissed her neck once more, then looked at her, and smiled,"Need you ask?"

She smiles. "Not really."

He kissed her once more, and looked at her,"Then don't"

He smiled, and gripped her hand tightly.

She kissed him back and smiled. "Let's get out of here."

"I've never agreed with you more," he said, lifting her up off the ground as he did so.

She grinned at him as he picked her up, then teleported them back.

He looked around as they arrived, and then laid her on the bed, lying down next to her, and kissing her...

**Later**

She was still beside him, in that comfortable and happy area halfway between wakefulness and sleep.

He looked down at her, his hair and hers mingled together. he ran a finger up to her chin, and tilted her face towards him,"I love you"

She smiles and kisses him softly. "And I love you."

"Glad to hear it... you look amazing"

She smiles and kisses him again, gently tracing a scar. "And I think we should get some rest before morning."

He let his eyes linger a second longer, then nodded,"Agreed. Good night, Rhenna"

A small smile touches her lips, and she kisses him softly, once more before cuddling in just a little closer and closing her eyes. "Good night."

He kissed her back, and closed his eyes, his arms closing round her even more as she moved closer to him. He sighed happily, and drifted off..

**************************************************************

"Yes... sleep whilst you can, brother. When I am through, if you somehow survive, you won't be able to sleep ever again"

Meanwhile, Renor and Vedt were meeting to discuss other aspects of this situation.

R -- "This city hasn't changed its scry defenses in over a century. I believe it is a good time to see how well your new spell works on such a scale."

The younger mage nodded, and his spell whirled around and through the city, finding spells that had stopped working, and generally creating an entirely new, improved system.

R -- "How do you judge Coguar, from today's match."

V -- "Three more days of hard training should do him well...and then a day of rest."

R -- "I thought about that. I noticed that he managed to hit you. Were you injured?"

V -- "A bit...but I did tell him to aim to kill. That could have been much worse."

R -- "Yes. But you are a foolish child, Vedt. While he needs to learn to push his limits, he should not be allowed a living target, especially not you. You know your duty to live for this city, so that when I die --"

Vedt cut off his master there, for the first time in his life.

"You won't die, Renor. We both know who you are, and just how much it would take to kill you."

R -- "We also know that I almost died eight years ago in Derscon."

Reminded suddenly of this, Vedt became silent.

R -- "No matter who or what I may be, I am still vulnerable, and I am still mortal. You will have to come up with a different manner of training Cougar."

V -- "I understand, Master."

R -- "Go now. We will speak later, when Rhenmet can join us."

Vedt leaves, and Renor teleports to another place in the building, to continue with other sorts of work.

"Mages... more trouble than they're worth"

He stalked off, there must be someone on this vessel he could torment happily.

**************************************************************

Cougar woke early the next morning, his sleep troubled by the same disturbing visions he had seen over the past few days. He suppressed this from his wife, not wanting to disturb her. He just lay there, looking up at the ceiling. As he did so, he began having another conversation with himself

How can I do this...

You'll figure out a way

That's true...

Look, he's not exactly you. He hasn't put in the physical training like you have over the years... use that to your advantage. Don't fight him with magick if you can avoid it... take him on with your advantage.

And if it comes down to it?

Just do what you did earlier, only with more force. You'll win, James, you know it

He smiled slightly, and continued to stare.

Her voice was barely more than a murmer.

"Thinking about it again, James?"

He smiled,"I thought you were asleep"

"I woke up a few minutes ago...but saw no reason to move. It's fairly warm and comfortable here."

"In answer to the orginal question, yes, I was thinking about it again... and I can see you're nice and comfy there"

She opens her eyes and turns slightly so she can look at him.

"I'd tell you not to worry about it...but this is a matter that I'm worried about too...that, and you wouldn't stop worrying."

"You're right... I would stay worried. But I know you're worried as well, so I'm doing my best"

She hugs him gently.

"We can only trust that we'll both come out all right."

He hugged her back, and smiled,"We'll be fine... I know it"

She smiles. "Good."

He smiled, and kissed her once more.

**************************************************************

The Planet Killer sat in the maelstrom of the Warp, the demons avoiding it simply because of the two people on board. Abaddon, the greatest of all the Chaos leaders, and Matthew Cougar, the champion of Chaos Undivided. Together, these two were among the most powerful of all of Chaos' servants. Matthew was testing out his new lightning claws, under Abaddon's supervision. He smiled, the power armour shifting it's colour yet again. It never stayed the same for too long.

A -- "Impressive. You are more skilled than you think"

M -- "My brother is a natural fighter... it is not unexpected"

A -- "I would very much like to meet him... so I can execute him in person"

M -- "That honour is mine alone... maybe you can torture him first"

A -- "How dare you..."

Matthew smiled, and a blast of Chaos energy smashed into Abaddon's chest plate, sending him reeling backwards, a fresh hole in the plate. His face was a picture of anger and fear,"Do not push me, Abaddon. You may lead the Chaos legions... but I wield more power than you can imagine."

Renor had been 'watching' for some time, with some interest.

Cougar will need a weapon the equivalent of that. But who to consult? In other matters, though...that child is less than what I had estimated him to be. Cougar already has one advantage, and is even in the other aspect. So long as he does not get cocky.

"What time is it, Rhenna?"

"Almost seven."

"Another day of training awaits me... oh what joy"

"Complain about it after the job is done."

"Oh, I'll complain more after the job is finished."

He said this with a smile, telling her that he wasn't being serious at all. He knew the seriousness of the situation, more than anybody

A slight smile comes to her face...the one he'd recognise as slightly preoccupied with other, less pleasant matters.

He smiled, and put his hand on her cheek,"It's all gonna work out. Now, c'mon, we've got work to do"

"Yes, we do. "

She gets up and starts readying for the day.

He had a quick shower, and then got himself dressed quickly, his normal attire having altered subtley over the years... it was now more streamlined than it had been orginally, the long coat having replaced the cloak about two years ago. It fitted better, and was more comfortable.

She had left by the time he was out.

~~Random Flashback, that she is not currently thinking of~~

Ice. I hate ice. And these moons are made of almost nothing but.

Come to think of it, this was a lousy mission. Still, it had to get done.

She paused, and cast a quick invisibility charm.

There was a figure in black, not too far away. It was a blond human, wearing a coat of sorts.

How does he stay warm...and is he going to be a hinderence to my mission?

Deciding that she was better safe then sorry, Rhenna had gone to incapacitate this man.

Only to find out that he was on the same mission she was...and then have a mutual decision made that this would go better as a team mission.

~~End Flashback~~

*Five Days later*
Cougar looked out over the barren, windswept plains of the planet they were on. He'd recieved a message, on his own encryption, from Matthew. The gauntlet was laid down, and it was simple. Come and fight

He shivered slightly, and drew his coat round him a little tighter. His hair was now white, but there was no Flame around him, for he was subduing it, allowing it's power to coarse through his veins. Strapped to his back was his Gunblade, the blade rippling with white fire. He also had his 10mm pistol under his coat, along with his belt-kit. Field glasses, emergency rations and med-kit... all the essentials. The wind whipped at his coat, the bottom flying round his boots. His feet crunched on the stones underfoot, which were covered in slight layer of frost. The night had been spent in a cave, sleeping whilst they could. He was not alone. Rhenna had come, as had a collection of other mages. He looked around, and smiled, knowing that he wasn't alone on this planet.

It was inhospitable for the most part. Matthew had chosen it well... it was a cold planet, arctic for the most part. It made it that much harder to move around, as the wind carried snow with it, causing occasional blizzards. Even now, he saw his enemy approaching, chuckling mirthlessly, offering praise to the Chaos gods for giving him this oppurtunity. Blinded by power and the lust for revenge, he could not see that he was naught but a plaything to them, a means to an end. He stood atop the moutain, and watched

"Soon, dear brother. Soon"

Rhenna could see him as well, and she felt the Dragon inside her fight to come out...fight to be released, to destroy this creature and feel his bones crunching between her teeth.

Instead, she stood there, temperature regulated and maintained by a couple of spells.

Renor stood beside her, likewise watching. Doer, dalhar...lu' el.

Vedt was stone still, save for the flapping and rustling of his cloaks in the stiff arctic winds. The time would come.

Tari had a pair of scythes strapped to her back, connected by a chain. This was a very difficult, very dangerous weapon to weild...but also very effective.

Shan merely had his collection of spell balls from a few years back, and one of the copies he had of Haldosir's sword. At the moment, he was bouncing his ordinary ball against the ground, pleased to see that it would bounce on ice.

Mith stood, ready as he could be. While he had never trained as a fighter, sometimes it was even deadlier to be trained as a healer.

Cougar looked behind him,"It's still some way off... and I doubt he'll want to fight out here... no, he'd got a bigger plan than that"

R -- "The child is slow enough to be irritating."

V -- "Let him be slow. A poor entrance normally only gets worse."

Eventually, after a few hours of tabbing across the plains, they came face to face with Matthew Cougar. He was clad in power armour (http://uk.games-workshop.com/chaosspacemarines/reference/images/chaos-space-marine-vignette.jpg), which served to augment his strength, his durability and also his magickal prowess, although the latter was not something he was worried about. The collection of mages in front of him made him laugh,"Can't you just bring your pet along, instead of all your friends?"

His eyes narrowed as they passed over Renor, feeling his power and heritage entwined,"So, you are the one who Slannesh seeks to devour... you should make an excellent meal for him"

He continued to look over them, and rested on Tari and Shan,"Children? You bring children to fight? James, how could you? An upstanding solider, forcing children to fight?"

J -- "Kids make the best soliders"

M -- "Oh, but you would say that, having been one yourself. How arrogan"

J -- "You are the one who is arrogant here"

M -- "Maybe... I've been watching you... or at least, I was, until your so-called 'teacher' blocked me... impressive indeed. But not enough"

J -- "Then I'll just have to figure something out" Great... power armour and lightning claws...

*************************************************************

*Riptide*
A message had arrived for Warfare, Arianna and Gypsy, from Cougar. The strange thing was the date... it was two years in the future.

It's easy enough to save Leviathan, for he is not lost

His soul has been trapped on the Chaos Wastes, unable to leave or communicate with us in physical form. Do not ask how I know this, nor how this letter has reached you. You must return, at once, to the location where he was last seen. At that point, something will happen. I cannot tell you what, because I honestly don't know. Good luck to all of you.

James

M -- "So much talk, dalhar...and yet you hide behind that eyesore. Are you too weak to face your original?"

"Quiet, healer. Your prescense here is unnecessery... when I am through, you will have nothing left to heal"

"Well...healing is a purpose...but there is a presence near that I would actually more seek to destroy...and aside from that...from what I heard, you've little power of your own, and from what I see, you've little strength of your own. Fortunately for you, up until a few weeks ago you've only picked on your fellow humans."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I'm sure you remember five years ago... that must have been a painful experience, even for a medic of your calibre"

Without even realizing she was about to, Rhenna spat acid at her husband's doppelganger. It was headed straight for the eyes.

M -- *at the same time* "I've seen worse. Oh, that was a fairly nasty job...but I recognise work done by Drow hands as opposed to the clumsier work of a rivvil."

The acid struck him across the chest plate, burning further into the already corrupted Imperial Eagle. Flecks shot into his face, but he merely grinned as it burned at his flesh,"Impressive... most impressive"

*To Mith*"Who said I did it myself? Do you think I would be so foolish? No, you fool. Not at all."

James grabbed his wife's arm, to prevent her going for his doppelganger's throat. He gripped it expertly, not hard, but just enough to tell her,'No. Not yet

R -- "Pleasant as this idle conversation has been, there are those of us with actual work to do. Stop stalling, waele dalhar."

Rhenna strained against Cougar's grip for a moment, her dragon blood and lingering desire for vengeance prompting her to action when that creature was so close.

Calm. It's the only thing that can help you in this battle.

Her eyes lost the lizard look, and Cougar would be able to feel whatever emotions she felt draining away...being sealed.

She was preparing for battle. For real.

James released his grip, feeling her emotions draining away. He knew what that meant... someone was going to get hurt. Badly.

Matthew sighed at Renor's words,"Oh fine"

He didn't move, but stood stoically. The ground fell away from them, a blast of heat rose up the newly opened chasm in the ground. James fell, rolling first to absorb the impact. As he stood, he looked around. The demon horde was bigger than he remembered it in his dreams,"Nice decour you have here"

M -- "Thank you. Let us begin"

The horde was huge, almost five thousand demons, monsters, Chaos Spawn, and even the traitor legions of Space Marines. All were mixed in there somewhere... and all descended upon the small group. Weight of numbers, mixed with inherrent control over Chaotic magicks for the demons.

Mith sighed.

"Demons. Why do you have to be so predictable!"

He gathered something in his hands...he actually strained slightly in its creation.

Then he launched it at the far side of the horde...where the wind would spread it to the rest.

It was specially formulated...a highly potent, very swift neurotoxin...just for demons.

Meanwhile, Renor and Vedt were just blasting away at demons, while Rhenna had gone in to do physical damage while she was doing magickal.

Shan, for now, was throwing balls in a swift pattern of remarkable dexterity, while launching the occasional spell. Red was beginning to creep into his eyes, however, and it wouldn't be long before he drew his sword.

Tari had enchanted her scythes, and was twirling them around at demons/other enemies. While a single miscalculation could result in her own death, she'd been training with these for decades.

In the midst of the battle, the Cougar's came to blows for the first time since the cure had been found. The lightning claws sparked with power, the Gunblade did the same. James was like a demon magnet, they just couldn't stop coming after him. The toxin was destroying them, but there was still many others left. The Marines in particular. At seven feet tall, and armed with bolters or close combat weapons like chainswords, they were indeed powerful. They kept coming through the scythe attacks. The Emperor's Children had cast the Rubic of Ahriman long ago... they no longer had any physical bodies. It was just armour, and a spirit. But they were talented phsykers, able to hold their own against Renor for as long as was necessery

While the Space Marines were coming through her attacks, Tari herself was proving elusive to them.

It was something Raven had complained of at the academy. "You can't hit me hard enough to take me down, but I can't hit you at all. Damn slippery Drow."

Shan, meanwhile, had blazing red eyes, and had his sword. Magick was flowing along it, thick as the blood that was now coating it.

Mith, meanwhile, was firing anti-demonic spells as often as he could charge them, going for ones that would do massive destruction.

Vedt's target of choice were the non-demonic entities, since Mith would have moral hinderences in destroying them.

Meanwhile, for Renor, he was facing beings that were made of nothing but tupora fashka, and reacted accordingly. Focusing on his targets, he began to drain that energy.

Rhenna attacked the demons and etc that were going after the creatures attacking her husband, letting him focus on his opponent.

And still they kept coming. It was like the tide of enemies was never ending. Cougar was fighting his clone with incredibel vigour, matching him blow for blow, magickally and physichally. His advanced training was shown by how powerful he had become in such a short space of time... it was a sign as to his true power. Everyone in the entire area could feel it.

R -- "Mith...remember that particular spell we spoke of?"

M -- "The Ultima virus?"

R -- "That one. I think now would be a good time for it."

Mith started charging a new spell, while Renor started to cast Ultima.

When the spells were almost ready, both mages shot them...at the other.

The spells merged into one, and split into thousands of different parts. Each one attacked an enemy, and exploded.

All the targeting efficiency of a biogenic weapon. All the destructive power of the Ultima spell, save in smaller scale.

Warfare, gypsy, and Arianna stood up, and readied themselves. Arianna called a few powerful creatures of nature to herself, whilst Gypsy, who had also mastered the art of Claws from her father. She had a pair of claws dubbed "Dragon Claws".

Warfare called the other two to him, and he was in his armor.

All three deities came together in Arianna's Grove.

W - We go to the Chaos planes, you ready?

G - Your the only Lawful deity here. Mother and I are both Neutral by necessety.

A - Yes, neither Chaos nor Law hold a lot of sway in either Nature, Knowledge, Arts and entertainment, or Fate.

G - Besides, the Fates would be none too pleased if I wove nothing but favor for Snake Eaters, Kaymiril, Balrogga, Theao, or Warhaven.

W - Anyways, lets go.

G- I will weave a doorway, between this place and there.

Gypsy unfurled a great big tapestry, it had a door woven into it. She hung it over a tree. She reached into the tapestry, and opened the door. It lead to the Chaos wastes.

With little ceremony, the three entered the Chaos Wastes.

<snip>

It was the same blasted landscape that Warfare had seen before. It was, however, more subdued. The sacrifice of a Law god had responded throughout the plane, and it was now weaker for a brief period. They could exploit this to get to where Leviathan had allowed himself to die.

<snip>

The spell took many down, all falling prey to either the virus or the power of Ultima... but still, they seemed to keep coming. It was if something was calling them... it could not be Matthew, for he had his hands full with his 'father', if you could call James that. No, there was something bigger at work here...

M -- "I grow weary of this."

From around him, a sort of barrier glowed, and then it shot up and out, coming around and extending under ground to form a complete sphere.

Fashkan d' Quarth,
Vrine'winith l' Vhid
Dal dol'ruth nindol Kulggen.

It was a powerful anti-chaos, anti-demon counter. Those not in the sphere, in theory, shouldn't be able to come through.

Everything seemed to freeze. The spell had indeed had the desired effect, as it neutralized every demon and Chaos warrior in it's zone... well, almost all of them. Matthew was still fighting, and there was also something more... something much more powerful.

Two beings erupted from the ground. One was a being of pleasure and pain, sadistic and masochistic at the same time. It leered at Renor, it's faces chaning constantly, never staying the same for a moment. The other could not be seen, for the plague of flies surrounding it's bloated figure was so thick.

Renor made no guesture to show acknowledgement, just stood there, waiting.

Mith, on the other hand, started preparing a spell. This was the presence he'd sought to destroy.

S -- "So, dear nephew, you actually came"

Nurgle did not wait for Mith to finish his spell, and instead launched an attack of his own, sending a tide of Nurglings against the Grey Class master.

R -- "I am Fatherless, and I am Motherless. I have no Blood to call my own. Why address me as nephew, demon?"

An attack lashed from Renor straight at the god.

Mith unleashed his attack...in essence, a very powerful purification spell...similar to that used to cleanse anyone who came into/went out of the room Rhenna had so recently inhabited, only much, much bigger.

Slannesh took the hit, and launched one of his own,"You had parents once... unlike myself. I was born out of the corruption of the Eldar... oh, did your friend Eldrad not tell you this? They are responsible for my creation... you cannot destroy me for ever"

The Nurglings were decimated, and Nurgle roared in pain. He launched everything he had at Mith, in an attempt to squash the mages power under the influence of so many spells.

Renor erected a sheild in front of himself, one that absorbed Slaanesh's attack, using its own fashka as energy for the spell.

"Do you really believe I care of your origins? The only thing I have 'inherited' is the care of my people. Right now, this coincides with the 'duty' I could have inherited under Kaymirilian law, had my father lived to my birth."



Mith let out a different spell, one curative, soothing. It came into contact with the plagues of Nurgle, eliminating most of them...the dangerous ones. The others were let through...as a Healer, it was required of Mith to have a rock-solid constitution.

He focused a different spell on the god himself.

Usstan o'goth dos.

This was a very powerful, very fashka draining spell...usually used only in the most dire circumstances, for healing.

How ironic that this might, at least temporarily, destroy something.

"Blinded by duty... you are a fool. You could weild the power of a god, and yet you choose to waste your time educating mortals..."


Nurgle cursed softly, his power beginning to wane under the new spell, as it healed his centuries old wounds... they were his source of power. He began cursing the ground, the plagues spreading through the soils, helping the Chaos Plague Marines, who advanced on Mith, their weapons blasting towards the mage, the plasma blasts glowing white hot.

"From what I see, the duty of a protector and mentor is far more rewarding than any 'god powers' I might be able to weild. This, for example..."

A vortex spun in front of Renor, then flashed toward Slaanesh. If it hit, it would take out a large chunk of his Fashkan, and send it to nowhere.




Mith saw the once-human creatures coming toward him. Oh no...I can't kill them...but they will kill me.

He began charging a different spell, more powerful...it was hard, changing Chaos to Order...he wasn't entirely trained in such things.

But he was trained enough.

If I can just get this done before they get to me...

Black energy tinged with a blue glow lanced through the Marines. Vedt's hands were spread out as he unleashed this spell at the former humans that were Mith's would-be attackers.

Healing fashkan exploded out of Mith, washing through the sphere. They hit Nurgle full force, with tinges hitting Cougar and the other Drow, but leaving Matthew Coguar and Slaanesh alone.

Slannesh smiled as the vortex tore into him, the pain part of his joy. He raised his many hands, and cast many vortexs of his own, surrouding Renor in their midst

Nurgle roared once more, furious at how impetious this mortal was turning out to be. And the other one... he must be dealt with quickly. Turning his attention away from Mith for a brief second, he launched a plague that would sicken everything it touched, including Vedt's fashka shield.

Cougar was still fighting his clone. The lightning claws had left their mark, taking a chunk out of one of his cheeks, and also leaving a gash across his stomach. There were dead gourges on the armour, and his clone was bleeding freely from a head wound. They had been fighting for what seemed like an eternity, equally matched, the strengths of one balanced against the others.

Renor focused for a moment, then a box of sorts formed around him...a box of Order. It expanded to contrast the Chaotic vortexes, then dissappeared. As it was expanding, though, Renor gathered a spell into his hands. When the box dissappeared, he reached out, and brought his hands together, as if bringing together two sides of a sphere...which was roughly what he was doing.

Slaanesh had just been enclosed in a Sphere of Order.


Mith almost took a step back. He didn't know what this was, but he was sure no one was immunized against it.

Kill the caster, kill the cast.

Power rippled around him briefly, just before he threw a powerful healing spell straight at his opponent.

"Usstan o'goth dos, nin el!"

Slannesh howled in frustration... his nephew was proving more of a challenge than he had ever expected. His fists pounded at the walls of the sphere, damaging it in places but never breaking through.

Nurgle screeched in pain... something ol' Grandfather Nurgle had never felt before, not like this. He curled in on himself, and detonated. The pus and everything else contained within hurled outwards, covering all. But the plagues died, and the PLague Marines turned and fled, having witnessed the defeat of their patron at the hands of a mortal.

Renor kept feeding fashka into his creation.

"A god reduced to an animal thus? Or is it that you've never needed self-control?"



Mith focused on regaining his own fashka, having used a little more than he could readily stand already.


Shan, Tari, and Vedt were waiting for the Space Marines. Spells lashed out, as did scythes, balls, and Haldosir's sword. One thing was certain, and one only: this was going to be messy.

The remaining Marines charged headlong into the three mages, led by World Eaters. Followers of Khorne, they wielded botl pistols and chainswords. Fearsome weapons indeed. Their armour was stained crimson from centuries of bloodshed across thousands of worlds. ALthough some fell, the vast amjority were closing rapidly.

S -- "You are a more worthy opponent than I gave you credit for... but you are still only mortal"

He burst out of the sphere with a Chaotic spell, and charged two in his hands, launching them at his nephew... the result, if they were successful, would not be pretty

A spell wrapped around Renor in a whirlwind style, deflecting the spells out and away.

"I've also had a lot of training, and I've been told I'm quite powerful, for a mortal."

What to use...h'mmm...trite...just used that...not strong enough...ah.

Energy surrounded his fists, a spell that crackled with both black and green energy. This was both a fashka drain and a destructive tool, all in one.

It launched itself at Slaanesh, but indirectly. The two spell parts spiraled around and in, constricting toward the god.


Shan's movements were completely like Haldosir's as he moved through the World Eaters and Marines, and the areas around him were slick with blood.

Tari, though she'd been cut a few times since Mith's healing, was proving about as elusive as ever.

Vedt, older, more experienced, was battering them with spells.

Rhenna was still keeping the remaining demons away from Cougar.

And by 'keeping them away,' she meant 'delivering unto them the most painful death she possibly could within a short amount of time.'

Slannesh folded in on himself, and smiled slightly,"You were powerful... I'll be back"

He also tore to shreds when the spell impacted. He howled in pleasure, not in pain, as he died, and then disappeared back into the warp, where his conciousness began to reassemble

The World Eaters just kept coming towards the three Drow... they wanted blood. It was what drove them. Nothing more, nothing less.

Matthew smashed his heavily armoured knee into his 'brother's chest, and then sent across the underground cave with a spell of Order. James winced in pain as he crashed into the far wall, ribs cracking under the sheer force. Matthew came over, and picked him up,"Why won't you be a good boy and die?"

"You first"

James hit back with an Order spell, his clone flying backwards, the shoulder plate coming off his armour and clattering to the floor. Sparks issued from the wound.. it was a serious one to the armour.

Renor gathered in more fashka, and lashed out at more of the creatures attacking his students.

Mith started another anti-demon virus. It was his purpose to clear those from the field.

Eventually, the World Eaters lay dead, the demons were destroyed. And Matthew and James were still fighting. The power armour was so badly damaged, Matthew had discarded it, the undersuit now covering his flesh. This was nicked in several places, the wounds not deep nor fatal. Cougar's coat had long been burnt off him, and now he was smouldering slightly. He had as many injuries as his clone, but still he stood tall.

M -- "Well... this is it"

C -- "Looks that way"

Mith was healing the Drow according to the severity of their injuries...not surprisingly, Rhenna first.

He'd have healed Cougar...but this was his battle.

Renor and Vedt stood side by side with their arms folded, watching the battle, twin statues save that Renor had a fuller mask.

James and Matthew looked at each other. The tension between them was electric. You could feel it in both of them... a fierce and deep hatred of the other. The desire to defeat and destroy the other. One was the result of an experiment... the other was never meant to be in this world. Light against Dark. Chaos against Order. Good against Evil.

James was alight, his hair halfway down his back, shimmering in the light of the White Flame. His eyes were pure white, no pupils could be seen. If Rhenna was still listening, she would have heard his real self fade, replaced by an emotionless vessel for power. It was that vessel that would win this battle.

In sharp contrast, Matthew was very dark, his black hair a deep contrast to his pale skin. He was less bulky than James, less physically conditioned. Balls of Chaos energy circled him, protecting him from attack. He still wielded his lightning claws on his hands, the electricity jumping between the blades. In James' hands he carried his Gunblade. He wanted for nothing more.

The magickal force was immense. Both of them were pushing their levels as high as they would go. This fight would be short, bloody. Their powers, James' in particular, had increased exponentially. This would be a fight to the death... but the winner would be so drained of fashka and tupora fashka that they may as well be dead.

J -- "So now it ends"

M -- "Yes... perhaps is for the best"

J -- "You deserve only to die"

M -- "You stole what was mine..."

J -- "You tried to destroy my life... kill me and my wife"

M -- "I'm glad my work is appreciated"

J -- "*Grimly*I will kill you"

M -- "But you can't. I am the side of you that you would never admit to... you enjoy all the killing. I've watched your face, James. It was filled, with the joy of battle"

J -- "I'm nothing like you"

M -- "Maybe not... but only the true Cougar will win this battle"

J -- "Then you will die"

The words were finished, the time was now. After a brief moment of silence, the ground crumbled away, leaving the two men on a narrow bridge across a firey chasm. Molten lava flowed beneath them, sulphur dioxide permeating the air around them. They ignored it, having eyes only for the other.

OOC:'Duel of the Fates' ish playing now

With a blur of black and white, they fought. The sound of blades clashing, magicks being used and physical force also coming into play. The searing sound of burnt flesh came to the Drow nostrils, the coppery smell of blood accompanying it. Not three weeks before, James had been all but dead. Now, he was in that zone once more... and this time, his soulstone could not be used. Back and forth these two titans fought, neither wanting to give in to the other. However, eventually, out of the smoke, James came crashing onto the floor, Matthew towering above him, the claws at his brothers throat,"Any last requests?"

James beckoned silently, and Matthew leaned down. James merely looked at his clone, sorrow in his eyes. A moment passed,"Well?!"

Through the blood and the burns and whatever else, James smiled,"Die"

Matthew's eyes widened as he felt the blade enter his chest,"You..."

J -- "Me"

He pulled the trigger twice, forcing energy along the blade also, building up inside his clone's chest. So much power, it literally blew the human body apart. Blood, gore, everything, went everywhere. Across the Multiverse, a final scream could be heard. Then, there was silence. When the smoke cleared, James was just laid there, not moving, his eyes closed, a slight smile on his mangled features. It was difficult to see it was him, but he was still in there.

Rhenna made a move to go to him, but Mith waved her back, and teleported in himself.

Renor, meanwhile, repaired the damage to the terrain, making Mith's work that much easier. Sulfur dioxide was not good for anyone's lungs.

Meanwhile, Mith was looking at Cougar. Broken bones, easy enough to reset, fractures, easy enough to reset and bind, as the bones mended back together.

Cuts, gashes, and gouges, also easy enough to close up...but the problem was bloodloss.

"He needs to go back to Snake Eater Prime...human blood is different than Drow blood...and it is somethign we lack in Kaymiril. If he doesn't get more blood...he won't make it."

Renor nodded.

M -- "I know my way around Snake City well enough. I'll take him."

So saying, the mage levitated Cougar, and teleported with him.

When Mith arrived in Snake City, he had come to the Icarus Building. The only ones who really understood how Cougar's body continued to function. Taking the mage with them, they quickly infused him with blood, and showed Mith how to create human blood quickly and effectively... for once, human doctors, arcane by Mith's standards, were teaching him something. But they didn't gloat about it. They merely accepted it was not something he was likely to know... and now he did. Cougar was infused quickly enough, his blood levels rising to normal within about six hours. Also, his nanites were replenished... but he would feel seriously weak and ill when he woke up. In about two to three days.

Mith took him back to Mithdelmar, then summoned Rhenna.

M -- "He'll be fine...according to the human physicians, he'll wake in two to three days. I feel that it would probably be better for him to wake up at home, in his own bed."

Rhenna nods. "Thank you, Mith." She places a hand on Cougar's chest, and teleports them back to their room, him levitated just enough so that she could be sure to set him on the bed. Pulling a blanket up over him, she kissed his forehead.

"Rest well, my love." She started to softly stroke his hair. "I told you you'd come through."