Fate of the Forest (A KaoEarth Story)

Sixteen: Earth

Earth couldn't breathe. 

The figure in the middle of the clearing stared at him and he felt like she could see into his soul. The Spirit of Darkness was no longer just a shadow. It had finally taken the form of a woman. She wore a long, black jumpsuit belted at the waist that accentuated her curves and her long, brown hair hung over one shoulder. 

But it was her eyes that disturbed Earth the most. Her deep brown eyes were cold and lifeless. 

"You are not welcome here," Boun's voice boomed, standing in front of the group of Elementals. 

"Oh, I won't be here long," the figure said, looking directly into Earth's eyes, and Earth felt Kao pull him closer behind him. "I only came for one thing."

"You can't have him," Kao said firmly. 

"Then, if I can't have him, I'll take you,"  Sammy smiled a sickly sweet smile and Earth could feel the anger rising up in him.

 This creature had been tormenting them for so long and Earth had had enough. 

Earth let go of Kao's hand and marched toward the Spirit of Darkness, ignoring Kao's protests behind him. 

Earth stopped beside Boun, glaring at the figure in front of them. "You are not taking anyone today. Look around. Do you really think you can go up against two High Elementals, eight Guardians, and a Spirit of Light? You're outnumbered." He felt Kao come up and stand beside him and it gave him strength. 

Sammy smiled wickedly. "Don't underestimate me, Earth Spirit. I'm stronger than you think." 

"Sammy, why are you doing this? This isn't you." Bosston came up beside them and Earth could see the pain in his eyes.

Sammy's head whipped to face Bosston, her eyes ablaze with fury. "You are the one who made me this way, Bosston."

Bosston's eyes welled up with tears and a look of anguish pained  his face.

"I know. And I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry, Sammy. I did it to protect you. Because I love you, Sam. I still do and I wanted to keep you safe."

"LIAR!" Sammy's voice echoed across the Meadow. "I loved you and I never would have done what you did to me."

"Then, then punish me. Don't hurt my friends. They did nothing to you."

Sammy smiled again and it made Earth uneasy every time.

"Oh, I plan on punishing you in the worst way possible."

Suddenly, there was a cry and all heads turned to Pineare, who had sunk to the ground in pain. 

"Pine!" Mix called as he fell to his knees next to her. 

Earth watched in slow motion as all hell broke loose.

Hot-tempered Plan was the first to react, forming a fireball with a flick of his wrist.

"Leave our friends alone," he growled, the fireball shifting and swirling in his hand. 

Sammy laughed and Pineare screamed even louder, making Plan lunge toward the Dark Elemental, releasing his fireball. 

All the Elementals were in shock, however, when Sammy caught the fireball, tossing it around as simply as if it were a baseball.

"I warned you. I'm stronger than you think." She threw the fireball directly at Bosston, who was quick to dodge it. 

The Elementals threw everything they could at the Spirit of Darkness: water blasts from the Water Elementals and even a fire tornado from Mean and Plan; but it was no use with the Spirit of Darkness able to absorb energy. 

With an energy boost from Kao, Earth and Pineare were able to form a rock wall around Sammy, stalling her for a bit.

As the other Elementals regrouped, Kao quickly pulled Earth to the side and pulled him into a close embrace. Placing a hand on either side of Earth's face, Kao planted a firm kiss on his lips, like a soldier kissing his love one last time before going away to war. 

"Earth, no matter what happens today, I want you to remember that I will always love you."

No matter what happens today. The way Kao was talking terrified Earth. He had an uneasy feeling as he searched Kao's face for answers as to what was on his mind.

"P'Kao--" he was about to ask when he was cut off by Kao crushing their lips together again in a desperate kiss. Earth saw the tears in Kao's eyes as he pulled away and held Earth's head to his chest, stroking his hair. 

Earth's heart pounded. Why was Kao acting so strange? Was he afraid they weren't going to win this?

But Earth didn't have any more time to worry about Kao's behavior because his wall around Sammy collapsed with a rumble and she didn't look happy.

Before she had a chance to make a move, Earth flicked his hands out, sending vines to wrap tightly around Sammy's wrists. Her lips curled into an evil smile. 

"I was wondering when you were going to come play with me, Earth Elemental." She twisted her hands to grab hold of the vines around her wrists and it was like Earth was hit by a truck.

Earth couldn't breathe. He gasped for air, desperately trying to take a breath in, but he couldn't seem to get his lungs to work. Kao caught him as his knees buckled and he collapsed. He barely heard Kao call out his name as an overwhelming sense of darkness over-powered him. 

"Sammy! Please!" Earth could hear Kao's pleading voice as his vision started to darken. "Please! Let Earth go! Take me instead, just please don't hurt him!" 

Then, as quickly as it had come, it was over and Earth could breathe again. 

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear, Light Spirit."

Earth watched in horror as the life in Kao's eyes slowly faded.

"No! P'Kao!" Earth shook Kao, trying to break him free of his trance. Kao whipped his head to face Earth and flipped him onto his back, pinning Earth to the ground. "P'Kao, please don't leave me," Earth cried, tears streaming down his face, thinking of the words Kao had said to him just moments before. "Remember what you said? No matter what happens? You'll always love me, P'Kao. I know you're in there! Don't let her contro--" Earth's eyes went wide as Kao's hands clamped around his throat. 

Several cries rang out around the Meadow as the Elementals rushed to help Earth, but the closer they got, the tighter Kao's grip became.

"Keep moving and he dies," Sammy said, making everyone freeze and start backing away.

Once they were an acceptable distance away, Sammy nodded to Kao who released his grip on Earth and stood up, walking to the Spirit of Darkness. Earth sat up, choking on air as Fluke and Boun ran over to help him. 

"P'Kao!" Earth sobbed, desperate as Fluke and Boun had to hold him back.

 He couldn't believe this was happening. It was just like his dream. Except, Earth wasn't sure if he would wake up from it this time.