Return of Nightmare Moon

"What did you think you were going to accomplish by coming here?" She asked.

"Well, I didn't think anything. I know we're going to put an end to Nightmare Moon. Once and for all. Even if we have to bring this temple down on top of you." Wind replied.

Deathangel just laughed.

"You don't have the skills to kill me. None of you do." Deathangel said mockingly.

"We'll see about that." Wind replied.

Deathangel slammed her sword into the ground and a fissure circled around the two of them. Flames spewed up from the crack, creating an arena closed off by fire.

"Shall we begin?" Deathangel said as she leveled her blade at Wind.

Wind drew her own sword and assumed a fighting stance. Deathangel rushed her and swung her blade straight down at Wind with incredible speed. Wind dodged out of the way just as her blade sparked off the ground. Wind turned and swung at Deathangel. She dodged the blow as if Wind was moving in slow motion. They continued to go back and forth for several minutes. Both dodging the others attacks. Deathangel jumped back to the temple steps. Wind fell to one knee, nearly completely sapped of her strength.

"You see, you can't so much as hit me, let alone kill me." Deathangel taunted.

"At least I won't go down like a wimp." Wind replied as Deathangel rushed her again.

Wind held up her blade to block the attack. She blocked the attack, but, the impact of Deathangel's strike shattered Wind's blade. Metal shards went everywhere. Wind fell to both knees, completely exhausted.

"Any last words?" Deathangel asked.

Wind gulped. If she didn't do it now, she knew she'd never get another chance.

"Applespice? Can you hear me?" Wind called through the curtain of flames.

"Yes. How are you doing Wind? We can't see anything through this damn fire." He called back.

"I'm not doing too good. But, that's not important right now. I need to tell you something and this might be my only chance to do it." Wind called.

"What is it Windy?" He called back.

"Applespice... I... I..." Wind choked on the words.

Deathangel gave her an impatient look.

"I love you, Applespice. I always have." She said.

There was a long pause. Wind gulped, thinking she had made a mistake.

"I love you too. I was just afraid to say anything." He called back finally.

Tears welled in Wind's eyes.

"Just remember that I loved you." Wind said as she put her head down, accepting her fate.

"What do you mean?" Applespice asked. Wind didn't reply. "Windy?" He called.

"Windy?! Talk to me. What's happening?!" He called again.

Deathangel raised her blade. As Wind braced for the final blow, she heard Deathangel shriek in pain. Wind looked up to see a black steel dagger sticking out of Deathangel's ribs.

"What the hell?" Wind said aloud.

Deathangel pulled the dagger out and looked at it. Her face paled.

"What do you think you're doing?" She called out.

"I have a debt to repay to the one you're about to strike down." A familiar voice called out from somewhere.

"You would dare to interfere in the matters of a fellow assassin?" Deathangel called out.

"I would. You know as well as I do, that I am the only one capable of ending you." The voice called out again as the shadows behind Deathangel began to take shape.

From the shadows, Darkshadow stepped out. He had daggers in both hands and pointed one at Deathangel.

"Ah, big brother. It's been a while. Why do you care what happens to this insignificant worm?" Deathangel asked.

"Because I have a life debt to repay to her. But, you wouldn't understand about standards and honor. Would you?" He asked.

Deathangel just snickered.

"Just drop the sword and walk away. Don't make me have to kill you." Darkshadow said.

"Sorry, brother. Not going to happen." Deathangel said as she raised her blade again.

"So be it then." Darkshadow replied as a dagger impaled Deathangel in the neck.

She fell to the ground with a thud. She lay there making a choking noise as she drown in her own blood. Darkshadow came over and helped Wind to her feet as the flame wall dissipated.