The City of Darkness

XVII: Science!

"Get down, now!" said Sky.

"No!" Shard yelled. He jumped into the inferno that his half sister created. This was their only chance. If they lost, Alice II and Grafl would take them to Ather, where they would surely die. Surviving the inferno was their last option. Shard sprouted his wings and rose into the heat. "AAGH!!" Shard's wings and his body was burning. The flames must have been at least 4,000 degrees. If Shard could manipulate it...

Shard started exerting wind around him, just enough to gain some balance. This pushed the flames away, but not for that long. Shard regained his balance, and was ready to work by the time the flames came back. He had his plan, now it was time to put it into action.

First, he let the flames absorb the air around him, all except the air in his nose and mouth. He then covered his the two and concentrated. "Brake Release!!!" Shard yelled. His wings grew and his senses hightened. He flew to the bottom of the inferno and took all the oxygen out of the fire. The flames started to weaken. "L-Leah!! Now!!"

"On it, Shardy!" Leah said. She created ice from the ocean and manipulated it into snow. It started to snow around the flames, down to the sand. The group was finally free.

"Yes! Good job you two!" said Pierce. Leah and Sky picked Shard up off the ground and slung his arms over their shoulders. Shard looked up and smiled a bit. Sky then gave Shard over to Leah so she could try and close the portal, by shooting a charged energy blast at it.

The portal absorbed the energy and started to malfunction, causing an explosion and tossed everyone back. Sky and Shard landed next to each other, and slowly got up.

"We...did it! We won!" Said Leah. She was right, the battle was finally over. Shard looked at Sky, who was looking at the destroyed portal. When she looked at Shard, Shard quickly turned away, and Sky managed a smile. "Wait..." Leah and Pierce lifted up the rubble of the area around them to find Alice II unconscious.

She woke up and saw what happened, and started to fly off in a panic, but Leah froze her down. Leah then took out her sword once more, and raised it high over Alice II's head. "This. Ends. NOW!!!"

"Stop!" A familiar voice said. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Familiar with the phrase; 'eye for an eye'?" Grafl was pointing two shotguns at Sky and Shard's head, and they were too drained to do anything. The evil Boss of Raging Thunder, Grafl.

Next time: Revelations and a new purpose!