by Lucky Charms

Disclaimers: See Part 1.

Feedback is always welcome: luckycharms@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2004 by Lucky Charms. All Rights Reserved.

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Date: October 10, 3021
Time: 9:00 pm
Location: Temple of the Four Gods

Sometimes, it takes a traumatic event to get somebody to appreciate the things that really mean something in life. It's at these moments in life when everything becomes so clear that it strikes you at your core with such force that you can't help but focus on that one, precious thing you hold most dear to your heart that… you cry. My name is Aeryk Green. I am the Sacred Child; destined to save this world from evil. This is where my story ends.

Victory seemed imminent for the Blue Dragons as they materialize in the Temple of the Four Gods. Smiling exultantly, Jen looks around the circular room before a confused and irritated look falls on her face. "What in the hell is this? I thought you were taking us to the Temple of the Four Gods? All I see is a big empty room!" Jen snaps, turning to Danny. "What's the deal?"

"This is the Temple of the Four Gods Jen." Danny says. "This is only the door way into it. We have to get the Sacred Child to open the door." He motions to Mark and Vincent who were busy holding up the barely conscious Aeryk before they shove him forward onto the marble floor. "Well? Open the door already. We don't have all day."

Aeryk gives Danny a venomous look. "I don't know what you're talking about! I don't have the book on me. And besides, what makes you think I'll open the door for you anyway?" The defiance was out of desperation and they all knew it.

"Because if you don't I'll make sure you'll suffer worse than you can possibly imagine." Danny says taking out a photograph before tossing idly over to Aeryk, smiling when he watches the Sacred Child's face blanch in horror. "What will you be able to do, once he sees that picture Child? No words of comfort can take away the pain he will feel."

Luke steps forward, sneering. "I should have recorded their screams. I'm sure even Beau would have appreciated it…"

Aeryk's shaking hand is barely able to hold onto the picture of Alasen and Brian's parent's slaughtered bodies. Their mouths left open as if their screams of anguish still ring into eternity. The sight of the blood and gore makes Aeryk's stomach turn as bile rises in his throat.

How anyone could be so filled with hate makes the young man's mind reel as his enemies stand over him and laugh at his torture. He couldn't shut his eyes because the vision would still be there. Aeryk could almost hear them calling out for help in their last moments of life.

"You're nothing but animals!" He cries rising to his feet, the adrenaline coursing though his veins giving him strength to stand before the Blue Dragons. "Haven't you caused enough pain and suffering?"

"No." Jen replies, silencing the rest of the group. "Now open the door Child or the pain you're so against will continue."

Aeryk was at a loss. Though, more often than not, things surrounding the mystery of the Four Gods ultimately showed themselves to him nothing has come to him. He looks around helplessly at the empty space.

Failure to Brian, his friends, and his family brings a sense of pain and his lips quiver uncontrollably as he turns his back to Jen and the sneering faces of the remaining Blue Dragons. This can't be happening! Aeryk says to himself, wishing with all that he is that this would all be over with. I'm so sorry Brian… please somebody save him from this! Falling to his knees, the despair taking him over, Aeryk allows the tears in his eyes to fall upon the smooth, polished marble floor.

The tears that fell from his face were cold as ice and they shattered upon the floor as the light of the moon reflects off them, giving the tear water a crystalline shimmer. As Aeryk cries out of despair, countless ancient Chinese characters begin glowing on the circular floor. Whispers of long dead voices echo in the wind as they chant the words that open a swirling vortex of light before Aeryk, who looks up in shock as it appears.

"The door into the Sacred Realm of the Four Gods." Danny explains succinctly. "It would appear the tears of the Sacred Child were all that we needed." He adds with a derisive snort.

Pulling Aeryk to his feet, Vincent turns to the others and says, "We haven't much time left. They should be arriving soon."

Almost forgetting about Aeryk's Guardians, Jen anxiously agrees with a nod of the head. "And to make sure you don't go anywhere in the mean time…" she walks over and places the necklace around Aeryk's neck before placing the ring on her finger.

Preceding Jen and Vincent, Luke, Mark, and Danny step into the vortex and vanish from sight just as Brian and the others appear in a flash of golden light. "Aeryk!" Brian calls.

"It's too late!" Jen announces triumphantly. "We are in control of the Sacred Child now and when the planets align our God, the Lan Long, will arise and guide this world into its true glory!"

Brian calls out to Aeryk again as he is dragged into the vortex with Jen and Vincent then begins to bolt toward the door when Taiitsukun appears before him. "Wait! Before you go in there I must warn you of something."

"We don't have the time!" Brian snaps.

"Evil has stepped into the Sacred Realm." Taiitsukun states, ignoring Brian's impatience. "What was once a safe and peaceful world will now be something as dark and twisted as the hearts that brought Aeryk there."

Joe, noticing something lying on the floor where Aeryk stood, walks over to collect the picture and sucks in a breath. "Br-Brian…!"

"What?" Brian asks, wary of Joe's reaction to the picture in his hand. "What's in that picture Joe?" Taiitsukun grimaces as she watches helplessly as Brian walks over to Joe and collects the picture.

No words could describe the unnatural silence that enveloped the space around them. The wind ceased to blow and even the distant sounds of TV news helicopters faded into nothingness. Joe has fallen several steps back and clutches desperately to a pillar as he fights back the bile rising from his body.

Brian stares numbly at the picture dropped by Aeryk, not hearing Brent call out his name softly, confused. "Taiitsukun?"

"They have gotten to his parents and friend, Alasen." Taiitsukun explains, closing her eyes in grief, sensing Brian's emotional torment. "They are dead."

"Bastards…" Aaron slams his fist into his palm, gritting his teeth. "They've got to pay."

"There is no telling what you will encounter once you enter the Sacred Realm." Taiitsukun says. "Chances are you could be separated and there are even greater chances that you all will perish in there."

"The longer we wait, the better the chance they 'ave of releasing their God!" Aaron cries. "What are we sitting around 'ere for? We 'ave to save Aeryk and stop this once and for all!"

"Not without me you're not." A voice says before Beau emerges from the shadows, filthy and bloody.

Brian's face slowly turns to Beau's before it contorts in rage as he throws himself at the young man, intent on killing him. Jeff and Aaron were quick to react and they barely manage to grab Brian's arms and hold him back, the man's red kanji glowing furiously on his forehead.

"Brian, it's not Luke!" Jeff shouts over Brian's mindless curses and vows of death.

"I don't care!" Brian snarls. "I want them all dead!"

Beau lowers his head humbly. "Then you already know." He mutters, ashamed. "If I could have, I would've said something. I just didn't think they would go through with it."

"Then you knew?" Jeff asks in harsh tones. "We trusted you!"

"Don't you think I wanted to?!" Beau cries, relaxing slightly after seeing Brian end his struggles to kill him. "It was eating me inside you know? But how could I tell somebody that I knew that his family was going to die and there was nothing he could've done about it? No," he shakes his head. "I couldn't do that."

"Then listen to me," Brian hisses. "You're brother is going to die today. Do you hear me?!" the infuriated man roars as Beau lowers his head once more, silent. "I will be the one to kill him."

"Brian…" Joe says his friend's name, unable to continue.

"Luke has been manipulated by his hatred." Beau says wretchedly. "There is no excuse for what he did Brian, but he's all I have now."

"You will fight us?" Brent asks, not believing for a moment that Beau would be so stupid as to do something like that.

"I don't care what you do with the others." Beau replies. "The only other person who saw Jen, Vincent, and Danny for the evil people they are is now dead. I know Aeryk would understand. I hoped you would do the same. Let me go with you as far as I can. I will fight with you, but when it comes to facing Luke… please let me handle it." The young man, torn and dirty from the obvious struggle to survive, meets Brian's dark glare. "I know it is too much to ask you Brian but…"

"If he lays a hand on Aeryk," Brian interrupts as he turns to walk into the vortex. "I will be the one to handle it."

Taiitsukun steps aside as the Guardians and Beau walk into the vortex, her mind trying to grasp the sudden change of events. "A follower of the Chaos God, deserting Him for the love of his brother?" The gateway into the Sacred Realm closes in on itself and the ancient woman shakes her head. "Maybe this is a sign of the end. I can only hope. I've been meaning to take a long vacation."

Date: October 10, 3021
Time: ???
Location: The Sacred Realm of the Four Gods

The sky of the Sacred Realm was vast and blue. The Final Temple itself rested along the wall of a mountain and was further bordered by a grove of cherry trees, their delicate blossoms dancing along the breeze. A pair of men stands at the gates of the temple, one looking extremely embarrassed about something.

"Aeryk?" Brian says, clutching his hands behind his back. Aeryk smiles sweetly at Brian, amused by his loves unease. "I want you to have this." Brian slowly reaches out and takes Aeryk's hand before slipping a simple, yet beautiful ring on his finger.

Aeryk's eyes light up as he admires the ring on his hand before holding it close to his heart. "Brian, I…"

"It looks good on you." Brian says, relieved that Aeryk didn't freak out and run away screaming.

"I'll never forget you Brian." Aeryk says, turning tear-filled green eyes up to him.

"Huh? What are you talking about? I found you! We defeated the Lan Long, you don't have to wish for anything right?"

"I'm sorry Brian. We were never meant to love each other." Aeryk says sadly as magnificent, angelic wings appear on his back. "Destiny forbids me from living beyond my fate. I follow my destiny." The wings flap once and slowly Aeryk is lifted off his feet, floating towards the Heavens.

"What do you mean?!" Brian calls after Aeryk. "What about my promise to be with you always? Doesn't that mean anything?" Aeryk's face remains solemn, his eyes shut as he seems to ignore Brian's pleas. "Don't I mean anything?! I need you Aeryk! I need you here with me! I need you!"

"I need you!" Brian cried as he awoke from the dream, sweating and breathing heavily.

"You're awake." Joe says, sighing in relief. "I've been sitting here forever wondering if you were dead."

Still in the grips of the dream, Brian looks around in confusion. There are rolling green hills, endless blue skies, babbling streams, and yet it all didn't seem to fit right. "Where are we?"

"We're in the Sacred Temple, remember?" Joe says from his standing position a few feet away from Brian. "The last thing I remember was stepping into the gateway, then I blacked out. I awoke to find you beside me, but the others have disappeared."

Brian gets to his feet and looks around. "No sign of them?" he asks and Joe nods an answer. "Okay, then I think you and I should just move on and try to find Aeryk alone."

"Are you insane?" Joe cries. "There are like five of them to us two! And they now have Aeryk under their control, remember? What if they manage to summon the Four Gods before we get there and…"

"Shut up!" Brian shouts. "That's not going to happen, okay? I've lost Aeryk before and I'm not about to loose him again. I'm leaving, alone if I have to." He casts Joe a betrayed look before storming down the hill, completely unsure of where to go.

"Brian wait!" Joe calls, grabbing his scroll that he was reading earlier, and rushes up to join his friend. "You don't know where you're going. I've been reading the scroll when you were asleep and I found out where we need to go." He points behind them. "The temple is back that way; at the foot of that mountain."

Brian looks back at the mountain and something deep inside warned him that the closer he got to the mountain, the more terrible things would become for him. "Lets go then." Brian says steadily. "We don't have much time left." He breaks into a full run and soon disappears in the distance.

Brent waits patiently aside of Jeff while his partner mutters arcane words underneath his breath, creating a small ball of golden light in his open palm before it slowly rises into the air momentarily then zooms off in the direction of a solitary mountain. "It's that way." Jeff says confidently before the two run off again.

"Any sign of Brian and Joe?" Brent asks.

"None. This place makes it difficult to sense them." Jeff replies. "It probably has something to do with the evil in the place. Can't you feel it?"

Brent smirks. "I knew there was something wrong here. Things seemed just a bit too right." The two ran on for a while longer, over the hills and across the creeks, until Brent asks, "What do you think about Beau?"

"What do you mean?" Jeff asks.

"I mean what I said," Brent says patiently. "What do you think about him?"

"Well," Jeff begins with a crooked grin. "If you mean do I trust him; I don't know yet. He fought against us one minute, then turns around to be a good guy the next. How often do you hear about that happening and the person turns out to be the real deal?"

"Point taken." Brent grunts as he leaps over a low bush. "But he did seem sincere about his brother. I trust him."

"You've always been the trusting one Brent." Jeff ducks under a low hanging limb of a tree. "And when have you ever been wrong?"

Brent casts a quick smile at his friend, understanding the meaning behind the comment, and calls for a brief halt to all the running. "I don't think I've ever gotten his much exercise in my life!" he pants. "And yet I continue to do it."

Jeff chuckles. "I'm sure Aeryk won't appreciate us doing this for him. But you know how he is."

"Brian is probably tearing half the world apart trying to look for him." Brent smirks. "But you know how he is." The two share a quick laugh. "I'm expecting a very long vacation after this is all over."

"Mm," Jeff agrees. "If the Hawaiian Islands were still around I'd go down there first thing. But our world is so screwed up right now, the only safe place seems to be at home you know?"

"They have been separated." Danny says; his eyes closed tightly in concentration. "Brian and Joe are coming in from the west and the others are coming in from the east. They'll be here soon." He was deeply disturbed that he couldn't locate Aaron, but didn't tell Jen that.

"Then we'll have to meet them head on." Jen says, casting a quick look at the unconscious Aeryk. After they entered the doorway leading into the Sacred Realm, the Blue Dragons found themselves standing in a circular room cut out of the mountain itself. The walls are smooth and the floor has a single platform in the center, surrounded by four small stone pillars. "We must wait just a short while longer until the planets align, then we can summon the Four Gods. Luke, Danny, you both find and kill Brian and Joe. Mark, you go after the other three."

"And what will you two be doing when we're gone?" Mark arches a questioning brow. "We have done most of the dirty work and all you and Vincent do is sit around and watch us get killed."

Jen pulls out a gun and aims in at Mark's head. "You will do what you are told to do without question. Got it?" she says darkly.

"Mark," Luke says, putting a hand on his comrade's shoulder. "Let's just go okay? Pretty soon this will all be over and we won't have to listen to her anymore."

Mark keeps his eyes directly on Jen as he takes a single step back. "Alright. But I would watch my back if I were you Jen." He advises the woman who was still holding the gun of to his face. "You might get hurt in the end." Mark passes an almost imperceptible gaze over to Vincent before he turns with Danny and Luke to exit the temple.

"It's almost time, Jen. We better start setting up." Vincent says, walking over and gently forces the woman to lower her gun. "Forget about them. They won't live through this and you know it."

Jen snorts as she places her gun in its holster. "You're right." She looks to Vincent's expressionless face. "You're the only one I can trust Vincent."

A smile. "Of course Jen."

The mountain towers over Jeff and Brent as they near the temple. The sun has nearly reached its noontime position as they emerge from another grouping of trees and pause a moment to catch their breaths'. They have been running for what seemed like hours, yet in seeing the mountain being only a few miles away, their hopes have quickly risen.

"Still no sign of the others?" Brent pants, leaning against a tree for support. Jeff shakes his head slowly as he slips down to the grass beneath the shade. "Damn."

"Something is coming." Jeff says after a long moment of silence and points toward the mountain.

"I feel it too." Brent says darkly. "Do you think it's one of them?"

"Yeah." Jeff says in a sad, almost defeated tone. "Are you ready to fight again?"

"About as ready as I can be." Brent replies, not taking his eyes off the location where the dark, forbidding sensation is coming from.

Suddenly vines as thick as tree stumps, with jagged thorns, erupt from the ground and wrap themselves around Jeff and Brent, lifting them high off the ground; when they hear a mirthless laugh.

"You've made it this far boys," Mark says as he appears from behind a tree. "But I cannot allow you to go any further. The planets are almost in alignment and then all our dreams will come true."

"How can you say that?" Jeff demands, struggling against the vines. "How can you honestly believe that everything will be just the way you think it will be once Jen has her way? Are you really so blind?"

"It's all a matter of perspective." Mark states. "You're on the losing side. So naturally you'll be desperate enough to try and reason with me. I'm not so stupid." With a thought, he commands the vines to tighten their hold on Jeff and Brent's throats.

Feeling the life slowly drain out of his body, Jeff struggles with what strength he has and places his hands on the vines choking him before gasping out a few words. Suddenly, the vines turn a dead brown color and become nothing but ash and Jeff and Brent fall to the ground, panting for breath.

"Impressive." Mark concedes, crossing his arms with a disgusted look on his face. "But that's not the only trick I know." He stretches his fingers and they change into delicate looking peacock feathers before the elongate and whiz through the air at his opponents.

In a blur of movement, Jeff is astonished to see Brent standing before him, clutching the feathers in his fists. Blood begins to trickle down his arm. "Brent!" Jeff calls out.

"Hurry up and work that magic of yours." Brent grunts as a few of the feathers wiggle out of his grasp and begin slicing at his body. Mark laughs in perverse pleasure at the sight of Brent being cut time and again by his feathers.

Finding his staff, Jeff uses it to support him as he rises to his feet and concentrates. Sensing the danger, Mark wrenches the feathers out of Brent's grip and tries to attack Jeff but is stopped, again, as Brent throws himself in harm's way; the feather's stabbing through his body.

A blinding ray of light emits from Jeff as he casts a spell and Mark watches in horror as his feathers turn on him and begin to slash at his body uncontrollably. "What are you doing to me? Stop it!" Mark cries as the feathers continue to tear at his body mercilessly. Then, one of the feathers wraps itself around Mark's neck while the rest drag the man back into a tree and pin him there as they continue to slowly kill him.

Tired, Brent and Jeff can only watch in morbid fascination, as Mark is slowly tortured to death. Finally, when all is silent and Mark has fallen to the ground dead, do Brent and Jeff relax.

"How are you doing?" Jeff asks. "Those cuts look pretty bad."

"Nothing that I can't heal up." Brent mutters before he uses his power to heal the worse of his wounds. "How are you?"

"I've been better." Jeff replies, rubbing his throat. "We better hurry and see if we can find Brian and the others."

Hatred often drives even the most levelheaded man to do things he could never see himself doing before. Blind hatred, however, will drive a man over the edge into insanity. There are people out there who see such hatred in other people's hearts and will use that; bend it to one's will which often leads to the destruction of the puppet. Sometimes, the soul of hate will see the error of its way…

"Ryuuseisui!" Luke cries out as he lashes against Brian with his weapon while Danny attacks Joe with a nasty looking knife.

"You have no idea how much I want to kill you right now." Luke sneers at Brian. "It's only my right after what you did to my brother."

"So you go after my family, right?" Brian snarls, his kanji glowing brightly on his forehead. "The way I remember it, it was your brother who wanted to switch sides and try to save your sorry ass."

"You're lying!" Luke cries, enraged.

"Believe what you want, Luke. It's the truth." Again, the kanji reverts to its more ancient form and an aura of power surrounds Brian as he says, "And you're going to have to live with that in your grave!" Faster than Luke can react, Brian is upon him and begins to pummel the young man with a barrage of powerful punches and kicks.

Meanwhile, Danny taunts Joe with his knife and he playfully slashes wildly at the terrified boy. "You should've seen the look on your face when I captured you at the cabin, Joe. The fear in your face… almost like what I'm seeing right now."

"Who are you?" Joe asks with a shaky voice.

Danny smiles. "A demon, Joe. I've been on this planet longer than you can imagine. I've been forced to work with those pathetic humans countless times, and every time I try to kill the Sacred Child I have failed. Sadly, like my master I cannot exist in this plane so I have to steal the bodies of humans; like I did with this boy here."

"You mean you…?" Joe gasps.

"Yes, Joe. I killed your friend Danny long ago." He laughs. "Just like I'm going to kill you."

Beau and Aaron run to the top of a hill overlooking the battle below. "Aaron, you've got to stop Brian! He's going to kill Luke!"

"So?" Aaron shrugs. "It's not like we care or anything."

"Look, I know you don't trust me but there isn't time!" Beau cries. "Please, just do the right thing. I swear once Luke sees me alive he'll understand."

"You know, I really don't like you." Aaron glowers at Beau. "All you people do is cause trouble for us and look what 'appens?"

"Don't you think I know that?" Beau demands. "Look, lets just stop and get down there and break them up!"

As Beau runs off Aaron shakes his head. "I can't believe I'm doing this. You 'ad better give me something nice after this you know!" He adds, looking towards the heavens before he runs off after Beau.

Meanwhile, Brain continued to pummel Luke and plucked the young man off the ground before tossing him onto a nearby boulder and grinned with pleasure at the sound of Luke's head smacking against the stone.

"I'm going to break every bone in your body." Brain says darkly. "For each life you have ruined. I'll break you."

Despite being beaten into a bloody pulp, Luke stumbles to his feet and faces Brian with a defiant look in his swollen eyes. "But, in the end, I would have won. You'll still lose your faggot boyfriend." He then calls out the command to his weapon at Brian.

"Rekka Shin'en!" Aaron cries as he sends a great jet of flames between Luke and Brian, effectively stopping the fight between them as well as Danny and Joe. "Sorry we were so late, Brian. We 'ad a bit of a problem locating you guys."

"Beau?" Luke says in astonishment. "But how?"

"Traitor!" Danny roars. "You're helping the enemy?"

"You're the enemy!" Beau shoots back. "You were manipulating us from the beginning. Michelle saw that too late."

"But how?" Luke asks, still in shock. "Mark said…"

"He lied Luke. He actually tried to kill me when he heard me talk to them." Beau motioned to Brian. "If it wasn't for Aeryk, though, I don't think I would've gotten this far. They're the real deal, Luke. They honestly want what's best for everyone, not just themselves."

"You conniving bastard." Danny hissed as he readies his knife to hurl at Beau's chest, when suddenly he feels something lodge itself into his chest. "What the…?" He looks down to see Luke's Ryuuseisui buried deep within his body and begins to cough up blood. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Realizing what Danny is about to do, Beau calls out in warning to Joe. "He can only exist in the bodies of the young. Get away from him Joe!"

But it was too late, Danny lunges for Joe and in a brief moment of light and sound the evil spirit once in habiting Danny's body moves over to Joe to possess him.

"Joe!" Brian and Aaron call out in unison.

Joe looks around in a daze a moment. "What's happening guys?" He asks, shivering. "I feel so cold." Joe's body goes violently ridged as the demon begins to take hold over Joe's body. "You can't fight me you little bastard!" The demon's voice says. "You can't win. You're a small, pathetic creature! No, that's not true!" Joe's voice cries. "You can't hurt me. You can't hurt Brian!" Joe collapses to his knees, breathing heavily as he struggles against the demon inside him.

Beau stops Brian when it looks like he was about to go over and aid his friend. "No. He's not Joe anymore. It's too dangerous! There's nothing you can do for him now but wait until the demon has taken over. Then we kill him."

"You can't be serious!" Aaron exclaims.

"It's ok guys." Joe says, his face glistening with sweat. "If there is going to be one good thing I can do to help pay back what I did," he reaches for the knife that Danny dropped. "It's this." Joe gives a quick smile to Brian. "No you can't!" The demon's wretched voice snarls before Joe plunges the knife deep into his heart.

A billowing black cloud erupts from Joe's mouth before it takes a horrible shape, and then dissipates into nothing.

Just then, Brent and Jeff rush up and see the horrible scene before him. "What happened?" Jeff asks.

"Brent!" Brian calls, running up to his friend. "You've got to heal Joe before it's too late."

"No." Joe says quietly from his resting place on the ground. "Just… save… Aeryk…" His eyes slowly lower as the last breath escapes Joe's lips.

Brian, Jeff, Brent, and Aaron kneel beside Joe's body and mourn the loss of their friend as Luke and Beau look on. "I can't believe what I've done." Luke mutters softly to his brother. "I can't believe I was used by them. How can I make it up to them? To Brian?"

"We can only pray that they'll make it in the end." Beau replies sagely.

"You mean we're not going to help them?" Luke looks over at his brother, confused. "I thought we-…"

"It's not our place." Beau shakes his head. "Our time here is over." Without another word, Beau and Luke turn and walk away.

Somewhere in the Temple of the Four Gods, Aeryk falls to his knees and weeps unashamedly as he feels Joe's life slip away. He didn't have to look down at his bare foot already knowing the mark of his Guardian was appearing there.

People who sacrifice themselves for something they deeply believe in are often called martyrs. Jackie and Joe believed so much in me that they willingly took their lives. They believed so much in me and my destiny that they, in essence, turned their back on their family and friends to ensure their happiness. They had so much faith in something. Does that make them martyrs? To me, they are heroes.

The sound of heavy footfalls ring loudly in the hollow hallways of the Temple of the Four Gods as Brian and the others rush in earnest to stop Jen and Vincent before they use Aeryk to summon the Four Gods. Already, the sky was rapidly darkening as the moon began to eclipse the sun. All was terribly silent outside the temple and in the world beyond the gateway into the mystical world.

Derryk looked up at the sky mournfully from his office, praying with all his soul that Aeryk and the others return safely. People down below were already stopping to observe the phenomena.

Back inside the temple the Guardians can hear Jen's triumphant laughter as they approach the central chamber of the temple. Already, the four statues were placed on four pedestals surrounding Aeryk, Vincent, and Jen, who was standing above Aeryk with a smug grin as Brian, Jeff, Brent, and Aaron enter the room. "You're too late. Already the planets are in alignment." Jen states. "All I need to do now is recite the spell and-…"

Aeryk cries out when there is a loud bang and Jen collapses to the floor, dead. Vincent calmly kneels down and collects the jade ring from Jen's finger. "I never would have gotten this far without you Jen."

"You mean this whole time?" Aeryk gasps.

"She was only my means to the end." Vincent explains. "After all, there were only seven who followed the Lan Long. Jen just believed she was chosen to lead us." He sneered down at the body at his feet. "Blinded by her own greed she had no idea I was playing her the whole time."

"You won't get away with this Vincent." Brian says. "Give it up. You can't win."

Vincent looks up as a thin beam of light shines through a small hole in the roof of the temple. "Are you so sure?"

Aeryk's eyes begin to haze over as a strange power begins to take over his body. "The four palaces of the Heavens. The four directions of Earth. I call and beseech thee, Four Gods, to descend from above and bless this world with your grace." As Aeryk mindlessly uttered the spell to summon the Four Gods, the statues begin to glow with power and a bizarre electrical energy dances all around. "By your divine light, guide us away from evil. The Sacred Child commands it!"

Four great shadows of the Gods themselves emerge from the statues and call out as if knowing that something was very wrong. Brian and the others watched in mute fascination as the Genbu, Seiryuu, Suzaku, and Byakko struggle against the force of the magic contained within Aeryk as it pulled them inside his body.

"Sacred Child," Vincent said looking over to Aeryk. "If you will. I wish for the Lan Long to be freed."

"Tian Zhi." Aeryk said when the entire temple began to violently shake.

The delicate fabric holding the reality of the Temple of the Four Gods together begins to tear as the walls of the cave fall all around them. As Vincent and Aeryk fade from view, Brian calls out for the group to run to safety outside the temple.

"Could someone tell me 'ow in the 'ell we are supposed to get out of 'ere?" Aaron demands as they duck out of the collapsing mountain. "Vincent 'as Aeryk. We're stuck 'ere…"

"No you're not." Taiitsukun says appearing in a dramatic flash of light. "Come with me. It's total chaos back there."

"What about Aeryk?" Brian asks.

"If you manage to get to Vincent before it's too late, you might have a chance to save him and the world." Taiitsukun replies. "But standing around here isn't going to solve anything!"

Just before a huge boulder collides with where Taiitsukun, Brian and the others were standing they all vanish from sight.

Date: October 30, 3021
Time: 11:46 pm
Location: New D.C.

All hell has seemingly broken loose, as the sky has become a torrent of storm clouds. Lightning dances across the heavens as thunder booms. Terrible winds scream their rage as the Lan Long slowly descends from above and lets out a mighty roar.

Dozens of Z-3200's silently soar through the air as the streets below fill with terrified people. "Do we have a lock on the targets location?" A F.Y. police officer asks over the communicator in his helmet.

"Yes, sir. The creature seems to have situated itself over George Washington Boulevard." Another officer replies as she tries to swallow the fear welling in her throat. "Sir? What exactly are we supposed to do? I've never seen anything like this in-…"

"We just do our jobs officer. Blue squadron? Are you in position?"

"Blue squadron in position, sir."

"Alright. All we need to do is fire on that thing and give Red and White squadron enough time to ready another assault. Chief, any final orders?"

Derryk looks out the window of his own Z-3200 and lets out a long breath. He wanted to tell the men and women fighting with him this night that they were not only fighting to save the city from an impossible foe, but to save the world and a comrade. However, despair at what come to pass forbade him from saying nothing more than, "Just kill the damn thing."

This deserved several cheers from the other officers in his squad, but a cautious officer asked, "Sir? Is it true that Aeryk is being held hostage by that thing?"

"Yes, it is." Derryk says after a long pause.

"If you don't mind me asking sir, but what's going on?"

Derryk finally decides to tell the entire F.Y. police force the extent of the story involving Aeryk and the Four Gods, as they flew over the sprawling city of New D.C.

Down below, people would look up as their only hope for salvation soars by en masse. Some cheered; others fell to their knees and prayed to whatever god they believed in to save them from evil.

"I know, what I just told you is a lot to swallow now. Believe what you will. This could all just be a very bad dream. But if this is a dream, then we can control the outcome." Derryk says passionately. "We've survived the worse that life has thrown at us, and by God we can survive this!" More cheers ring in Derryk's ear. "Now let's show this son of a bitch just who it's messing with."

"My God." Aaron says in awe as he looks at the massive blue dragon hovering in the air above him. "You mean we have to fight that thing?"

"No." Taiitsukun answers. "The Lan Long has yet to regain its full powers. There is still time before the binding placed on it is gone. You kill Vincent, and you kill the Lan Long's chance of sending this world into chaos."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Brian said.

"Good luck Guardians." Taiitsukun smiled warmly at the remaining members. "May the fates smile upon you."

"You're not coming?" Aaron asks.

"No." Taiitsukun shakes her head. "I was only meant to guide you through this. I've interfered enough." A warm light shines in her ancient eyes. "But it was fun breaking the rules with you. Brian," she turns to face him. "Whatever becomes of this…"

"I know Taiitsukun." Brian nods. "As hard as it is. I'm ready." He lied and watched as Taiitsukun vanishes.

Above them the squad of F.Y. officers begin battle with the Lan Long. "Looks like the party has started without us." Jeff comments.

"It only just begun." Vincent saunters up with Aeryk in tow, a triumphant smile on his face.

"You fuck." Brian snarls.

Vincent's smile didn't fade as Jeff and Aaron brandish their weapons. "Ah, yes. I've almost forgotten about you." He turns to Aeryk. "Sacred Child, if you will kindly bind the powers of the Guardians."

Aeryk's sightless eyes focus on Brian and the others before he slightly tilts his head. "Tian Zhi." His voice seemed the shatter the very fabric of reality as Brian and the others clench their stomachs in pain and lower to their knees.

"Chief!" An officer cries out in alarm when he sees Derryk's car suddenly lurch to the side, nearly clipping another officer. "Are you alright?"

After managing to regain control of his vehicle, Derryk replies, "Yes. I'm fine." He looked out the Z-3200 to the streets below, worried.

"How does it feel?" Vincent asks. "Feeling as weak and as helpless as a baby. Unable to even help the ones you love."

"Why don't you just wish us dead?" Brian says.

"And lose my chance of beating you to death? Never." Vincent chortles. "But I must admit you've saved me a lot of time and effort eliminating the others. Though I will find the traitors sooner or later."

"We've got to get that ring off him." Jeff says. "That's the only way we can stop this."

"There's no way 'e can take all of us on." Aaron mutters. "If we attack him all at once…"

"Easier said than done." Jeff interrupts. "Remember, he still has his powers. We are at a distinct disadvantage."

"I don't care." Brian hisses. "The longer we sit around and talk about it the closer the Lan Long has to gaining his full power!"

Without another word, Brian lunges to his feet and charges Vincent. Brain is astonished to feel that his attacks are moving slower than before as Vincent always seems to be one step ahead of him.

The kanji on Vincent's forehead flares to life before a powerful blast of energy sends Brian hurdling through a nearby store's window. The last thing Brian heard was the sound of his comrade's voices calling out his name.

Date: October 32, 3021
Time: 12:37 am
Location: George Washington Blvd., New D.C.

Brian opens his eyes and lets out a slight groan as he gets to his feet. "Damn cheating bastard." He looks outside and sees Aaron, Brent, and Jeff feebly battle against Vincent who was quite obviously enjoying himself as he toyed with his foes.

Taking an opportunity to get Vincent from behind, Brian breaks out into a full run and performs a flying side kick and is astonished to find himself going straight through Vincent. "What the hell?"

Vincent catches sight of Aeryk turning his head and watches the space behind him intently. "What are you looking at?" He demands after deflecting Brent, Jeff, and Aaron off into a wall with another energy blast.

"A Guardian of the Ogre." Aeryk says, his eyes still upon the area where Brian is standing.

"What?" Vincent looks over to where Aeryk is looking, then back to where Brian's body still remains in the small shop. "He is still unconscious in that store. The f-…" he cries when Aaron slashes violently at Vincent's face with his fan.

"Gotcha." Aaron taunts before he and the other two start fighting again.

"You can see me?" Brian asks.

"Of course we can see you." Aeryk replies simply as Brian walks up to him. "We see everything."

"We?" Brian asks, then remembers seeing the Four Gods enter Aeryk's body. "Oh, I get it. Would you mind telling me what's going on? I've had about enough of the strangeness."

"We do not know." Aeryk states. "All is in chaos. Our minds are not focused." He looks around in confusion as Aaron crumples to the ground beside him, gasping for air. "These other Guardians. We feel as if we know them. Something inside us…"

"What are you talking about?" Brian demands. "These are our friends, remember? They're fighting that guy to stop the Lan Long from entering the world."

"The Lan Long." Aeryk's head snaps back to Brian. "That name brings anger to us."

"Yes!" Brian cries. "That's the real bad guy, you know. You've got to snap out of whatever spell you're under and fight with us!"

"We cannot. The power of the necklace binds us in this mortal shell. Our powers are worthless against it."

"This is getting us nowhere." Brian rolls his eyes. "Can I talk to Aeryk please? This is ridiculous."

"Aeryk." He gives Brain a confused look. "You mean the Sacred Child? His soul is no longer within this vessel."

"What?" Brian feels as if his heart is about to explode. "What do you mean? He's dead?"

"You mourn your loss." Aeryk says watching Brian intently, barely noticing the continuing battle around them. "Why?"

"How can you ask that?" Brian breathes. "How can you honestly claim not to know how much I love Aeryk!"

"Sir, your vehicle has taken some heavy damage. You should consider returning back to headquarters. It'll be safer there."

"Over my dead body." Derryk snaps. "I'm not about to lose now. There's too much at stake." Deep in his heart Derryk knew he should return to the relative safety of the headquarters, but all he could think about was Aeryk and how desperately he wanted him to be alive and safe; even if it meant his own life.

"Shit! Chief watch out!"

"I love Aeryk more than I can ever put into words." Brian says. "There is never a moment in my life that I don't wish I could hear his voice or touch his skin and just be with him! I don't feel whole without him. He is all I have left." There is a flicker of life in Aeryk's eyes as Brian speaks to him. "Can't you feel it?" Brian grabs for Aeryk's hand, amazed that it didn't go through it, and presses it against his chest. "I live only for Aeryk. He is my life. Without him, I'm nothing."

"Brian?" Aeryk asks, his voice suddenly losing the indifferent, harshness it once had.

Suddenly, the necklace over Aeryk's neck and the ring on Vincent's finger shatter with a resounding ringing sound.

Derryk couldn't help but grin as familiar feelings wash over him like a summer's breeze. "Sir… sir!" The insistent voice calls in his headset. "Are you alright sir?"

"I'm alright." Derryk says, resting his head against his seat. "Now." He pulls off his helmet, barely hearing the officer on the other side assure him that help is on the way. "Go get 'em, Aeryk."

In a fit of rage of losing control over Aeryk, Vincent sends random blasts of energy all around. Several civilians are caught in the fray and some are crushed under fallen pieces of building material. Others flee in terror at the sight.

Aeryk looks down mournfully as he feels another kanji take its place on his body, this time his neck.

Brian climbs out of the rubble of the shop and calls out Aeryk's name. "Are you alright."

"Fine. But we've got to help the others." Aeryk says. "Vincent has totally lost it and I'm afraid more people are going to die if we don't stop him."

The two rush off to aid their friends when Aaron waves his fan and shoots a flare of searing flames at Vincent, who blocks the attack with an invisible barrier. "Not so tough now are yah?" Aaron asks cockily.

"Is everybody alright?" Aeryk asks. "Where' Brent?"

"He went off to help the people who got caught in the crossfire." Jeff explains.

The Lan Long lets out a sudden, ear shattering roar and they all look up. "What's going on?" Aaron asks, fearfully. "This doesn't look so good."

Vincent smirks. "The binding is broken. The Lan Long is finally free. You fools are too late!" He begins to glow with a light blue aura. "He has chosen me as his vessel."

"Not if we have anything to do about it." Aeryk, too, begins to glow with an aura of power. "You forgot one tiny detail when you asked me to bind the powers of the Guardians. You forgot to bind the very thing that gave them their powers. Me." In an explosion of light great angelic wings emerge from Aeryk's back as Derryk's sword materializes in his hands. "You guys deal with him. I've got to bind the Lan Long."

"You're only delaying the inevitable!" Vincent calls as Aeryk flies off to do battle with the massive Lan Long.

"You think so?" Jackie says, picking up a great chunk of rubble from the ground.

"You might want to rethink that." Joe smiles mockingly at Vincent.

"Because you are dead wrong." Derryk finishes.

Date: October 32, 3021
Time: 1:00 am
Location: George Washington Blvd., New D.C.

The F.Y. police watched in awe as they saw a shining angel suddenly appear and began battling with the dragon. Forming a wide circle around the two, they could only watch in fascination.

Down below Brian, Jackie, Jeff, Aaron, Joe, and Derryk wage a brutal attack on Vincent who pathetically tried to fight back against the combined forces of the Guardians.

Jackie plucked a fallen telephone pole from the ground and swings it around, smashing Vincent in the stomach and calls out, "Home run!" As she watches Vincent hurl through the sky and through several buildings.

Up above Aeryk stabs at the Lan Long while flying at an impossible speed. The fiendish Lan Long lashes out wildly at its puny tormentor. You have caused so much pain in this world, Lan Long. You deserve the eternity of suffering. Aeryk says to the Lan Long's mind.

You fool! The dragon god replies. You honestly believe you are making any difference? Your existence is as meaningless as the Sacred Children before you. It roars out as Aeryk stabs him again with Derryk's sword. I only have to wait for you to make your final wish. Then the cycle will start again.

That's where you're wrong, Lan Long. Aeryk replies. Because, you see, I will not wish for a world where there is no suffering. We cannot deny that there is evil in our hearts. You are as much a part of us as the Four Gods are.

As Aeryk spoke, the power that was bestowed upon Vincent by the Lan Long begins to diminish rapidly. "I… I don't understand." A torn and bloodied Vincent pants. "This wasn't meant to happen this way."

"Things rarely happen the way you want them to, Vincent." Brian says, standing over his crippled opponent, then looks up to where Aeryk is fighting the Lan Long. "I've learned that now."

"You are willing to let the love of your life die for the sake of an ungrateful world?" Vincent asks.

"Yes. I am." Brian replies.

Yes. I am. Aeryk replies. Good. Evil. It doesn't matter, because in the end we are all one and the same.

"I love Aeryk…" Brian continues.

…And the only way I can promise him a happy life is to be true to who I am. Aeryk says.

"That's madness!" Vincent cries. "Think of the power you all have!"

No, Lan Long. This power was entrusted to me, and I will not squander it for my own selfish ends. Aeryk floats in the air before the Lan Long's great head, his sword gleaming.

"My mission is to ensure the happiness of others." A brilliant ball of power appears in Brian's palm.

"No! You can't do this!" Vincent cries, horror shining brightly in his eyes.

You can't do this to me! The Lan Long roars out in terror as Aeryk flies down and runs the blade deep into its heart.

Vincent looks up at Brian in disbelief, his chest smoldering from the power that shot through his body, before falling to the ground; dead.

The Lan Long roars out as it blindly lashes around while its body begins to glimmer with power; starting from the place where Derryk's sword lies in its heart then slowly stretching to all parts of its body before exploding into billions of glittering lights.

There is a moment of stunned silence. Where once the skies were ablaze with fury, now stars litter the black vastness of space. Then there is an eruption of joy as the people of New D.C. begin to celebrate the defeat of the dragon.

Aeryk softly lands on the ground before his friends just as his wings fade, with a solemn smile on his face. "It's over." He says before Brian runs over and embraces his love.

Tears stream down both their faces as they hold each other tightly. Brian, out of happiness for having Aeryk back. Aeryk, for the loss of another friend. The two reluctantly separate to look at each other as if they've never seen each other before.

"I love you Aeryk."

"I love you too Brian." Aeryk raises his hand to touch Brian's face. "So very much."

"Well wasn't that a bitch!" Aaron cries happily. "You should've seen us, Aeryk. We kicked his ass like it was goin' out of style!"

Aeryk laughs at Aaron and sobers when a group of people cautiously approaches them. "He, uh, wanted us to let you know that he believed in you until the very end." A man says to Aeryk. "And that we was sorry he couldn't be there to help you fight."

The group of Guardians looks down in grief at the news, knowing what it meant. "He was a doctor beneath it all." Jeff says softly. "He sacrificed himself to save the lives of people he didn't even know."

Aeryk nods. "Just like you all did. I'm sure he would be very proud of you."

"He is." Jackie says, smiling. "I know it."

"Jackie?" Aeryk gasps. "But how?"

"I can answer that." Taiitsukun say mischievously. "It's only a simple matter of letting the spirits of your Guardians inhabit the bodies of my Nyan-nyan servants."

"But I thought you…" Brian gapes.

"Didn't I tell you how much fun it was breaking the rules with you guys?" Taiitsukun laughs.

"Thank you Taiitsukun." Derryk says. "For giving us this last chance to help Aeryk."

Taiitsukun nods. "You only have a short time left before the spell ends." She cautions.

Jackie, Derryk, and Joe all smile fondly at their friends. "We knew you could do it." Jackie says. "We were very proud of you, Aeryk."

Aeryk can barely answer a thanks as tears stream down his face. "You were with me the whole way Jackie. It's you I should be thanking. You gave me your strength."

Jackie walks over to give Aeryk a hug just as her body begins to fade away. Derryk gives Aeryk a smile as he fades away and Joe gives his friends a hearty wave as he, too, vanishes from their lives. "Be strong." Jackie says finally before disappearing.

Aeryk nods in understanding and looks up to Brian on more time. "I think it's time Brian."

Despite the weakness in his knees and his rapidly beating heart, Brian nods and gently kisses Aeryk on his lips. "I'll never forget you bud." He whispers.

"Tian Zhi…"

EPILOGUE

As I look down below me, seeing Brian holding my lifeless body and weep, I can only feel a sense of peace. The horrible weight that was on my soul is finally lifted.

I look back on my life. I see all my family, my friends, and I see everything that I have experienced up till this final moment when I meet my ultimate fate.

I can only see a brilliant white light now.

I am Aeryk Green. This is the end of the story of the Sacred Child.

"Ow, sh-…!" A young man with brown hair and blue/green eyes grimaces as a volleyball falls on his head. "The hell?"

"Oh, sorry about that guy. My bad!" A male voice calls. "Jesus Jackie! Do you think you could learn to hit the ball a little easier next time?"

The woman, named Jackie, laughs at her friend's comment as he runs over to collect the ball. "I'm really sorry about that. Anything I can do to make it up? Pay for the medical bill or something?" He chuckles nervously.

"No, it's ok." The blue/green eyed man smiles reassuringly. "I was kind of spacing out."

"Hey, if you're not doing anything right now, would you like to join us? We can always use an extra man on my team with that woman's arm."

"Sure. Sounds like fun!"

"Aeryk!" A little girl cries out. "Come help me build my sandcastle!"

"Sorry Michelle, I'm gonna go play volleyball right now." Aeryk gives the other man an embarrassed smile. "My little sister."

"She's cute." He walks with Aeryk over to meet his friends. "That's Derryk, Jeff, Brent, and Joe. You've already heard Jackie. My name's Brian, by the way. Nice to meet you."

Four figures watch Aeryk, Brian, and the others with amused interest. "Looks like our time here is over." Seiryuu says with a smile. "I've been itching for a vacation for centuries."

"You think they'll be able to survive without us?" Genbu asks.

"Of course they will." Suzaku states. "We never existed in the first place, remember? Come on. Lets go have margaritas."

"I feel like we should say goodbye to Aeryk." Genbu mutters sadly. "I feel bad; after all that he's been through."

"No." Byakko says, his eyes focused on Aeryk as he plays volleyball with a smile on his face. "Our time has passed. The time of the Sacred Child is passed. We should honor his wish."

Seiryuu nods sagely, remembering Aeryk's final wish. "None of this ever happened…" he follows Byakko's gaze. "You are going to miss him, aren't you?" He asks, jokingly.

"Don't be stupid!" Byakko cries and frowns when his brothers laugh and walk off. Shaking his head, Byakko looks back at Aeryk and watches him for a moment longer. A smile creeps on his face. He then hurries after Genbu, Seiryuu, and Suzaku for some margaritas.

The End

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