Lot to Lose, Lot to Gain (Rewrite)

Chapter Six

"Your strength is admirable, Angel of Death. You hold the strength of a Watcher in a mere mortal body," Ceris commented.

"Thank you, Ceris," Gabriel replied, walking through the Dreadfort's halls.

"But what of your sister?"

"Amethyst is still with Naeus. She was appointed the protector of the second Nether Princess, Amelia," Gabriel explained to her.

"There is another princess?"

"Yes, but she was significantly weaker than her 'sister,'" Gabriel continued his walk.

Suddenly, a horn sounded. There was a raiding party approaching the Dreadfort and the snowy village below. Gabriel set Ceris down and ran out onto a balcony, Ceris behind him. There were dozens of Netherkin gathering outside the village.

"Give me one more chance to fight, Angel," Ceris said, summoning her greatsword.

"To the edge of the village, then," Gabriel picked her up, flying them to where their own troops were gathering. General Patrick was already there with Lady Azura.

"Soldiers, we stand now to defend our homes from the Nether Horde! They seek to take everything from us, but we cannot let that happen!" General Patrick called to the troops. Gabriel and Ceris joined them where they stood.

"These demons took my home and my comrades from me! They destroyed Dragonspire and killed Dragonseer Vordus! Do not let the same happen to you!" Ceris shouted.

Zeganirn leapt over the crowd, standing with them. Kronos and Abigail joined soon after, followed by Daryll and his bandits.

"The Nether Horde must fall, they have become corrupt and ruthless! Take my home back!" Abigail called out.

Rain joined the lead along with Stella, the former wielding the staff of the Dragonseer. They all turned to the amassed Nether Horde. Dozens of wither skeletons, wither angels, and pigmen were rallied at their portals. Ghasts filled the skies.

"Charge them down! Lady Azura, Angel of Death, deal with the Ghasts!" Patrick ordered.

The entire army minus the two sky fighters charged forward, engaging the Nether Horde. Gabriel and Azura began cutting through the ghasts in the air, but they struggled to avoid the fireballs coming at them.

On the ground, Rain, Stella, and Ceris hit the wave of Netherkin first. Rain cut easily through the wave of wither skeletons with his ice sword, and Stella's arcane magic made quick work of the skeleton archers. Ceris engaged the pigmen, and eventually found her way to Hogsworth, whom she immediately engaged.

"Looking to die like your wizard and his dragon?" Hogsworth taunted. "This is destiny, don't try to fight it."

"You can tell the fates I'm sorry, but I have to rewrite it," Ceris replied, swinging her greatsword.

"This will be your fatal finale!" Hogsworth shouted.

"Then may my spilt blood the valiant troops rally!" Ceris called, her purple eyes taking on a glow as she threw the commander into a stone wall.

Several endermen began popping up around them, attacking the Nether Horde with blades of pure energy and light. Ceris leapt into the air, swinging the greatsword in an arc around her, aiming at Hogsworth. The pig commander moved at the last second, and she slammed the blade into the wall, creating a crater in the stone. Hogsworth leapt at her, and she ducked out of the way. She returned with a counter swing, but he caught it on his shield and knocked her blade aside. She jumped back, dropping the sword and summoning her energy blades. Hogsworth stood ready to fight, his sword and shield raised. They stared a moment before charging and clashing once more.

General Patrick fought through a group of skeletons, his spears piercing them easily. He stopped, however when he laid eyes on two figures. One was a tall girl with fiery orange hair and eyes to match. The other was a shorter girl with a mage's staff, who had black hair lined with purple and purple eyes. The mage looked on from the distance, standing defensively next to the taller girl. He immediately recognized that they were commanding the Nether army, and that they were also unguarded. The General teleported up to them, and the shorter girl moved between him and the apparent commander.

"Do not come any closer, Ser Patrick," she said, readying her staff.

"Call off your army or face your demise," the General replied.

"You speak bold words for someone who's outnumbered," the girl snarled.

"Not outnumbered, Amethyst," Gabriel landed next to General Patrick.

"Amethyst, I've got the General. You handle your brother," the taller girl, Amelia, said.

"Yes, Queen Fireheart," Amethyst replied, letting out a burst of energy towards Gabriel.

The Angel of Death blocked the incoming strike with his wings, then deployed his staff and allowed his wings to form an axe head on the staff. He swung down, and Amethyst blocked with her staff.

"You're my brother! Why are we fighting?" Amethyst asked.

"We're not on the same side any more, Amy. You've allied yourself with the enemy," Gabriel snarled.

"I did?! You abandoned Naeus! You abandoned the man who saved us!" Amethyst shouted.

"I decided to leave when I saw a way home, Amy! I never wanted this!" He tried to push harder, forcing Amethyst back.

The younger girl pushed back, discharging a beam of pure fire into Gabriel's chest. He fell back, and Amy pinned him with her staff. Gabriel fell back, looking to the side, his eyes falling on the Matriarch. He looked on as her battered body gave way under Hogsworth's shield, and he held her at the point of his sword. His red eyes began glowing under his helmet, and with a sudden burst of energy, the Angel of Death forced the Nether Mage off of him, extending his wings and swooping towards Hogsworth. The pigman commander had no time to react as Gabriel's staff made contact with his head, knocking him to the ground.

The Matriarch got to her feet, picking up her greatsword once again. Hogsworth began backing away from the two, but he backed into a barrier formed from Gabriel's wings. The Angel of Death nodded to Ceris, then looked at Hogsworth.

"Death calls collect," was all he said before one of his blades tore through Hogsworth's body. The pigman expired almost instantly.

"Angel, General Patrick needs help," Ceris said calmly.

Sure enough, as soon as Gabriel had left, Amethyst had turned to help Amelia with the Grandmaster. Patrick was on the ground, Amelia's blade an inch from his chest. Before anyone could react, the Nether Queen planted her blade into General Patrick's body, but didn't have the time to withdraw it, as Zeganirn leapt forward, standing between her and the General. The ancient enderman roared, brandishing its sword. Amelia was visibly afraid, backing away from the End Dancer while Amethyst moved into a defensive position. Stella, Rain, Ceris, and Gabriel formed up around it as many of the Nether Horde began to retreat.

"Amethyst, we have to go," Amelia said, her calm voice contrary to her fearful appearance.

"Yes, Queen Fireheart," Amethyst replied. The two retreated quickly through a portal as Stella and Azura rushed to General Patrick's side.

"General!" Stella reached down, checking his vitals.

"Lady Stella... Lady Azura... you two fought well," the Grandmaster struggled out.

"Sir, hang in there. We can help," Azura said, removing his helmet and cradling his head in her lap. A stream of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

"Azura, we don't... we don't always get a happy ending..." Patrick replied somberly.

"Hang in there, you'll be okay," Stella began to heal him as Gabriel moved to remove the sword.

The Angel of Death pulled the blade out quickly, and blood began flowing down Patrick's armor. Stella eventually managed to heal the wound, but the Grandmaster of the Frostbourne was weak.

"See you another day, Lady Azura..." he closed his eyes.