WoLaD: Birth of Hope Ch.15

"Wars of Light and Darkness"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl

Prelude: "Birth of Hope"

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Chapter 15: "The Mortal Hour"

   Without waiting another second, the leader of the rogue bat tribe let out a screech, and rushed for Kashoku, holding his spear out before him, the jagged tip bound for the echidna's flesh.  Kashoku was steadfast, unmoving, maintaining his position as his enemy thundered closer.

   Acadiar took two steps back, still reeling from his injuries.  Even Shadow wondered how long Kashoku would remain frozen.

   "Kashoku!  Move!" Acadiar cried out.

   Shadow held his breath.  He could not call Arandor by his true name.  He watched, ready to wield his dark powers to save his friend, no matter the consequence.

   There was only a second to react as the spear tip came within striking range.  The bat warrior continued to cry out, figuring his target was a sleepy and stubborn echidna; an easy kill.

   Kashoku surprised him.  The echidna let out his own shout in defiance.  He pulled his body into a spin, thrusting his foot into the air as he rotated.  It barely passed underneath the deadly spear tip, before coming up from under it and knocking the spear out of the bat's hands.  As Kashoku turned to face him, two fast punches from his clenched fists knocked his enemy back even further.

   "Bring it to me heathen!" Kashoku shouted, glaring at him.

   Acadiar was encouraged by the strength of his king, remembering how enchanted he was the first time he saw Kashoku fight all those years ago.  Waving his own spear in the air, he looked back to the village and shouted, "You see the bravery of your king!  Come out here and follow his lead!  Defend what you love!  Protect the village now!"

   Galaden was one of the first to emerge from his house.  White war paint laced his face, something he put on quickly as a show of defiance.  With his quiver of arrows hanging behind him, and his bow in his hand, he ran for the small group.  He came to a stop beside Kashoku and pulled an arrow to the bowstring, aiming straight for the bat leader as he stood up, trying to recover from Kashoku's attack.

   "Lay one hand on my king and I will kill you with one shot.  You will die before your attack even hopes to connect," Galaden whispered in a menacing voice, growling softly.

   The bat warrior growled.  Before he could retaliate, the cries of his brethren rose up loud and strong, fearing for the safety of the leader.  One of them threw their spear straight for Galaden.  Acadiar, though injured jumped ahead of Galaden, twirling his own spear in a violent spin, deflecting the spear before it could cause anyone any damage.

   As he landed, Acadiar screamed.  "Finish what you started!  Bring it to me!"

   "Acadiar!" Shadow shouted.  

   But it was too late.  The remaining echidna warriors had heard and seen the bravery of their king and two of their greatest warriors.  Hearing of the deaths of some of their kindred, they were ready to be rid of their only enemies, the rogue bat tribe of the mountains above them.

   Wielding their weapons, some with spears, others with bows and arrows, the warriors emerged from where they stood.  Some brandished war paint, mimicking Galaden.  Others came as they were, angry like Acadiar, filled with rage.

   Meanwhile, the leader of the bats had recovered and had had enough of the echidnas and their show of force.  He looked back to his fellow warriors and as he thrust a pointed finger towards Kashoku, he said, "Kill their king!  Without him, they will crumble and fall, for they are weak!"

   "So says you!" Galaden shouted.  He allowed his arrow to fly, and it pierced one of the cheering bats in the group on the edge of the woods, killing him instantly.
That was it; the battle would begin.

   "Kill them all!" the bats cried together.

   Kashoku, his amber eyes flashing, held his position and said, "Bring it to them!  Do not let them intimidate you!"

   Poor Acadiar, still bleeding heavily, did not care what his fate would be.  He raced towards the army before them, crying out in anger.

   "I shall avenge the blood you have spilt!  Fear my rage!"

   Galaden and the other archers stayed back, attacking from a distance with arrows aimed with deadly precision.  Kashoku and Shadow ran forward with those bearing spears, clashing in a violent fray.  The Ancient Arts served them well, for the bats fought in a more chaotic style, and so many fell to the swift kicks, punches and spear thrusts of Kashoku's army.

   At first, the bats attacked any echidna they could find, but as Kashoku and Shadow took out more and more of them, they became dead set on stealing away the breath of this echidna/hedgehog duo.  They realized it was their fault that the echidnas were so much stronger than them.

   Now the echidnas had to focus on keeping the bats from overwhelming their king and Shadow.  The battle was becoming very easy for them.  Though some echidnas were injured, no more had died yet.  All it would take now was wearing down the bats numbers, some triple what the echidnas had for themselves.  It was only a matter of time.

   Kashoku and Shadow it seemed never attacked in the same way twice.  Standing back to back, their movements flowed as one, each balancing and complimenting the other.  Their attacks were graceful; a deadly beauty.

   "I defy your attempt to shatter unity!" Shadow cried out, "Flee while you have the chance!"

   "Never can you break me, not while I have my brother!" Kashoku shouted in answer, not caring who heard him.

   The leader of the bats rose to his feet.  He pulled an arrow out of his arm, glaring at Kashoku and Shadow as he did so.  He snapped the shaft of the arrow in two, growling angrily.  He had to find a way to break them, but with the assault being won by the echidnas as they gradually overcame the bats, he couldn't find time enough to figure out how to do it.

   Suddenly, though the battle for the bats seemed lost, new hope for them came.

   The conflict paused, drawing all eyes to the mountains above them.  A second squadron of bat warriors, this one nearly twice as large as the first, now loomed above them.

   Shadow looked up in disbelief.  "Dammit…," he muttered softly.

   Kashoku took Shadow's arm, causing the hedgehog to look at him.  "If it's the Master gems they want, then it's the Master gems they'll get!" Kashoku cried in a hushed whisper.  Looking back to his soldiers, he shouted, "Do not let them stop you!  I will rid us of this assault!  Hold them off!"

   Taking Shadow's hand, Kashoku ran for the Master gems.  He knelt down beside them, checking them over quickly, as the battle raged behind them, the echidnas now at a terrible disadvantage.  Shadow, panting heavily, asked, "What is your plan Arandor?"

   Kashoku grinned.  "These gems now harbor the closest thing to my true power, and as I can, they may continue to regenerate themselves.  If they want power, I'll show it to them," he explained.

   Shadow nodded, only halfway understanding the plan.  Looking back to the fray, he said, "Please hurry Arandor, I do not know how much longer we can hold them."

   With a nod, Kashoku stood up, turning to the Master Jewel and the Master Emerald.  "Well, let's see if my idea pans out like I want it," he whispered.

   "What are you saying?" Shadow cried, his face white with horror.

   Kashoku laughed softly, shaking his head.  He looked to Shadow and said, "What I'm saying is, if this doesn't work, we will have no choice but to wield Light and Darkness before their mortal eyes.  You had better hope this works."

   Shadow closed his eyes and bowed his head.  "Heaven help us," he muttered.

   With a determined look on his face, Kashoku took a breath and bowed his head.  He placed one hand on the Master Emerald, and the other on the Master Jewel.  "Objects of my creation, I need you to serve me, as is your purpose.  Give to me the power I need to preserve that which I was born to defend; the balance of Light and Darkness in this world.  Help us be rid of this overwhelming evil.  Win us the battle this night!"

   Opening his eyes, Shadow felt paralyzed by what he saw; a great light from the sister gems enveloping Kashoku as he prayed to them.

   "My eyes…what am I here to behold?" Shadow murmured.

   "My power, return to me, so that the hour of victory may draw near!" Kashoku shouted.

   The light enveloping him became blinding, enough so that it halted the battle, causing even Shadow to look away, shielding his eyes.  As he opened them, his breath was stolen away.  The power Kashoku summoned from the gems, his own power, caused him to glow with a powerful light.  His red fur was almost pink, his golden stripes, a blinding yellow.  His amber eyes glimmered unlike they had in years.  The locks of his hair became rigid, to the point where they looked like the blades of swords.

   He took several steps back towards the now frozen battle, steps that barely touched the ground, almost as if he didn't need to take them at all, simply gliding through the air.  He glared at his enemies, while his friends saw proud but gentle eyes, the ones they had always known, set ablaze with the fierce desire to protect that which he loved.

   "You wanted the jewels, and now, I'm here to give them to you!  Now, you may know their fury!" Kashoku cried out.

   Shadow was frozen where he stood.

   "Arandor's power…it has granted him a more powerful form to fight with," he whispered, "This battle, is over."

   "Come for me!" Kashoku shouted.  A violent wave of light flew from him in all directions like a shockwave, knocking only his enemies to the ground, causing most of them to cry out in pain as it tore through them, breaking their eardrums and sending painful pulses through their bodies.  Without waiting, Kashoku ran for all of them, attacking them swiftly, using the same movements as before, only much more powerful, their strength increased by this wealth of power within him.

   The echidnas cheered, and were inspired to keep fighting even though most were tired and wounded.  The tide had changed again.  The echidnas were winning the fight.

   Mitsukai had watched the battle from the safety of her home.  She had hidden Sutei and Alamalie in their beds, and was now anxious to see if the fight was almost over, fearing for the welfare of her husband.  She noticed Shadow standing beside the master gems, only to run back into the fray, driven to keep fighting alongside his friend.

   She saw this new form her husband had taken on, and glancing back and forth between him and the Master gems, she made the connection very quickly.

   Her curiosity got the better of her.  She wanted to see this power up close, and so she left the safety of her home and approached them.

   The bat leader once again escaped to the edge of the fray, hiding among the bodies of his fallen kindred.  He continued to growl, bleeding from many wounds as he watched Kashoku, Shadow, and the echidnas lead the brutal slaughter of the bat army.  Rage and anger tore through the bat so fiercely he felt he could explode.  He simply had to kill Kashoku.  There simply had to be a way.

   Suddenly, his eyes were drawn to the Master gems.  However, it was not them, both the Emerald and Jewel glowing fiercely where they sat, feeding Kashoku all of their power that got his attention.  Instead, the pink echidna with purple highlights and a golden diadem on her head caught his eyes.  A crooked smile twisted his lips.  She was the Queen, Kashoku's wife.

   Perhaps there was a way to win the battle after all.

   Avoiding detection, he crawled across the ground towards Mitsukai.

   By now, she had reached the Master Jewel and Master Emerald.  Their glow was hypnotic and beautiful.  Timed pulses burst through them, almost as though they were keeping time with Kashoku's movements, his heartbeat, his breath.  It was as if they were a part of him, lending him all that they were to help him win the fight.

   She knew he could use them for battle, but until now, all she thought they were, were beautiful gemstones.  Now at last, she saw their true glory; the closest thing to Arandor's true power that any mortal would ever know.

   "How beautiful," she whispered, smiling gently.  She placed her hand on the Master Jewel, and giggling softly she added, "Please, protect my husband.  Get him through these trials alive.  We all need him."

   The Master Jewel seemed to react to Mitsukai's touch; colors of pink, red and gold rolled together like water in a tide, pulsing, glowing, and radiating as they were continually drawn on by Kashoku.  She was inspired to look back to the fight, now unafraid for her loved ones.

   Instead of seeing a hope for victory, however, Mitsukai's eyes were met with something quite dark.

   The leader of the bats rose up suddenly, lunging for her, causing her to cry out.

   "I will kill you Queen Mitsukai, and with your death, the battle will be won!" he cried out.

   "Kashoku!" Mitsukai cried.

   All eyes were drawn to the scene.  Kashoku's face went white, the golden glow beginning to fade.  The Master gems began to flash, throwing off beams of white, green and blue in reaction to Kashoku's shock.  The echidnas began to cry out.  Shadow felt sick.  The tide had turned yet again, in the most terrible, terrible way.

   "Kill him!  Bring him down!" Kashoku finally cried out.  He began to fight his way out of the large crowd of feuding bats and echidnas, as well as the bodies of the dead underfoot.

   All archers aimed their arrows for the bat leader, only to fly in a random direction, or not fly at all, as the bats took them down, doing whatever they could to prevent their leader from being stopped.  The spearmen were attacked in a similar way, all brought down as their focus was broken.

   Galaden shook off his attackers, and time and time again he took new aim for the leader.  His last arrow was strung, only to be broken by a bat warrior coming down hard on him.

   The proud warrior fell to the ground.  His bow was broken beneath his body.  All he could do now was fight to stay alive.

   Brave Acadiar ran after his king, only to trip over a dead body beneath him.  He was quickly assaulted by a group of five bats.  He wasn't going to get up.

   Shadow screamed in frustration, fighting as hard as he could to get away and help Kashoku.  The bats did everything they could to stop the powerful hedgehog; they kicked and punched him, and even bit him, the hardest bite coming down on his shoulder.

   As blood flowed down his arms and legs, Shadow's rage grew.  He had no other option.  He would have to wield the Dark Arts.

   Summoning his dark powers, he shouted, "I've had it with you!  Taste my fury!"  Wielding the very darkness that he feared, he was finally able to regain control of the fight.

   Still, Kashoku was alone as he ran.

   Mitsukai continued to run from the bat leader who now flew after her in pursuit.  She ran until she reached the cliff.  Unable to run further in that direction, she looked to her left and ran up a path that led into the mountains, skirting above the village, leading towards where the bats lived in their caves.

   Kashoku raced after them.  He felt fatigued, even as he drew on the Master gems.  He simply couldn't run fast enough.

   "Mitsukai!" he cried out, "Mitsukai!"

   High up on the mountain path, Mitsukai was growing tired, and tripped over some rubble on the path.  The bat leader quickly caught up to her as she tried to recover.  Turning over she could see him looming over her as he landed.  He drew a knife from a sheath on his belt, and held it over her.

   "I will kill you, and your husband will fall!  Prepare to die!" he shouted, raising the knife into the air.

   Mitsukai felt paralyzed, unable to feel the tears falling from her eyes.  She was unable to understand what was about to happen.

   She was unable to understand…that she was about to die.

   The knife came down, piercing her flesh between her breasts, right at her heart, causing it to struggle to continue beating, suddenly disrupted so violently.

   Her cries rang out clearly, causing the entire battle to stop for a chilling moment.

   Shadow looked up.  He knew what had just happened.  He felt the life slipping from him, just as it now slipped from her.

   "Oh Father…say it isn't so…," he whispered, shedding a tear.

   Galaden threw his attacker off him, only to stare up at the mountain path in disbelief.

   "My lady, how can this be?" he murmured, his body going numb.

   Acadiar looked up from where he rested on the ground, almost dead where he lay.

   "Not the Queen.  Not like this," he said, speaking softly, choking on what little breath he had left.

   Every warrior and echidna that was there stared up at the mountain in this way.  Their frozen gaze was broken as Kashoku finally caught up to Mitsukai and the bat leader.  He was fully aware of what had happened, and as was with the other unwilling witnesses, he felt it sink in painfully slowly, when he didn't want it to.

   He could see blood soak into Mitsukai's dress.  The look of terror on her face slowly relaxed as her eyes closed, the frown twisted hard on her face, her teeth gritted beneath it.  Her breathing relaxed, but not because it was coming easily.

   The life was slipping away from her, and there was nothing to be done.

   Rage tore through Kashoku.  He stared at her in disbelief for a moment, before his amber eyes locked onto the bat leader, who now cackled softly, glaring at him, feeling full satisfaction after stabbing Mitsukai.

   Kashoku couldn't believe it.  He wouldn't.  He wouldn't stand for the existence of this wicked soul any longer.

   "Damn you!" he shouted violently.  He jumped for the bat and began beating him viciously.  Hitting pressure points and sensitive spots, the bat couldn't hope to fight back.

   As Kashoku fought, tears fell from his eyes.   "You thought I would fall!  Is this what you wanted?  Is this what you thought I would become?  Did you think I would not fight for her life?  You are nothing!  You will die as nothing!" he shouted.

   Tumbling to a stop, the bat lay in a crumpled heap on the ground, only feet away from where Mitsukai lay bleeding.  Kashoku loomed above him, the glow about him shining brighter than ever.  He panted heavily, his energy spent, his rage, anger, and heartache the only thing keeping him standing.

   The two enemies locked eyes.  The battle was over.

   "You will have nothing, for you are nothing," Kashoku whispered in a grim voice.

   The bat was angry, but though he was in pain, he cackled softly, even as blood bubbled up his throat and over his lips.

   Kashoku came down hard on him, glaring at his face.  "Why do you laugh you vile creature?" he growled.

   Opening his eyes, the bat snickered and muttered, "Though I die, you have lost the fight, you fool.  Your wife, she is dead.  Kill me; you will have accomplished nothing."

   Eyes widened in disbelief, a wave of anger flew through Kashoku causing him to cry out, "No!" before slamming his fist down on the bat's chest.  This sent a wave of light into him, killing him instantly.

   The wave of light flew across the sky.  The bats that were left were frightened by it, and with the death of their commander they turned and fled into the woods, running for their own, secret paths back up to their caves in the mountains.  The battle was truly over.

   Shadow and the echidnas watched as they fled, and for a moment looked at the mass of dead around them.  They realized finally that it was not just the bats who suffered casualties.  Though their losses were not massive, the echidnas had not made it out unscathed.

   Acadiar was about to join his fallen brethren.

   Running as fast as he could through the disaster area, Shadow dashed to Acadiar's side.  Taking the badly wounded warrior in his arms, he stared at Acadiar in disbelief for a moment.  He soon closed his eyes, and placed his free hand on Acadiar's chest.  "It is not your day to die.  Your wounds will be healed," Shadow whispered.

   Galaden stood nearby; he and the other echidnas watched as a soft glow radiated from Shadow's hand, enveloping Acadiar's body.  Once it faded, though he was still covered with blood, and looked badly hurt, he was healed enough so that he would survive.  Finally, Acadiar opened his eyes.

   "Acadiar," Galaden murmured, kneeling down beside Shadow.

   Blinking slowly, Acadiar cringed.  Looking to Shadow, he took a breath and whispered, "I thought death had me.  How did you do this?"

   Shadow lowered his eyes.  "Blame the power that saved you all tonight, that which your king drew upon, but now is not enough for him, or the Queen," Shadow whispered softly.

   Making sure Acadiar was alright, Shadow stood up, and as he looked to the cliff where Mitsukai fell, in a grim voice he added, "It will not be enough, for either of them tonight.  It is…too late for her I fear."

   He fell silent; without another word, Shadow ran for the path up the mountainside.  The echidnas could only watch as both the Master Jewel and Master Emerald flashed desperately a final few times before the light within them went dead.

   That was it…all hope was gone.

   On the cliff above them, Kashoku felt the power slip away from him.  He felt weaker than he ever had, even more than he did when he first became the Light Elemental.  His father's words rang in his head.  He knew he had no more time left.
But no; it wasn't supposed to happen this way…not like this.

   Turning to Mitsukai, he had to crawl painfully across the ground until he reached her side.  He let himself fall against the side of the mountain so it could support him.  Tears were already falling from his eyes as he took his dying wife in his arms, the knife wound in her chest taking her away from them far too soon.

   The beautiful heart he had forsaken so much for was slipping away from him.  He had given up who he was born to be; he gave up the Light itself out of love for her.  Soon, she would be gone, to a place where he could not follow her.  Were he still the Pure Light, he could cross over to the afterlife at whim.  Now, he would probably never see her again.

   His heart sent painful waves through him each time it beat.  

   Say it isn't so; this shouldn't be happening.

   "Mitsukai…," he whispered, his breath barely there, barely enough to keep him conscious.  "How…how did this happen, my love?  Why, why are you being taken away from me?"

   The Queen was in extreme pain, and though she had little strength left, she bid her eyes to open when she heard her husband's voice.  She tried to smile, and though she failed, she managed a weak giggle as she said, "It's…my fault.  I shouldn't have left the house.  I…I didn't know this would happen, my love.  I am just happy, you are…alright."

   It was at this moment that Shadow arrived, but kept his distance, watching the desperate scene with tears pouring down his face.

   "Father," he prayed, "Please, wrap your arms around your son.  Don't let him go through this tonight.  Please."

   Kashoku tried to wipe the tears from his eyes.  He held Mitsukai close, and with his free hand, he stroked her hair.  "Stop, do not blame yourself.  I…I failed to protect you.  It was those blasted gems that they wanted.  You know something Mitsukai?  They can have them if it meant you would stay with me.  I do not care if it means they would have my power to exploit.  I would face my own power for an eternity if it meant you wouldn't leave me.  Please, don't leave me.  Don't leave your children."

   A painful sputter escaped Mitsukai as she flinched heavily in her husband's arms.  He kept his secure hold on her, trying to soothe her pain.  He thought for a moment about trying to save her, but realized she was too far gone.  The damage was done.  At the same time, he realized he had not that power anymore anyway.

   He was going to lose her, and no amount of crying would change that.

   "Your…your power, Kashoku…"

   He looked down at her.  "Yes, my love.  I-I already told you I was powerful.  Had they…taken those gems, they could have unleashed more of it than I could ever hope to counteract.  I would throw it all away if it meant I wouldn't lose you.  I…I can't believe I failed you," he whispered, hanging his head, unable to face her.

   Mitsukai gazed at her husband.  Her vision was clouding; everything she was over her entire life was beginning to fade.  All that she was with her husband, her beloved and precious soul, Kashoku, was all that remained.  Reaching up, she touched his face, causing him to look at her.

   "You…you did not fail me, Kashoku.  You-you protected the village, saved everyone that you could, including our children," she whispered, her voice becoming raspy and shaky.  As she gently rubbed his face, she added, "I won't be gone forever.  We'll…we'll be together again, someday.  I love you forever, and that will follow us to eternity."

   Kashoku felt sick.  He knew the time had come to tell her the truth, breaking both their hearts in the process.

   "Mitsukai…my-my precious angel, you must…understand something, about me," he started, struggling to find the words with which to speak, "I-I was not born an echidna.  Indeed, I am not who you have grown to love."

   Her eyes widened as much as they could, clouded with confusion.  "What…what are you saying my love?" she asked.

   He looked away from her.  He noticed Shadow sitting nearby.  He continued to weep heavily, unable to look his friend in the eyes.

   Kashoku hung his head.  "Mitsukai, I must tell you the truth.  I will…never pass away to Heaven.  I…will remain with the living until the end of days," he started.  He was unsure of what gave him the strength to speak now, but he looked back to her, not letting go of the momentum.  "I was born from the Light itself.  She is my mother; my Father is a Guardian of Light, a powerful deity watching over us, protecting us from a powerful entity of Darkness.  It is my duty to protect you all, walking among you in a way that my father, Kalak, cannot.  It was on my first trip here that I saw you in the village, and my heart was first introduced to love, love that became such a powerful bond, love…I was willing to die for.  Mitsukai, I am still ready to die for you, but, dying would mean failing my mission…it would mean, not being there to protect the world from Darkness.  It would mean…the children of our children and their descendents would live in a world of terror and fear.  I-I cannot let this happen."

   Mitsukai had relaxed a bit, feeling shocked by what she was hearing.  Kashoku fell silent, and lowered his eyes, unable to look at her directly, feeling the burden of his lies weigh heavy on his heart.  She gazed into those amber eyes, and suddenly, one memory came back to her before it could slip away with the rest.

   She remembered a day, very long ago, when she saw a spirit walking among the trees, standing on the other side of a bend in the cliff, gazing right at her, with loving eyes.

   Now, she understood why they were so comforting and familiar.  Kashoku had finally explained it to her.

   Though her strength was failing, she reached up again to touch his face, causing him to look at her again.  "You…Kashoku, were you, the yellow spirit I saw that day, the one following me through the village?" she asked.

   "Yellow spirit!?" Kashoku cried, "What are you talking about?"

   Mitsukai was about to reply, but coughed and sputtered heavily, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.  Kashoku tried to soothe her; once she was as relaxed as she could be, she whimpered, "That day, I remember; a strange yellow creature with pointy ears on the top of his head, stripes of gold in his hair, and bright amber eyes was following me that day.  I thought it was nothing more than a day dream.  He was so handsome, and it seemed he was quite interested in me, for he followed me and remained unflinching even when the warriors ran by him.  I looked right into his eyes, and he looked as though…he wondered if I could see him."

   Kashoku felt like he could die.  The tears were falling so hard they began to hurt.

   "You…were able…to see me, even when…the Light itself, hid me from mortal eyes," he whispered, fighting to hold on, "You saw me, as who I really am…Arandor…of Light."

   There were tears in Mitsukai's eyes, but a smile was on her face.  He saw this, and was confused.  Shaking her head, she reached up and caressed his brow.  Managing a soft giggle, she whispered, "Look what you went through, just so you could be with me.  All the changing you've had to do, all the sickness you had to endure…all of the things you had to let go of, everything you knew, all because you loved me.  Kashoku…I-I am paralyzed with happiness.  I-I never knew such love, could be possible.  I am loved by the Light itself.  How blessed am I…to have found my way, into your heart."

   "No…," Kashoku whispered, closing his eyes and shaking his head.  He leaned forward and kissed her gently.  Pulling back, he whispered, "It is I, who am blessed.  I have failed you my love, for I cannot save you, and will never be able to follow you.  Instead, I will linger here, only until the world is done with me, and casts me away forever.  I am a terrible husband…I-I should have given you the chance for a normal life.  A husband who could actually protect you, and could truly be with you forever."

   Mitsukai gasped for breath; she could feel her body getting lighter.  She knew she was slipping away.

   Reaching up for Kashoku's face, she turned his head so he would face her.  Both wept, but while Kashoku despaired, Mitsukai smiled.  "Don't you say that, my love.  I will love you forever; I said that to only one soul, the one I gave my heart to.  I-I love the Light you were born from, and I-I believe, one day, you will be Pure again.  When that day comes, we can be together again, for I love you as both Kashoku the Brave, and…Arandor of Light.  No matter how you appear to me, my heart is yours.  You do whatever you have to, in order to protect our children, and save the world from this dark entity you speak of.  You have my blessing to do whatever you must, to stay alive, and save all that we love.  I-I will never leave you; even if I slip away from you now, my spirit, and my love…are…always…with you…"

   "Mitsukai!" Kashoku cried out softly.  Her hand fell away from his face, landing on her lap, her eyes closing as she took a labored breath.

   "Never forget it…Kashoku," she whispered, "I…love you…forever…"

   Kashoku took her hand and held it.  He wanted to close his eyes.  He didn't want to see her take her final breath, but he couldn't suffer them to close, and simply gazed at her, his head shaking in disbelief, tears falling from his eyes.  The pain he was feeling reached its climax, and he struggled to speak so she could hear one final expression of his love, something, as strong as it was, that could not save her.

   "For-forever…I love you…Mitsukai, my angel…of Light."

   He was afraid she couldn't hear him, and began to despair, but gasped softly when he saw her lips curl in one final smile, one that remained on her face, as her last breath escaped her, and was not drawn in again.

   "Mitsukai…," he whispered, stammering terribly.  He put his hand on her face, unable to contain his heartache anymore.  Throwing his face towards the sky, he cried out louder, "Mitsukai!!" before allowing himself to collapse, holding Mitsukai's limp body close as the grief took him over.

   It was then that the echidnas, all of them crowded together below the cliff, knew that their queen was gone.

   Acadiar, saved by what power Shadow had left, hung his head, as did Galaden, and every warrior among them.  They had failed to protect their queen.  Everyone felt the grief.  Their hearts bled for Mitsukai's small children; their hearts despaired for the grief that now consumed their king.

   As sad as this moment was, the hour of dawn, fate still strove to strike an even deeper blow.

   Shadow fought off his own sadness, wanting to help his friend.  As he stood up, he saw a shadow fall over Kashoku.  Shadow didn't understand what it was at first, but then…he remembered something Kashoku told him only hours before.

   "I apologized to Father shortly after Alamalie was born.  I went home alone, and told him I was ready for him to start the process.  He was concerned, because he said I don't have long left, but I also told him I needed to have you back before I could do it."

   "No…," Shadow whispered.  His heart sank.  Not only was this Mitsukai's hour to die, but it was the hour that chose to take what little was left of Arandor's immortality away from him.  It wouldn't be much longer before Arandor would infact have the chance to follow Mitsukai after all.

   "Father! Save him!" Shadow cried out desperately. Running to Kashoku's side, he took the echidna in his arms and pleaded with both Arandor and Kalak. "Father, please, there has to be something you can do!  Arandor simply has to grieve.  Please, give him time to set things right.  Arandor!  Don't break your promise to Mitsukai!  Please, pray that Father will help you!"

   Kashoku opened his eyes, breathing heavily, desperate to catch his breath.  He could indeed feel his life force draining, and understood that once he became mortal, there would be no going back.  For a brief moment, he thought of letting it happen, so he could be with his beloved Mitsukai again.  Yet, her final words would not leave him, and he knew he owed it to her, and his children, to keep going, and save the world.

   Looking to Shadow as he wept, he shook his head and said, "It's too late.  There's is nothing Father can do."

   Shadow's eyes flashed, and he grew angry.  "Don't you say that Arandor!  You must not die!  You, you must live!"

   "You cannot die!"
   "You must live!"

   Looking to the sky, just as it began to brighten, giving way to morning, Kashoku cried out, "Father, please help me!  Give me just a little longer, to let go!"

   Shadow held on to him tightly.  "I'll be dammed if I'm going to lose you Arandor.  I-I won't let you fade away!"

   Just then, when both of them began to reach the end of their will, a pale light surrounded Kashoku, but enveloped them both.  They could hear a voice inside their heads; it was their father, Kalak, Guardian of Light.

   "This is all I can do for you, my son.  It's taking all that I have to send this to you now.  All you have left is a short time, to say goodbye.  Then, you must return to me.  The time has come, to move on.  I love you Arandor.  I love you Shadow.  Find comfort.  Find rest.  Return to me before a month has passed.  I am so sorry, for your pain."

   The Light left them.  As they opened their eyes, Kashoku felt strong again.  His immortality would hang on for a little bit longer.  Long enough, for him to say goodbye.

   Looking down at Mitsukai, Kashoku shook his head and whispered, "This is my fault.  I should have never come here and done this to them."

   "No Arandor…even Mitsukai said she felt blessed by you and your love.  You have done so much for them, both of us have.  We just…we can't get close to the mortal, because, we'll eventually have to say goodbye," Shadow said, speaking softly.

   He wrapped his arms around Kashoku, hugging him tightly.  The echidna looked up, facing the sunrise.  His face was solemn; the joy was gone, as was the life in his eyes.  "I love her Shadow…I always will.  Do I regret our love?  …Never, for that would mean regretting our children, and everything we shared.  I suppose…wishing it never happened, is just as bad.  Only now…I can't be there for any of them."

   Looking to Shadow, his eyes were dark.  "We must make sure they are ready, to move on without us," he whispered.  He looked back to the sunrise, and hung his head.  "In a month's time…you will go away for good, and I…Kashoku the Brave, will die."

   Shadow didn't speak, and simply tried to comfort his friend.  The dawn was cold and cruel.  The hour of mortality had come and passed, and the toll it left in its wake, was too much to bear.

   However, far away from there…that morning was much more joyous, for a few.

   Waking up in his bedroom, UnLight staggered down the hallways of Mukot's castle on Talmor.  He was starved for sleep, awakened by Gorlock, who bid him to meet his father in the basement laboratory.

   He stood in the doorway, yawning, until his father, bent over a casket in the middle of the room, finally noticed him.  Mukot smiled and extended his arm out to his son.  "Come to me UnLight.  Come and see your brother, UnDark," he murmured.

   UnLight finally woke up the rest of the way, and walked to his father's side.  As Mukot put his arm around UnLight, he looked into the capsule before them.  Something was familiar, only now he was looking at it from the other side.

   Within the glass capsule, a figure rested.  He was grey furred with dark blue hair, a bright blue face mask like his father's and matching stripes on his grey quills.  He was suspended in a green liquid, laced with red bubbles, breathing through an apparatus, finally stable after all of those years of work.

   "It will be a few more months before he is ready, but he has survived the worst," Mukot explained, "Arandor's seed of Pure Light has allowed UnDark to survive without Darkness.  As vile as that sounds, it proves once again that Kalak is false.  Soon, you will have a partner to help you take down Arandor and Shadow.  Soon, you will have a younger brother to call your own, UnLight."

   UnLight stared at the body of his younger brother.  He didn't know what to feel.  There was no joy; there was no hatred, but then again, as long as his father was happy, UnLight was as well.

   "I am happy, Father.  I find pleasure in your joy,"  UnLight said at last.

   Mukot cackled softly.  Embracing UnLight, he added, "Then come with me, and we can have a laugh at Kalak's expense.  I don't believe his miserable son Arandor could be any lower.  Come with me."

   UnLight knew what that meant.  They had been watching the entire tragedy unfold.  He sighed, but followed Mukot.  Somehow, however strange, UnLight found little joy.  Sure, the fact that Arandor was hurting was funny, but the fact that an innocent soul had to die, was not.

   It was going to be the beginning of a long struggle; happiness and sorrow, fighting to win the day.  For now, though, it was sorrow, mourning, and grief, that stood victorious, for no joy could be found anywhere, that wasn't false.