The Legend of Silver Dragon

((Well, this is the preface here. This is my first time posting anything on these boards of an RP nature, though I've been doing my share in game. This is a fair number of posts and many months of work and RP... maybe it just felt like that. Either way, most of it was done by a friend of mine who thought the story deserved telling.

She's the one who really got me into RP. I'd only done a few token things before this. Nothing anywhere near this scale(Yes it still seems like a lot to me, nyah.) So, she gets a lot of credit for this. If not for the manual labor then for provoking me into actually RPing out everything. Until this point, all my RP had been in my head. Now I've got two severs full of clones and time travel and... well... I'll get to that later.

This part takes place on the Victory server(You'll note I have two Silver Dragons in my Sig... I'll get to that later.) and was all done in game Yes even the parts outside of reality. I got skilz *cough*

Anyway.

Like I said, this part takes place on Victory. But the entire story spans both Victory and Virtue(and a little beyond). I'll be happy to elaborate on any confusing parts, but most questions get answered by the end. Now rather then post it all in one big lump, I'll hold off. Post one every few days or so to give people a chance to read it and decide if it's worth the investment. I, of course, will be posting it regardless, heh.

Ah, and just so it's clear. There's nothing worse then PG-13 in here. Violence and LOTS of innuendo and careful camera pans. But nothing bad. I hope.

So, without further dallying. Here's my first ever RP, and the start of The Legend of Silver Dragon.))

Part One: Requiem of a Warrior

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-+-World One-+-
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The team had just finished a difficult battle and was celebrating the defeat of Frostfire. Everyone was joyful. Well, almost everyone. Silver Dragon's mind was far from the festivities. One of his teammates had been rather aggressive in letting him know that she was attracted to him. That bothered him for many reasons. The somber warrior walked along after his teammates as they said their goodbyes, trying to decide the best way to handle the awkward situation he'd suddenly found himself in.

"Anyone want to see the view from the top of Atlas?" Stay called.

"Heh, I've seen it," Malstrom called up to him. "It's pretty neat! But I need to go shopping."

"I know a nice spot," Silver said, "If'n you're willing to go a bit out of the way."

"A nice spot for what?" Mal asked. "Shopping?"

He shook his head. "Naw, just to admire the view."

Mal's voice took on a sultry purr. "That would be MOST interesting..."

Stay didn't even attempt to hide his smile. "If you can visit the countryside sometime, the views can be much better."

Mal smiled, looking Silver up and down. "That would depend largely on the view."

"Yeah, this is down in Perez, an--" Silver stopped, suddenly seeing where the innuendo was going. He sighed, looking at Stay, who was grinning broadly at him. This sort of thing had been happening the entire battle. One moment, “Malstrom” was Gale Winters, a quiet and fairly mousy woman, and the next she was the wild Valkyrie she'd told them lived within her. Apparently, the Valkyrie was enthusiastic about more than just battle. He looked back at her, his face expressionless. "You know...maybe you should see it, Mal."

Mal's smile grew even wider. "With you?"

"Sure."

"Hmm..." She looked him over again, her eyes smoldering. "Interesting idea."

Stay cleared his throat. "Well, I'd better get home. Long day of classes tomorrow and all that." He turned away with a wave. "Have fun, you two."

Silver looked after him as his laughing friend headed for the tram. He could only imagine what Stay must be thinking. But now he was alone with her.

"So..." she said. "Where is this place?"

Silver made up his mind. "Meet me at the old amphitheater."

Mal pondered this choice of location. "Hmm, benches... Interesting choice."

"I'd like to think so..."


A few minutes later, they were at the amphitheater. Silver sat down on the bench, sighing in relaxation. Mal sat next to him. "Yeah..." he said. "I like this place."

"Mmm..." Mal said, sliding a little closer to him. "Peaceful." She played a bit with the hem of Silver's cape.

Silver looked down at her. It was obvious what she believed they'd come out here for. Very well. It was time to clear up a few misconceptions. She was certainly direct, so perhaps a direct approach would be best. "So," he said, "should we cut through the innuendo?"

She grinned wolfishly. "Sure, I like direct."

The next thing Silver knew, he was flat on his back. Mal was on top of him, hands busy tugging at his uniform, legs clamped to his sides. Her mouth was busy on his face and neck. Silver had a moment to reflect that perhaps his choice of words had been a bit unwise. "Not quite what I meant!" he gasped, trying to keep her hands away from the seams of his uniform. "Hmm, how do I put this..."

Mal nuzzled at his ear. "Usually, you have to take it out of your pants first." Her hands slid dangerously down. "Here, let me help you..."

Silver rapidly squirmed free and jumped up. "AHEM!" His face flamed as he attempted to re-adjust his uniform.

Mal, unperturbed, looked up at him. Then she crawled over and climbed him like a tree, wrapping her arms and legs around him. He stiffened, but that didn't seem to thwart the amorous heroine. This was not going well at all. "Well now, I can't say I don't like you…” He nearly lost his balance as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face dangerously close to the top of her bodice. "I mean, respect you…"

"Hmm, respect… How do you get this thing off, anyway?"

"Er... It's just that I'm not sure I'm your type?"

That got her attention. "Type? What is type? You only like boys?" She stared at him, one eyebrow raised.

Silver was momentarily at a loss for words. "Uh... Nooo, it's not that." He managed to gently peel her off.

She allowed herself to be placed back on the ground, but also managed to pull off his mask. "Mmmm..." she mused, looking at his revealed face. "You're handsome, although scarred. Brave, strong warrior..."

Silver blushed deeply, quickly pulling his mask back up. Meanwhile, Mal was rubbing her hands up and down his arms, noting the tension in his muscles. She giggled. "You ARE afraid of me! By Odin!"

This had gone on for long enough. He stared sternly at her. "Ok, first off. I think you're a bit old for me."

To his surprise, she laughed. "And how old are you?" Mal looked him up and down. "You are clearly a man."

Silver sputtered. "...That's not important!"

Mal giggled, running her finger over his lips. "Is age so very important in women, but not men?"

"It's just that...err..." She was getting that wild look in her eyes again. "Well, I don't even know who you are."

"Of course you do. I am Malstrom, and you are the great Silver Dragon. Introductions over."

And once again, Silver found himself sprawled on his back. He felt a small moment of panic. "Er… Er… Uhh…” He looked about, thinking franticly. "Well, who are your parents?"

Mal raised an eyebrow, slightly annoyed by the silly questions. "My parents?!"


"Yes!" He nodded rapidly, eyes wide. The heels of his hands shoved against the ground in a futile attempt to pull himself out from under her. "Or, whatever you have. I'm not even sure!"

"What difference does that make?!" she exclaimed. "Gale's parents are David and Louise Winter. My parents, well, that hardly matters does it?" She sat up, straddling his waist, and ran her hands over his chest. "You're shaking more now than you ever did in battle."

"Well, who am I speaking to?" Silver wanted to know.

Mal rested her head against his chest, listening with amusement to the frantic beating of his heart. "I am Malstrom, a storm rider of Odin. And I am Gale Winters." Her arms slid up and around his neck. "Why do you tremble so? Don't tell me this is your first time!"

"Well... Actually..."

That got Malstrom's complete attention. She pushed herself up on her arms and stared, blinking incredulously at him.

Silver sputtered. "Wait, no! I..."

"Well is it, or isn't it?!"

Silver Dragon thought long and hard on this question. He didn't know what answer to give this creature. Meanwhile, she was straddling his waist, supporting herself with her hands on his shoulders, looking troubled as she stared down at him. "Well..."

"It is."

"No!"

"Oh?" That smile was coming back again. "It either is or it is not, now which is it?"

Silver sighed and stared off into the sky, avoiding her probing gaze. "That was a long time ago..."

Mal laughed. "Then you are safe. Had you been a virgin, you should not have been first with one such as I. How delightful!"

Silver groaned inwardly. A fifty-fifty chance at giving an answer that would have ended this without hurting her, and he'd chosen the wrong answer?!

Meanwhile, the situation was progressing from bad to worse. She'd snuggled down on top of him again and had started undoing her bodice. "Just relax," she murmured in his ear. "I won't hurt you, great warrior."

Silver ground his teeth together. "Ok... I guess I know who you are. But what do you know of me?" He stared intently at Mal's eyes, refusing to look down at what was about to be revealed.

"That you are a warrior worthy of Valhalla," she declared. "Had I been in my spirit form, and you had perished, I would have taken you to the skies with me."

"Hmm... That is a great compliment. But you didn't answer my question." He grabbed her hands, interrupting their present work. "You know only of Silver Dragon, the warrior. Not me."

Mal looked annoyed. She pulled her hands free and pushed herself back up on her arms again. He glared up at her, obviously determined to get an answer out of her. She'd seen his prowess in battle, but he was proving decidedly difficult to seduce. "Very well. Who are you?" She quickly pulled his mask down again. He was very handsome, despite the abundance of scars that nearly overwhelmed his face. But she was used to the scars of warriors.

Silver growled a bit, took his mask off and tucked it into a pocket. She obviously wasn't going to leave it on. "Well," he said, his mouth not moving as he spoke, "that's a difficult question."

Silver put his hands on Mal's waist, gently lifted her off of him, and set her aside. That brought back the fire in her eyes, but he rolled away from her. In fact, he wasn't looking at her at all. He pulled his knees up and rested his arms on them, staring quietly at the ground, face expressionless. "Alright. I want to show you what I brought you here for."

"Yes, indeed!"

"Not that." That took the smile off of her face. Silver got to his feet. "I want you to shut your eyes. Just... be still for a moment."

How strange he was. On one hand, he seemed to be rejecting her. Yet this was the closest he had come to telling her no. He clearly found her attractive, and he was surely physically able. So what was this strange game he was playing? She shrugged. "Alright." Mal sat up, tucked her legs under herself, and closed her eyes.

This was a strange sensation. Her human skin tingled with the familiar touch of magic, but such strange magic. The air seemed to grow heavy, with a salty smell. She could hear a rushing noise, cresting and falling, and… That couldn't be sand under the bare skin of her legs. What was happening? What was he doing? Was he even there?

Then she felt the touch of his hand on her shoulder. "You can open them again."

Mal opened her eyes and blinked in surprise. The familiar woods of Perez Park were gone. Suddenly, she'd been somehow transported to a strange, hazy beach. The rushing noise she'd heard was the ocean's waves. Yet, except for this, there was no sound. No breeze stirred the strange air, no seabirds called. The beach was still, and strangely quiet. She looked at Silver. "This is not where we just were." Something was strange about him, too, even more so than the fact that his physical mouth clearly wasn’t needed for him to speak. But what was it?

"Well... It is, in a way." He smiled apologetically. "This is a sort of dream world. This is my home."

"Aaaah." She nodded. "It is too bad my powers are so weakened. Until I regain my full strength, I can only see this through mortal eyes. Thank you for taking me to your home."

"I thought you should see it before you made any decisions..." He broke off, seeing the way she was smiling at him. "Err... Follow me."

Mal followed him along the beach to a small grassy hill. Once again, she was struck by the lack of sound. "It's a bit barren..."

"The people of the city have turned away from this place. Ah!" He reached the top of the hill, and his goal. Ahead of them, the sun was slowly sinking into the ocean. The water and sky were alive with a riot of color.

Mal sucked in her breath. "Lovely!"

He nodded, smiling. "Yes, isn't it?"

"Romantic." She moved closer and put an arm around his waist. He put his own arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, sighing at the eerie beauty of this place.

He stood with her, watching the sky darken. After a moment, he finally spoke. "I wanted to show you this so you would understand."

"Mmm?" She looked up at him. "Understand what?"

"I live here. In the realm of dreams."

"It's lovely," Mal said. "I too know of dreams. I stir the dreams of warriors before battle."

Silver sighed. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet. "I'm not human. At least not like you."

"Oh?" She turned and looked up at him. "You are truly a dragon, then?"

"Not in the strictest sense, no." His eyes were still on the last traces of color in the horizon. He glanced down at Mal and saw her with her head cocked to one side, waiting for an explanation. He chuckled. "You could say I'm a dream for a better future made manifest."

"Now that will definitely require explanation." She climbed out from under his arm so that she could look into his eyes. Her hands reached out for his, and he took them.

Silver scanned about for a moon, found none, and sighed. "As I said, I'm much like the world here. Real. But not. A dream."

Mal looked at him, wishing her sight was not confined to mortal eyes. She gently put her hand on his chest and felt his heartbeat. "You have a heart that beats, and flesh that is warm. Your body is hard and strong."

He nodded. "It does look as such." Silver Dragon slid off one of his gloves. Then, he unsheathed his sword a bit and slid his hand along the edge.

Mal gasped. There was no blood, just a glowing rip. She stared. "This place..."

"I'm not real," he said again. "This place isn't real. I can't feel love for you. I can't feel love, hate, anything!"

"Oh?" She looked up at him. "I know little of love. Battle, the thrill of victory. That is what I am composed of. I have never known love. That is a human emotion."

He nodded. "As strange as that sounds, I'm glad."

"Do you not become lonesome?" she asked, her hand still on his chest over his heart. "Do you not seek a companion in your journey?"

"I do not." His voice was flat, but his eyes bored into hers.

She nodded. "In this place, the call of the flesh is not as strong. How unfortunate."

"I don't feel anything," he said again. "No. That's not right. I feel regret."

"Oh?"

The regret was clearly visible in his eyes now. "I once let a woman fall in love with me. She... She's gone now."

"Aaaah." This was something Mal could understand. "She has gone back to her ancestors?"

He shrugged. "I do not know."

"Mmm." She reached up both hands to his face, staring intently into his eyes. "You asked me earlier who I was. I think we are much the same. But tell me. Who dreamed your dream?"

Silver Dragon smiled. "I did."

"You dreamed yourself?"


"Yup." He chuckled.

"Are you a god?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

He was shocked when Malstrom suddenly dropped to her knees before him in an obvious posture of worship. He quickly knelt down in front of her, took her shoulders, and gave her a small shake. "No, no. I deserve no worship."

"I am comprised of worship," she said. "It is all I am, before I took flesh." She rose to her feet. "I am the wind that rushes over the battlefield and brings the fallen to Valhalla. This... is what I am."

And suddenly, the familiar hurricane that had raged around her any time a member of their group had fallen returned. Here though, in this place of dreams, Silver could see through the gusting winds to what she was really doing. In the center of the storm, untouched, a mortal woman's body hovered as if in silent slumber. Malstrom, the very essence of the Valkyrie spirit, was the storm itself.

"I think you do seek a companion after all," her voice called from the winds. "But you may not know it just yet." And as quickly as they had come, the winds were gone. Malstrom stood as she had before, her fierce eyes staring proudly up at him.

He smiled softly. "There is... something else. I am mercy, and remorse. There is another. A nightmare."

"Aaaah..." She nodded, understanding. "That is why you cannot feel. You are incomplete, only half of what you were."

"Yes, that is right. Only half."

"Do you wish to be complete again?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I have no wishes."

"Mmm..." Malstrom reached into his pocket and gently replaced his mask. "You should cover your face, great warrior. It is not right for mortals to look into the face of a god."

Silver Dragon solemnly accepted the mask. "It was him."

"That took your love?"

He nodded. "As I am made well by the love and kindness of those around me, he feeds on despair and sorrow. That day he killed the part of me that she loved."

"Then we shall fight him, until you can defeat him and be whole again." Mal gently kissed him, a chaste one this time.

He looked down at her. "I am what people see of me. She saw a lover. When he took her, he took it too." He sighed yet again. "This is what I wanted to tell you."

She shrugged. "As I said, I know nothing of love. Perhaps Gale, but... the one who holds her heart hurt her. I seek only what I have always sought - The spirits of warriors to bring to the skies. Now that I am flesh, well... There is more than one way to take someone to the skies, hmm?" She grinned.

Silver Dragon burst out laughing. "I am of dream stuff."

"I am of worship. We make quite a pair."

He spread his hands. "What you see is what you get."

Mal grinned a sultry grin. "I like what I see."

"Sadly, I cannot join you in the skies."

"Mmm..." She moved closer to him, slipping one arm around his chest and the other behind his head. "Perhaps not now. But in time, maybe, that can change. Call on me. I always answer the call of a true warrior."

He nodded. "Someday. Maybe."

Malstrom pulled him close and kissed him deeply. He didn't resist this time, returning the kiss. After a moment, she pulled away. "Return to the world, great warrior. They need you."

Silver Dragon nodded. "Yes, we should leave this place. The door is over here." He motioned for Mal to follow. "This is where the dream ends."

She shook her head. "No. It is the beginning."

Requiem of a Warrior: Part Two



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-+-World One-+-
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The Valkyrie spirit sulked from where she rested, inside the body of a human woman. Clearly, she'd managed to fall in with a fine group of warriors, despite their strange "hero" rules and morals. Malstrom's powers continued to grow with use, as the fragile human body grew stronger and better able to withstand the forces of nature she commanded. Gale could use her powers as well as she could, if she had to. Right now, she had to. Mal's mind was on other matters.

She was fairly certain the warriors around her did not understand her true purpose for traveling with them. This was a fairly secular age, after all. No matter how many times she'd flat-out told them of her duty to bring the spirits of fallen warriors to Valhalla, they still hadn't reacted. She'd even tried to assure them that she would only take them if they fell in battle, but she wouldn't do anything to speed the process. Not even that had gotten a reaction from them. Interesting. She hadn't met a people so unafraid of death since the first Vikings had taken up their weapons. Perhaps the world was finally nearing readiness for Ragnarok after all.

Her attention returned, invariably, to Silver Dragon. Throughout time, it had been necessary for her kind to join with a mortal woman. Invariably, it was because there was some great battle to be fought for some worthy kingdom, and warriors to collect in preparation for Ragnarok. This, however, was the first time she'd been selected. She hadn't been prepared, not for the pleasures of the flesh, nor for the way the human body restricted her powers. She was slowly regaining her spirit sight, but it was frustratingly limited. Still, she'd known exactly what she'd seen standing at the door of this latest mission, mocking, waiting. She'd known who it was who called Silver "brother."

"That's no one," Silver had said, avoiding the gaze of the odd man in the top hat.

"Your lover is calling you," the man had told her.

Malstrom, furious, had retreated inside of her human host. But she continued to watch Silver. Beings like him frequently knew what their fates were. And Malstrom, more than any, knew the signs of a pre-ordained doom approaching.

"Silver, who was that man?" Gale asked. "Mal took a rather instant dislike to him."

Silver, his face set, refused to meet her worried gaze. "Just a ghost that refuses to stay buried."

Lysatia Dark was puzzled by Mal's absence in the heat of battle. "Did someone break your Norse demigoddess, guys?"

"Starting to wonder," Blastblaze said.

Gale, naturally, was puzzled as well. Although she knew instinctively how to use the Valkyrie's powers, she'd never before gone into battle in full control. "Call me Gale," she told them. "Mal's… kind of sulking now."

Of course, she'd had to return when Aaron Sharpe fell. She had a duty to perform, after all. But his wounds were not mortal, and Mal lapsed back again. Her attention remained on Silver Dragon.

She didn't have her true sight into the hearts of mortals, not in this body. But she knew this warrior, perhaps better than anyone. And she also knew that she'd met the other before. He waited. It was time.

Malstrom moved forward, taking control of the body as the group exited. "Careful, Great Warrior. Your other awaits."

Silver looked back at her, and then led the way out. At the sight of Silver, the dark one began slowly chuckling.

Blastblaze stared. "What's so funny?"

"Who is this goof?" Tex asked.

"They still remember... brother..." the dark one said.

Aaron Sharpe looked from the dark one to Silver and back. "Who are you?"

"Ignore him," Silver snarled from behind clenched teeth.

This time Mal wasn't having it. She stepped back, glaring defiantly at Silver. "No. It is time you faced what you fear."

Lysatia Dark frowned anxiously. Blast looked curiously at Mal. "Fear?"

"What's goin on?" Aaron asked. He drew his bow. One by one, the others raised their weapons, as well.

The dark one seemed unperturbed. "They're coming," he said. "You... All of you... Heehee!"

"What's so funny?" Blast wanted to know.

"Don't be so damn cryptic," Tex grumbled.

"They're waiting for you," the dark one said. He shifted, somehow changing his appearance. "You should run. While you have the chance."

"OK, this is getting old," Blast said, glaring angrily. "Either get to it or get out of here."

Malstrom tossed her hair back behind her shoulders, coldly watching the scene. Light and darkness. Good and evil. It always came down to battle between opposites. This one, though, was long overdue. She watched Silver's face intently, seeing it change from anger to fear as the ground started shaking. The knuckles of his hand tightened on the hilt of his katana, yet he didn't attack. He didn't dare. Besides, there was another battle to be fought now. The struggle between them would take place after.

The Kronos Class Titan came stomping over the hill, crushing everything in its path. Immediately, the group moved to attack it. But Malstrom already knew the outcome of this battle. Her kind always did.

Vítt er orpit fyrir valfalli rifs reiðiský, rignir blóði; nú er fyrir geirum grár upp kominn vefr verþjóðar, er þær vinur fylla rauðum vepti Randvés bana.

See! warp is stretched for warriors' fall. Lo! weft in loom 'tis wet with blood; Now fight foreboding, 'neath friends' swift fingers, our grey woof waxeth with war's alarms, our warp blood red, our weft corpse blue.


The monster machine was built to level cities. The team threw all of their strength against it in vain. "Not even scratching it!" Tex called

Silver's face was grim. "It's not going to stop, until it kills me."

Blastblaze snarled defiantly. "That won't happen if I can help it!"

Sjá er orpinn vefr ýta þörmum ok harðkléaðr höfðum manna; eru dreyrrekin dörr at sköptum, járnvarðr yllir, en örum hrælaðr; skulum slá sverðum sigrvef þenna.

This woof is y-woven with entrails of men, this warp is hardweighted with heads of the slain, spears blood-besprinkled for spindles we use, our loom ironbound, and arrows our reels; With swords for our shuttles this war-woof we work

Tex grunted as the machine sent him flying with a stomp of its massive foot. "Might want to open some emergency channels!"

"Everyone, just run!" Silver yelled. "We can't stop it."

"NO, dammit!" Blast said, defiantly firing bolts of energy at the monster.

"We can't stop it," Silver said. "I can hold it off, long enough for you to get out. But you have to leave, NOW!"

"I cannot," Mal told him. "If you die today, I take you to Valhalla."

"If you go, I do too, Silver!" Blast said.

Silver Dragon growled. "This isn't your fight."

"It is now!"

Malstrom just smiled.

Gengr Hildr vefa ok Hjörþrimul, Sanngríðr, Svipul sverðum tognum; skapt mun gnesta, skjöldr mun bresta, mun hjálmgagarr í hlíf koma.

So weave we, weird sisters, our warwinning woof. Now Warwinner walketh to weave in her turn. Now Swordswinger steppeth, now Swiftstroke, now Storm; When they speed the shuttle how spearheads shall flash! Shields crash, and helmgnawer on harness bite hard!

"Go. Now," Silver said. "Go, or I'll make you go!"

Malstrom laughed, ignoring him as he moved behind her. "Ha! You dare try to command the wind?" No, of course he didn't. He had another plan in mind.

Vindum, vindum vef darraðar, þann er ungr konungr átti fyrri! Fram skulum ganga ok í fólk vaða, þar er vinir várir vápnum skipta.

Wind we, wind swiftly our warwinning woof. Woof erst for king youthful foredoomed as his own, forth now we will ride, then through the ranks rushing be busy where friends blows blithe give and take.

"You'd have to fight me," Blaze yelled at Silver, "and he'd kill us both then, anyway."

Silver, of course, had no intention of fighting Blaze. Malstrom glared at him, but her lips curled upward in a smile.

"I'm sorry," he told her. Raising his katana, he slashed at Mal. She did nothing to defend herself. The body of Gale Winters collapsed in a heap, and a cold north wind went racing across the battlefield.

Vindum, vindum vef darraðar ok siklingi síðan fylgjum! Þar sjá bragna blóðgar randir Guðr ok Göndul, er grami hlífðu.

Wind we, wind swiftly our warwinning woof. After that let us steadfastly stand by the brave king; Then men shall mark mournful their shields red with gore, how Swordstroke and Spearthrust stood stout by the prince.

The team was in shambles. Some lay bleeding on the battlefield, others had fought to exhaustion. Nothing they'd sustained could prepare them for what had just happened.

Silver Dragon returned to his place before the titan. His blade ran red with blood. "Take care of Mal, or she will die," he told his stunned comrades. "You have no choice now."

Blastblaze was gape-mouthed. "Silver!"

"GO!" Silver roared, charging at the titan.

Blast nodded. "Fine! I'll take her. If you don't make it, I'm sorry for my actions today." He picked up Gale's limp form and took off.

Vindum, vindum vef darraðar, þars er vé vaða vígra manna! Látum eigi líf hans farask; eigu valkyrjur vals of kosti.

Wind we, wind swiftly our warwinning woof. When sword-bearing rovers to banners rush on, mind, maidens, we spare not one life in the fray! We corpse-choosing sisters have charge of the slain.

Blastblaze traveled to the relative safety of a tall building and let Gale down. "Wake up, dammit!" He tore off a piece of his cape and tied it around her wound. "Don't die, he'll never forgive himself."

Gale moaned softly. Blast looked up as the wind howled. He'd stopped the bleeding, now to get back to his friend. But as he looked at his PDA and checked for the location of Silver and the others, one of the blinking indicator lights went out. "Silver!"


How good it felt, spread across the sky, wrapped around a deserving spirit. "Come to me, warrior. Let me take you to Valhalla."

"I'm sorry..."

The winds echoed with her laughter. "Why? You have freed me from this mortal shell. Now ride the winds with me!"

"I cannot join you. That is my fate."

What was he saying? Was he refusing her gift? Surely he wasn't! But as she reached for his spirit, she discovered, to her surprise, that he was. Once, she and her sisters had roamed the field of battle, choosing at will those deserving of Valhalla. But their time had passed. Now, the choice was his.

And he was refusing.

The wind grew bitter with her irritation, and ice formed in the air. But he'd made his choice. She had to accept it. "Very well. Then I will return to the human I joined with." Gale's time had not yet come. His blow had badly wounded her, but she would live. And Malstrom's work was not yet finished. She released the warrior's spirit, watching as it fell. "She will wait for you, if you give her reason to."


Malstrom rose gingerly to her feet. Pain was a curious sensation. Like all the gifts of the flesh, Mal relished it. She threw back her head and laughed. "So, the great warrior does not yet wish to travel to Valhalla? Very well."

"Mal?" Blast said. "This is not funny."

The team had gathered near her on the rooftop, except for Tex and Lysatia. The two of them were searching for the monster robot, but they wouldn't find it. It had done its duty.

Aaron was sitting on a vent on the roof, holding his head in his hands. "I failed."

"No," she told him. "It was his destiny."

Blast clenched his fists, staring at her. "Where is he?"

She shrugged. "I cannot see him in this mortal form."

"Mal!" he yelled accusingly. "You know more than you're saying."

Mal looked back out over the battlefield, her mind reaching for the warrior's spirit. Even now, she could sense his muffled thoughts. But she couldn't trace him. "Hmm... The affairs of the immortals are not for mortals to know, unless they wish it."

Blaze sternly held himself in check to keep from shaking her. "Well?!"

"What's wrong with you!?" Aaron asked.

Mal glanced towards Blast, and then back to the battlefield. "He did not travel with me to Valhalla. Beyond that, I do not know."

"Don't know, or won't say?"

"I would tell you if your friend had left this mortal plane. But he did not leave with me when I offered. So, I do not know. Perhaps another offered, and this he accepted." Except she would have known. She would have fought for his spirit if another angel of death like herself had come for him. The one who had taken him was no such creature.

Blastblaze shook his head. "Useless."

Mal tossed her head defiantly at Blaze. "I am no god." She looked back out over the battlefield. "I only serve them."

"Sorry all," Tex called over the comm. "Where the hell is Dragon? That was weird."

"He fell," Mal told him.

"I fell," Aaron corrected, "and when I woke up, he was gone."

Tex's voice over the comm was filled with disbelief. "Mind filling me in? Dragon just vanished?"

Blastblaze glared at Malstrom, contemplating hitting her. She paid him no mind. "I could sense his regret, and then.. calm. But beyond this, I do not know."

"[censored]!" Tex exclaimed. "Valor has never lost a comrade in battle!"

"If not for you....!" Blaze snarled at Mal. She finally looked up at him. "If I hadn't saved you, I might've saved him."

She coolly looked down at her inexpertly bandaged wound, then back up at him. "Do you wish me to apologize for falling in battle? Had I been in my immortal form, it would not be so. But he knew where to strike."

"We just need to find him is all," Tex was saying. "Let's not start laying blame now."

"And who was that man?" Aaron wanted to know. "Gale?"

"Gale would not know. She did not follow him," Mal said. "She couldn't."

Blast was clearly beyond furious, but not at Malstrom. "Well, you're no help, that's for sure, Mal."

Mal turned and stared directly into Blast's eyes. "I have told you all that I know. Forgive me if it does not answer your true question. I do not know if it was your fault, warrior."

Blast flinched as if he'd just been slapped, and then stared blankly.

Tex's voice was sounding frantic over the comm. "Where was Dragon last seen? Damnit, where was he last?!"

"On the ground right next to me!" Aaron exclaimed.

"I'll find him."

"I'm going, too!"

"Damn him!" Blast whispered, still staring at Mal. "For wanting to be a hero, for attacking you. Damn him! They won't find him there, will they?"

But the Valkyrie's fire had faded from her eyes. Gale Winters sank to the ground, put her head in her hands, and gently rocked back and forth, sobbing.

Lysatia put her hand on his shoulder. "Do you truly begrudge your friend for choosing his own destiny?"

"No, I hate him for cutting me out of it!" Blast snapped. "I might've saved him -- done something!"

She shook her head. "I hope then, if you have such doubt in your actions, you are never in his place." She took to the skies and left.

Meanwhile, over the comm, Tex's voice was becoming more and more strained. "I'll find him if I have to send every single one of these Circle of thorns to the hospital. WHERE IS HE!!!!"

Blast opened his comm. "Tex? What are you doing?"

"They saw him last, I know it," Tex said. "Never did trust these guys. Where is he??!!! Where!??"

Gale, Blast, and Aaron exchanged alarmed looks. The three of them immediately took flight, heading for him.

They discovered the big bull charging into another group of Thorns, sending robe-wearing mages flying. Gale tried to grab his arm, but he was so engaged in busting heads that he very nearly sent her flying, as well. "Tex!" she called. "Stop him!"

"Gale!" Aaron pulled her to relative safety.

Blast started to glow ominously. "Tex, stop. Now."

Gale swallowed hard. "I hate to do this, but…" She fired a bolt of lightning, zapping the big bull in the rear.

Tex whirled around, his eyes wild. For a moment, he didn't seem to recognize his friends. Then his face crumpled in despair. "Never lost anyone…"

"Calm down, big guy," Aaron soothed, keeping between the big bull and Gale.

"It's my fault!" Gale said. "I didn't see what she saw until it was too late."

"Tex," Blast said, powering down, "it wasn't your fault. I'm the coward that ran."

"Should have never taken the reins," Tex moaned. "Knew I would get someone killed!"

"No, it's NOT your fault!" Gale insisted.

"I fell too easily," Aaron said.

"I'm the leader. Happened on MY watch."

Gale shook the bull's shoulders. "No. Something happened between Mal and Silver. I don't know what. But it had something to do with this." She took one hand off of Tex's shoulder and pointed back behind her, to where Blast knelt, his face full of despair. "Look. Your friends need you."

Tex's shoulders sagged. "Damnit."

"I failed him..." Blaze was moaning. "I failed...."

"Dammit, it wasn't your fault either!" Gale exclaimed. Why wouldn't they listen to her? "Tex. Please. We need you."

"Hmmm…" Tex managed to pull himself together. "I'm at a loss here. Where do we start?"

"There's no sign of him," Aaron said.

"And cracking skulls didn't help either," Tex noted, looking down at the crumpled, groaning forms of the Thorns at their feet.

Gale sank to her knees and put her arms around Blastblaze, getting fresh blood on his uniform. "Not your fault.... Thank you for saving me." He acknowledged her with a simple nod, a tear falling onto her arm.

"Well, we can't assume he's dead," Tex was saying, "since we didn't find his body. Have to assume he's still alive." He sighed. "Gonna' have to seek out some help, because apparently Valor doesn't have a super sleuth in our fold."

Blastblaze rose slowly. "He isn't dead until I see a body."

"Tell me what to do," Gale begged.

Tex shook his head. Everyone always seemed to expect him to have all the answers. "Any suggestions where we should start?"

"What was that robot thing?" Gale asked.

"A Kronos," Tex said.

"Really big for starters," Aaron commented. She smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"What about the guy with the top hat?" Blaze asked.

Tex growled. "Knew I should have given him a good smack."

"Who was he?" Gale asked. "Mal seemed to recognize him, but... The image I got was Silver. He called him 'brother.'"

"Well, Mal is clearly useless..." Blast grumbled. He glanced at Gale. "Sorry."

Gale sighed. "Try dealing with her every day."

"We dealing with a spiritual foe of some kind here?" Tex asked.

Gale thought about that, looking at her friends in turn. "I think so. Maybe. I just don't know."

Blast hesitated a moment, looking at Gale. "I got the feeling you knew him better than the rest of us, Mal. To me, he was just a colleague -- and a friend, but he never trusted me with his past."

Gale cringed as all eyes turned to her. "Mal wanted him. Not so much physically, although..." She blushed. "But she knew what he would do. And she allowed it. She believed it was his destiny."

Blast sighed. "If he hadn't been so cryptic about his origins..."

Tex threw up his hands. "Think I'll get plastered. This night calls for it. Chili and beer. Then I'll figure what to do."

Gale smiled weakly at him. "Just don't go on anymore, um, stampedes?"

"You ok, Gale?" Aaron asked.

Gale looked down at her side. The makeshift dressing appeared to be on the verge of falling off. She touched it, winced, and pulled away a hand covered with blood. "Hmm... I should go to the hospital, I guess."

Blast nodded. "Well, I'd recommend it. You're bleeding more than I wa... well, a lot."

"Want an escort?" Aaron offered.

Gale smiled shyly. "I wouldn't mind one..."

Blast looked at Gale. "I think I owe you, or Malstrom, an apology..."

"Oh please don't apologize, she's insufferable enough at times!" Gale laughed.

"Well, I kinda... blamed her."

"Kinda?" Aaron asked. Blast glared at him.

"Aaaah. She doesn't seem upset about any of this, except..." she hesitated. "Well, I think she misses him."

Aaron accompanied her to the hospital, where she thanked him. She made her way to triage, and then closed her eyes. "Oh Mal," she sighed. "You knew what would happen, and you let him do it. Why?"

As usual, the Valkyrie gave her no answer. Her wound was throbbing now. She gingerly touched it again. "Silver," she said, "where are you?"


The Valkyrie reached into the spirit world. "Call me," she said. "I always answer the call of a true warrior."

She could sense him, but now there was something else with him as well. It was something new, dark, a strange darkness that crept out from the nothing. Like a rabid wolf, it snapped at her. Then, it retreated into the darkness. Her powers weren't strong enough to pierce it.

"No machine made by mortal hands can slay your kind," she mused into the darkness. "And no harbinger of the dead came for you. So where are you, great warrior?"

The darkness gave her no reply.