Back to the Beginning [Private, Sly]

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Fingers tangled with his own, Lexia allowed a bright smile to come onto her face.

One thing that time apparently didn't want to change was Sly's damaged timepiece. It wasn't exactly functioning as it normally would, the gears slowly having stopped their ticking. They were somewhat stuck together, or they would whir and nothing would happen. A predicament which puzzled both Sly and herself, however, that wasn't why the inseparable duo had, once again, decided to come back to the one place which caused them so much pain, but also brought them together. A fate entwined and created by time itself which she cherished, no matter how dire circumstances ever got.

She was grateful for it all.

But here, they were searching for something which Sly believed her with. She'd been having dreams, vivid visions which she could have sworn were real. They were of a part of Cormere which she was more than hesitant to actually go through by herself or even with Nithya. It certain was more than dangerous with where the two were going now. Where they were going was simple enough.

The ruins which housed the final gear to Sly's timepiece and would, hopefully, get it ticking once more.

Currently the two were walking through a rather narrow path thick with twigs, treacherous rocks that threatened to slip away and tear them both down from their sure-footing. On more than one occasion, Sly had to hoist Lexia back up onto the path as the stones caused her to slip and stumble. For Lexia's part, she simply pushed aside the branches which lashed at both her and Sly's feet, ensuring that they both wouldn't have them slapping at their face. The two of them had experienced that enough on the journey here that she was really making it a point to ensure he wasn't lashed by them once more.

Behind them was simply descending ground riddled with thick vegetation and treacherous grounds.

Ahead of them was an increasingly steep climb. But that wasn't what made Lexia suddenly stop.

Watch out... You're getting closer now, trust me. The voice spoke to her, no longer out of anger and hatred, but out of worry and genuine kindness, as if it were trying to help her in her goals.

Slowly, a frown pulled onto her face, eyes which matched the colour of the gorgeous sky narrowing. Through the thick trees, she could make out a structure of some sort. It was definitely old, in the same style as the old ruins were built in. Vines were breaking apart the walls, but something was odd. Something was different. Letting go of his hand, she made a gesture for Sly to stop, she ducked down into a crouch, her skirt easily flowing behind her as she crept forward, eyes watching intently for anything near the ruins. She all but froze when she saw a shadow being cast on the old stones. However, her blood ran cold. Within the moments she had been looking at it, the shadow itself shifted. Something was alive and moving out there...

"Sly, we might need to find another way around..." She said quietly, hoping that he would pick up on her quiet tone, understanding the need to remain quiet and not give away their location so easily. There would need to be another way in somewhere...

Lexia heard the series of clicks behind them, the five rods being held under her arm with ease. Lexia, get ready to throw the rods. Destruction advised as she turned to face the direction of clicks- which was right below them. Unlike Sly, she somehow managed to keep her footing as she the ground partially gave way. With a growl, she used her rod to slam into the ground, allowing her to keep her balance as she turned to look at whatever was- That was a bad idea. Inwardly, Lexia hated water and the fact that there was a nice ready stream coming straight at them. Screw that.

Ripping out the rod moments after she drove it into the ground, Lexia didn't have much of a choice but to take the current as it swept her from her feet. During the confusion and torment of her mind, Destruction stepped forward to take control of her once more. Swapping the grip of the javelins, she waited several long moments until they plunged into the darkness and out again, before the ledge appeared. Throwing the steel up onto the ledge, she used her right hand to catch it and haul herself up. The action flared the bruises on her side, but Destruction wasn't too phased by it.

I noticed you weren't.

Heh, I'd say sorry, but you know... You would have frozen up by that.

To hide the partial headache that Lexia received from that, she leaned over to pick up one the javelins, a sigh escaping her lips. "Unless you want me to hate you, please, never take me to a water park. I hate water slides." Lex commented rather bitterly, her blue eyes flickering up to Sly with a half smirk on her face as he came from the water, absolutely drenched. However, she realised she wouldn't be in any better way and she made an inward sigh. The pavement was still that of gold and marble, something which Lex always appreciated from these ruins. Aside from the other part, which almost was their demise. Well, her demise.

Sudden chimes and whirs of metal once more sounded in the cold corridor. Cursing at their luck, Lexia flicked her head to face them. Sly was already looking, the small red red lights coming from the water... Oh great. This was exactly why she didn't swim.

However, without much warning, a shrill cry came from them, rebounding from the walls of the corridor to pierce straight into her soul. It hurt more than that damn resonator and she squeezed her eyes shut, instinctively dropping to her knees. A red beam arched over her head, the wall behind where she stood charring into the darkness. With a snarl, Lexia flicked the javelin and cast it forward- aiming straight for between the creatures glowing red eyes. Her shot was wide, a pure retaliation to what she had been a victim of. It glanced off its side, jamming into one of the fins instead.

Even Destruction itself felt the pain of that noise, something Creation probably gave to them to ensure that it was put off from going further into the ruins.

Sly came up to her, but her vision was partially swimming. Almost slipping, she took a step forward to rest her hand against him, partially to stabilise herself as well. Shaking her head, she glanced over to those metallic things. "Don't... Let them do that noise again Sly, I can't concentrate and neither can Destruction." Lexia said quietly, the earnest tone in her voice hopefully enough to realise that she was being serious. Hopefully. The sound of something moving came to her and she stamped her foot against the tip of one of the javelins.

The sound of gears once more came and, she shoo her head. Relying on where she held her hand against Sly's shoulder, she stepped forward and threw the item forward. This one landed true, slashing straight into one of the creatures necks and binding it down into one place as it broke into the stone wall next to it, pinning it there.

He snorted a little, acknowledging her comments on the waterslide. Then she was doubling over, just as the howls of the clockwork... creatures came to her ears, the thundering echo across the corridor making it sound like several roars of dragons. It did little to Sly, but never had he thought Lexia's hearing would become this sensitive. It was odd. They fought creatures with much louder cries. His concern was short-lived with the paddling of the creatures, approaching. After their red eyes dimmed, in a blink, they lit up once more, and their maws gapped open for another blast of their beams. Too late they are doing it again! Sly yelled, quickly flipping on the sonifier. At least by comparison, Lexia was not as affected by it, but it would not change that she would hate him for it. But he hoped the sonifier could give her something else to concentrate on, and muffle out their shrilling cries. He punted the pommel against the ground, the rapier ringing and vibrating like a loud tuning fork, before he pulled Lexia and threw both himself and her to the other side, avoiding yet another series of beams.

Only two passed by at least. Lexia successfully impaled one of them through the neck and skewered it to the wall on the other end. It tried to charge its blast, but its neck sparked violently at where the wound was, before it exploded, many burned out components dropping into the waters. And now there were only two.

Sorry, Sly said in advance, for both the sonifier and tossing her here and there. A thought nagged him to dash forward, close the distance while the creatures were recharging, yet that would mean leaving Lexia unguarded. Especially if the creatures roar, their cries would stun her. He bit his bottom lip, suppressing that thought. He decided to remain beside her, though he would hope that she would move a bit forward. His drenched clothing weighed on his arms and legs, and they lost their ability to slip effortlessly over his skin with every lunging movement, the thought of them clinging to his arms and tearing at his clothing haunting him.

Damn it all! He expected no less from the designers of these traps if they could also build this temple. They had everything thought out to dissuade or kill, regardless of how prepared they are. He squeezed against the grip of the R20, and turned it off once they ceased their cries. It then occurred to him that perhaps Destruction was part of the reason why, if Lexia's hearing did not have any issues. Could this part of the ruins be designed to combat against it?

Cover your ears! Sly shouted, immediately scraping the R20 along the walls. It emitted a much louder pitch, that whirled into nothing as he suddenly let go of it. The blade spun in the air, then stabbed into solid ground near the remaining two creatures, just as they were about to cry again. Immediately after, Sly brandished his dagger, and flicked it at the R20. Two metal clanged against one another, and the R20 chimed. Loud. But at this distance, it would not affect both Sly or Lexia. The cry was still ear-piercing, a screech almost as terrible as someone running a nail across a blackboard.

Both creatures winced at the cries, and they curled a little. Their glows quickly ceased, whimpering cries unheard above the R20. The pitch of it was so high, Sly could see the very faint pulses in the air around it. He hoped Lexia would take this as a sign to strike them both at once.

Oh shit. Oh shit.

Please tell me he's not going to do that. He's going to do it.

... Well this so isn't going to be fun...

Wait, what?!

Her confusion was shattered by the sounds of the beasts, their cries ringing in her ears once more. That, coupled with the sonifier sent Lexia into a whole new realm of pain that she hadn't experienced before. Her ears rang, her eyes watered as her hands dropped whatever they were holding and she slammed them against her ears to desperately try and block out the shrill noise. But to almost no avail. It broke through her soul, tears threatening to spring into her eyes from the sheer agony the two noises were inflicting on the pair. However she didn't have much time to dwell on it before Sly tackled her to the side. Two beams carved through the stonework beneath their feet of where they previously stood, however, she missed the third one exploding, shooting a glare at Sly before shakily forcing herself back to her feet.

Lexia's vision swam, Destruction clawing its way to the surface of her skin. She tried to focus for a few moments, but it utterly fell in a heap as her eyes refused to focus on the two targets in front of her. Raising a hand, she placed it against the wall to keep herself upright. How was she meant to even try and fight these things with these noises? But why were their cries hurting her ears so much?

My fault, sorry about that.

She was vaguely aware of Sly speaking and she turned to face him again- just in time for him to scrape the sonifier against the stone. That cry tore through her again as he threw it and his dagger forward. From there, her mind went blank. Orange flared against her skin. All she felt was pain, tearing her soul apart, and that drove Destruction to it's own darkness, not wanting to face off against such noise. The two steel things were stunned by Sly's actions, the noise even breaking into their own beings, or whatever they were. But Lexia didn't know what to do. Even with her hand against the wall, with nothing to use as a grounding point like she did with Sly, there was no way that she could aim her abilities at those things! Even if they were incredibly close to the pair, there was just no way for her to hit them...

Use it.

Lexia suddenly wrapped her arms around Sly, dragging him down onto the ground. Using herself as a partial shield from what was to come, she refused to let him go so easily. That was when the area around her suddenly became warmer. In mere moments for while the two beings were stunned, flames erupted around the pair of them, bathing the grounds and air of the passage. The two clockwork beings were caught in the fire, caught within them via the tunnel that trapped them. It didn't take long for their gears to melt, become useless and falter under the heat. They collapsed into the water in a mess of steel, Sly's weapons already having fallen in there and being saved from being melted from the temperatures that this so freely gave out.

A few moments after the sounds of those creatures crashing into the flowing river, Lexia's flames petered out and died. Releasing Sly from her grip, she gave him a grin before falling back on her haunches. After a few moments of catching her own breath back, she shot Sly a glare. "I... hate you." She declared, more out of pain than anything else as her ears still rung from the noises. However, she couldn't tell if she said those words or shouted them at him...

Oh well.

Her head hurt. As such, she groaned quietly and hung it, raising a hand to rub against her temples.

That did not work as he had intended. The combined sound, instead of distorting the cries of the creatures, only seemed to reinforce it. Even with him tossing the sonifier, the scraping noise it made seemed to be the last straw for her. Oozing from her form, translucent hue of orange and red seeped like smoke from her skin, a sight that froze him. I̧̨͜n̡͡sa͏͝ņ̸͜i̧͡t͢͜ý. Or Destruction. Sly slowly backed from her. At this point he expected her to have lunged at the creatures, to destroy them while the sonifier rippled with its shrilling tone. He assumed he had triggered Destruction to stir from her, and with that, she would turn once more. Sly shifted his legs about, but arms idle on either side. He had no more weapons on him, saved for the jamming orb. Unless he could jam Destruction from progressing, he was helpless, and could only watch.

She turned to him. He half expected the wide and hysterical grin of that creature. But it looked, at a glimpse, she was in full control before she jumped on him. His heart leapt to his ribs the moment he touched the ground again, the hard stones slamming into his rump and sending a sharp pulse up his spine and into his head. She pinned him to the ground. Then, out of the blue, a sudden thunderous roar bellowed somewhere and the entire ceiling lit up in the same colours of fire. Sly stiffened, eyes widened. Flares curl all over their form, choking every little space like a river of lava, whirling and spreading out apart. He was certain to be lying in the midst of an explosion, yet not a single lick of flame touched him.

He waited for the flames to cease. Then all that could be heard was the waters trickling down the stream through the trench. Once Lexia was off him, the first thing he felt was the sudden heat wave blasting into his eyes and tingling against his skin. The fire was gone just as it appeared, and the walls were only slightly blackened. As for the clockwork creatures. They ceased to be, melted parts sizzling as they collapsed and travelled with the water. Seemed the R20 survived, gleaming from within the water, but the dagger, which had skittered onto the ledge, had turned into nothing but a hardened puddle of iron and steel.

Sly slowly got up, groaning from the heavy landing on his haunches. My...apologies, he said. At least the heat had somewhat dried some of his clothes. He leaned down on the edge and reached for the R20 in the cool water, turning off the sonifier before pulling it out. There was another howl. One that sounded like that of a whale's call, some distance away. It came from somewhere further down. Those flames. What was that? Sly asked Lexia, offering her hand to pull her up. As she spoke, assuming she took it, he would walk slowly through the passageway, which would then take a right turn, revealing a circular arena engraved and filled with small water trenches to create a symbol. One lone blue clockwork orb would be waiting at the centre, in front of a metal gate that was closed for years.

"I.. It's something that Destruction has been teaching... Me how to use, but it's exhausting... I can't ever seem to use abilities for a while afterwards. It basically releases intense flames to knock back and melt flimsy metals." Lexia gave a bitter laugh at the statement, hand clasping Sly's as he hoisted her to her feet. She took a few rather small steps forward to catch herself from the pull, however, something surprised her. Despite her rather sudden and harsh words against him, Sly's hand refused to move from her own, holding fast. He began to walk forward, gently tugging her arm so she would fall in line next to him as the pair walked. There was always so much walking involved with these ruins, it was always a wonder as to how the people who dwelled there previously tended to these things. One wrong move or one wrong step meant that there was only the jaws of death waiting to scoop them up and crunch them in defeat.

At that thought, her heart skipped a beat, her form shifting closer to Sly's own as she entwined her fingers with his own hand. She casually twisted her arm around his own, locking them together for a few moments, resting her head against his shoulder. She'd longed to do this for what seemed to be months, but there was never a time where they were still. Where they hadn't been fighting. Where it was just the two of them relaxing. Not even when they were lost and travelling home- a path that almost killed her. But it was that moment that she knew what she felt now was true. However. She'd never admit it. She'd never admit how it felt to have her arms around his, feel his callused hand beneath her own soft skin. Even if his sleeve was damp, it didn't matter to her as she knew only parts of her clothing were dry from the flames that she summoned earlier. "I'm sorry if I scared you before, it's just... That's just a side effect of using that ability. It's like trying to summon a dozen lanced all around me and force them to actually explode all at once. To me, it's a little draining but I do what I can... I'm... Sorry that you thought Destruction was going to show themselves again, I could see the fear in your eyes... Just please, Sly trust me.. We won't hurt you or let anything else hurt you. Not willingly."

Thinking of her own weapons for a few moments, she glanced over her shoulder and back towards the ground where the rest of her javelins laid. Nope. They were just a mangled mess of metals. Great. Weaponless and not having the ability to use her flames. What could possibly go wrong?

The passageway suddenly took a sharp right, and not even a dozen paces forward, it opened up into a closed arena. Marble walls and pillars, surrounding a paved circular floor. In the very center of this paved circle, which was around 60ft in its diameter, stood a small pillar, around 5 feet from the ground by 2 feet wide. Nestled in its center was a mechanical orb, a glow of blue coming from its center. As the two entered the room, Lexia carefully broke away the contact with Sly, her sight finally returning to normal from the use of that blasted sonifier. She'd be useless for a few posts and she let his hand go, allowing Sly to go further into the room without her. As Sly did so, the orb cracked a few times, the familiar sounds of whirring gears coming forth as the metal itself came to life once more.

In a matter of moments, it would be clear to the pair of them that this being was the guardian of those gates behind it, an unspoken tragedy that was left in the dark.

The form of what it opened up into took the form of a black and blue mechanical fox, which stood tall and proud upon the pillar. For its tail, long mechanical fin-like appendages were made, each one thin and tapered towards the end of their length. However, they were incredibly long, flexible beyond imagination. From its neck stood spikes, however, they were currently down beside it, but that wasn't what Lexia froze about. The way it stood, the formation of the plating that formed over its body and covered all of its internal gears. The oddness of the paws and the sleek nature of the animal. The angry gleam of determination in those crimson eyes. She couldn't deny it. Especially with the way the large fox-like clockwork beast jumped down from the pillar in a graceful and elegant manner.

Lexia collapsed to her knees, mumbling the creatures name as she rose her hands, covering her mouth and nose as she wept. Her sapphire eyes stared straight at the clockwork creation both in disbelief and in sorrow.

It was identical to Nithya, and it recognised both of them.

The clockwork creation stood a little taller than what it had Lexia last remembered its height to be. The fox stood just underneath 3/4 of Lexia's own height, maw partially opening as a metallic snarl came from it. Hackles rose, the spikes either side of its neck partially extending as it stalked forward. With a speed that exceeded the other clockwork creations, the same speed as its smaller form once gave to it, the fox dashed forward with its serrated teeth barred in anger. It seemed to be aiming for Sly's left leg, the clockwork Nithya went to snap its jaws shut against them, eyes gleaming red with the fury it felt inside.

However, with its body armoured the way it was, there was no was which Sly's rapier would be able to pry through the metal pieces and strike the internal gears. He would need another means of disabling this clockwork creation. It was also only through the misery and seeming betrayal of Lexia would either of them be able to find the weakness to the armour.

He hauled her up to her feet, then held her steady. As she explained the fires before, it somewhat filled him with worry. Not because of the strong connection between her and Destruction, but that the cost of using such ability had exhausted her from fighting. But for how long, he knew not. They barely descended the three floors and already she was forced to use such attack. It mayhap been his fault for chiming the R20 with false hope that it would nullify the creatures' cries. Sly squeezed the grip on of the R20, his nose crinkling at the scent of the burned stone, the foul stench of their smoke mildly filling the corridors. Knowing what they contained, it would be folly to rest in here, and so he pushed forward. Slowly.

Sly blushed as she rested on his shoulder, their hands still locked against one another and arms curled on opposite sides. Her touch was warm, delicate and soft. Like a blanket of sorts, the tender contact making him wish to stay like this which she obliged. Not the best of time to be bonding, but regardless, the tightness in his chest loosened, and he felt a lot lighter on his shoulders. He smiled to her, holding her a little closer, their shoulders almost rubbing against one another. An ephemeral moment he wished would last a bit longer, but was over just as quickly as it started once they suddenly turned the corner.

Before he could respond to her, his eyes widened in awe at the place. A circular room, lined with pillars extending to the engraved ceiling, and the floor filled with water trenches circling and bridging to one another, forming a strange symbol that filled this place. In the eye of it, stood a pedestal. And on it, a familiar looking clockwork orb.

Sly exhaled after a deep breath. It was obvious what he had to do, but at least it was only just the one. Yet the blue coloration compared to the dull bronze and metallic of their former assailants was what concerned him a little. Giving Lexia a reassuring look and a nod, he slowly broke from their embrace, and Sly slowly marched forward. He drew the R20 out of its sheath, but kept the sonifier off. He had done enough hurt on Lexia because of it. Assuming his pose, he slowly stepped forward, even as the orb finally clicked and snapped open. His heart raced, shifting his legs for a better position, his R20 still pointed to the orb as it further opened itself and shifted.

After what was like five minutes of anticipation, the finer details finally coming together, Sly froze, and at that moment, wished he had not waited. The steady grip trembled, and the blade lowered a bit.

Nithya.

An echoing thud drew his glimpse to the back. He turned his head slightly, a new weight on his chest as he heard Lexia sob. She knew as well. Sly quickly turned back to him, the metallic snarl and the piercing red eyes an intimidating combination that offered him no moment of distraction. But just as he did, in a mere blink, it flashed passed Sly's blade, slipped under him, and fangs wide open to take his leg.

Sly jumped, then force himself to collapse to the side, the moment he realised how high his heart had leapt into his throat. His hands splashed into one of the trenches, the waters pattering against his chin and almost took away his sight. Amidst desperation, he retaliated. The blade's tip chimed over the blue plates of Nithya's shoulder, a few sparks staining its otherwise magnificent body, before the clockwork foenix skid past him.

Damn! Sly hissed, quickly rolling and launching himself back onto his feet. The thought of fighting an enemy quickly dissipated when he stared into Nithya's eyes once again. And instead, the sorrowing thought of fighting a long lost friend haunted his mind. This was Lexia's companion. A foenix that was with her - with them - when they were at the major portion of this very same ruins. But he suddenly disappeared. Presumed dead. Only to return here? Enthralled to Zen? No longer living, but a machine? Sly gritted his teeth, yet could not muster anything in him for determination to send the blade straight into the gears compartments. He uttered another sigh, yet kept himself aware and ready to respond, not going to fall for another surprise attack like that. Nithya, he said under his breath, what the hell has happened to you?

No...

Her sapphire eyes followed the steel in horror as it snapped against Sly- only for him to jump out of the way. The metallic plating followed through, form landing heavily where the man formerly stood. Anger burned through its eyes as those crimson things returned to looking to Sly. Even though the person spoke, the hackles rose further, the spikes pushing forward to stand even more erect, their dangerous tips something that anyone with their right mind would avoid. Gears whirred as it took a step forward, but it's form not towards Sly. It didn't draw closer to Sly. But to Lexia.

The red eyes gleamed, but the female didn't move. Her memories drawn to the past, to the fateful accident which the two had. She remembered holding the ebony fur, desperately trying to fix the burns in his side. But they had been too deep. Pierced too many organs. Cut his blood flow. Caused his death.

"Nithya... I'm so sorry."

The fangs opened once more, the foenix stalking towards her, those razor blades teeth shining in the low light of the flickering torches. Oh dear it was her FAULT that this had happened. She didn't even move when it leaped towards her once more. Her left arm bent, shoving her forearm deep in-

NO!

Destruction forced itself through, grabbing a hold of Lexia's arm before she did something incredibly stupid. Destruction twisted the arm, using it to hit Nithya across the side of the animals head. Steel jaws missed by mere inches, and Lexia forced herself to her feet, knees slightly bent as it glared at Nithya. The steel being, rather confused at the sudden aggression that Lexia showed, snarled lowly, slowly circling both Sly and Lexia as the former backed away to be just behind Sly. "Nithya is a complicated story. However, if you remember that time where I vanished for several days when a mission went south..."

Nithya heard those words, a snarl coming from its maw as the foenix suddenly launched itself upwards. Steel wings spread out from its back, for several moments, it hovered there, out of each of both Sly and Lexia. But its armour was still present there, blocking anything from coming into internal gears. Slowly, blue light slowly began to build against its wings. "It was then that it happened. We were overwhelmed with numbers, I pinned, but Nithya could squeeze through small and narrow pathways, which he did. He did that and lessened the numbers while I took them out from afar. There were only a few left by the time we'd finished- but when I went throw that spear to take out a damn gunman, that was when the accident happened."

Nithya howled, before beating its wings several times. Blue energy flared forward, seven pairs that crisscrossed around them, three pairs directly towards the two of them and the remaining four around them to where they would dodge. With a grunt, Lexia grabbed Sly's arm and, having seen a safe spot, between the two blades, she hid him there. She held him down, close to the ground, just as the blue beams screeched overhead. She winced from the noise, the shrillness from the sound ending suddenly as they cleaved through the rocks around them, leaving giant gouges through the formerly marbled ground. Metallic gears whirred as Nithya had also dived down for the few moments that they were blinded- but Lexia was already moving. Using her elbow, she cracked it against the side of Nithya's head once more, using her other hand to shove the sharp wings over her head and away from cleaving it off.

The clockwork foenix yowled for a moment as it was thrown off balance, crashing straight back into the ground.

Taking the chance, Lexia sighed once more. "It was during that time that Nithya and I had attacked the same person... Right at the same time. But my weapon was faced towards Nithya's back, where it sheered through him and into the person beneath him. And... he... didn't even die instantly." Destruction finished the story for him, before allowing Lexia control once again, biting her lip firmly as the foenix forced itself to its feet, charging it's wings once more for a volley of energy to throw towards the pair.

"It's armour would be weak where I struck it..." Lexia mumbled helplessly, resisting the urge to bury her face in her hands once more.

And that was when Nithya released several more pairs of those destructive energy waves, directly at Lexia and Sly. However, in the same moments it did so, its maw opened in a howl of anger, revealing its inner clockwork mechanisms through its maw to Sly.

He looked the part, legs apart, eyes fixated to the red glows of Nithya's eyes, and grip steady on the R20. But truthfully, had the foenix lunged once more and test him, he would have collapsed with a feeble excuse of a defence with a sloppy retaliation. Even his skin failed to hide the deep tremors, rippling with uncertainty from his mind. This was not Nithya. But merely a mechanical replica. He should know that. Yet there was something that was ringing from within that what he was facing was... different. As if this served a vessel for the fallen foenix's spirit. His mind was only but a constant battle. It was worse when he turned to Lexia, the horror and grief in her expression seemingly ringing former dark memories. Perhaps those last fleeting moments before the foenix parted from her arms.

Sly was somewhat ready for it to attack again. Yet, Nithya decided to turn to Lexia, the same fierce and rage glinting within his eyes. Just like any wild foenix. Lex! Move! He yelled to her, just before sprinting after the foenix. Nithya pounced, just as Sly reached arm's length, but Lexia hardly moved an inch. Instead, she raised her arm to it in an instinctive block. LEX!

Her eyes flashed, then with her other hand, grabbed hold of her extended forearm and... punched Nithya aside. Awkward style of defence, but the highly agile movement was a telltale sign that Destruction seized control of her once again. A gruelling thought, but one he was thankful of. Sly slowly inched closer to her, as Nithya circled them, blade pointing to the foenix once he crossed to his side of the circle. Lex... er... Destruction... now is not the time! He said, right after Nithya threatened them with a metallic snarl. Sly angled the blade for defence when Nithya pounced. Metallic projections sprouted from its back, and shielded Sly from the light above. A stiffening sight. Wings? They started to glow blue.

After realising, Destruction was in the middle of a story. Sly backed until his spine was against Lexia. Knowing Destruction would not stop, he acquiesced and listened. Nithya died during an accident while Destruction was trying to help Lex. It was what he summarised. He would have listened for more, especially the nature of the accident, until the beating wings above took his attention. Warmth snared his arm and yanked him to the side, almost drawing his shoulder out of its socket, away from the whistling blue light that seared off a few strands of his hair. The blue room spun about, stilling when he collapsed onto the ground, pinned under Lexia. Or Destruction. Surrounding them, the stones sizzled and groaned, leaving behind charred gorges, some already being filled by the water trenches as what was an elegant symbol from above was quickly tarnished by an act of a few seconds.

Sly gasped, Nithya descending quickly upon them. An arm slam against it, Destruction moving with a well-practiced fluid motion, like it was pre-determined. Nithya yelped, a similar one of a wounded dog or wolf, before skidding across the ground and away from them. Like nothing happened, Destruction calmly resumed the story. Even at the end of it, he remained silent. It only need to be spoken once how Nithya died, but...

Before anything, Lexia regained control, before pointing out a pierced plate on Nithya's side. It was still a rather small wound, bit he could see the many gears spinning and ticking within, permeating a strong blue glow. Like it was coming from something important. It was only for a moment, before Nithya turned at angle where it hid, to charge his wings again. Sly seized Lexia's arm and yanked her out to the side, away from the volley of ethereal beams. Knowing the arc which they could reach, some of them was heading right where he was going. Blade in one hand, he spun the grip into a reverse grip and showed the flat side against Nithya. Several beams bounced off against it, the impact forcing him to stop to maintain his balance, gliding across the floor.

Thanks, Lex, Sly said , placing a hand on her shoulder. Then he glared back at Nithya, eyeing at the series of gears within his maw, a careful hand reaching for the mass still in his pocket, his mind meanwhile estimating the distance. Let me handle the rest. His feet slid a little towards Nithya. Then a bit more. Until he broke into a dash, charging at Nithya, his R20 out and scraping along the ground. When he was about halfway, his finger flicked the switch of the Sonifier, a piercing hum rising in pitch echoing into his ears and Nithya, but not as severe towards Lexia from that distance.

Should Nithya be stunned from this, Sly would flick the blade up and lunge towards the maw, his body extending outwards with the giant step, covering a huge distance in a blink. In his other hand, something glinted. Regardless of how his initial attack went, the momentum would carry his body forward into a spin over to Nithya's right. Suppressing a roar in his clenched teeth, his other hand fought against the raging wind. Spinning his leg around, he would slam that hand into the gap which Lexia created, and pull his hand away. To reveal the orb which she gave him, lodged deep into the gap.

Lexia withheld her own cry of pain as she felt Sly almost wrench her shoulder out of place from the sudden jerk. Stumbling forward, she instantly fell down to her knees, flames finally beginning to flicker at her fingertips once more before they were quelled by the stone beneath her. She glanced up, ignoring the flaring pain in her palms from numerous scratches across them. Sly still stood, turning his back to her and presenting the flat side of his blade to Nithya. They slammed into it, forcing him backwards, but otherwise rebounded and carved into the floor, tearing it further apart. Quickly, she shoved herself to her feet and stood, admittedly shakily, and moved to face the metallic being again, but...

How could she kill Nithya, it was her own fault that he'd died, how could she do it again?

The answer came to her as Sly's hand rested against her shoulder. His words settled over her like water, quenching the fear that she felt towards even harming Nithya. Crystal tears trailed down her cheeks as she nodded to what he said.

Nithya's maw continued to be pulled int a snarl, his paws taking him forward towards the pair once more. Folding his wings back down, they almost covered the injury through his chest. Claws tore through the floors as it continued to stalk forward, eyes fixated on the two. But that was when the sad excuse for a man decided that he was going to dare to stand against him once more. It was because of him that Nithya even was put into this grave in the first place, if Lexia hadn't been so hasty to get back to the base...

It's maw opened up into another roar, but before anything else, the man flicked the sonifier against the ground. It heard Lexia's curse as she rose her hand to block the ear closest to the sound out of her own nerves of it sheering through her mind again. However if she had just left it alone, she would have seen that it wouldn't have impacted her as much as she actually remembered. But still, she did it through habit more than anything else. Out of habit, Nithya yowled slightly, pulling away from the sudden noise. That was when Sly dashed forward. But the creature couldn't do anything about it.

Something was lodged within its side. From the outside, it would have appeared as simply trickling mercury dropping from the wound. Inside, the rogue pieces of the orb crumpled and tore into pieces. With a howl of pain, the pieces ground into its gears, pushing and driving themselves in between the clockwork within. The metallic being snarled, growling lowly as it threw its wings open to try and catch Sly across the chest with the razor sharp edge of its wings.

"SLY! Look out!"

Lexia's gaze had never left the two of them, her flames flared in her hand once more as she threw it forward. Fire slammed into the wing, pushing it backwards as the flames flared into nothing after deflecting the blow from Sly. The metal body twisted awkwardly to face him, a look of fury upon its face as it rose a paw and, quite like that of a bear, used it to slam across Sly's abdomen. Enough to wind and force him back, but no more than that. Straight after finishing the strike, it moved again, teeth aiming to clamp down across him. But before it could even finish that movement the gears inside the metal casing ground to an incredibly abrupt halt. In an instant, the hind quarters collapsed under its own weight, having the internal gears refusing to rotate anymore.

It's jaw moved to snap towards him, but the broken pieces of metal lodged themselves further into vital components of the animal, seizing them and forcing the maw to remain partially open. With an ungraceful series of cracks and over-spinning gears that sounded similar to that of a fan, the metal being collapsed to the ground. The blue light flickered once, the wolf whimpering that its form was partially distorted, refusing to move and flow as it normally did. It dragged its body forward with its front two paws, turning its head accusingly to Lexia. A final snarl came from its maw, before the gleaming red eyes dulled, equal to the soft blue that they would remember.

Lexia, you may not have been able to stop it before, but for the love of yourself and for the love you had towards Nithya... Go.

She chose that moment to stand, quickly making her way over towards the metal being. A whimper came from it as she rose the plated head slightly, moving her forehead down to gently press against the metallic being. Words which would go unspoken for the rest of her days left her lips as she gently rubbed a hand over his ears. A look of peace crossed its face before the blue light from its chest faded, dulling into nothing as did the glow from his eyes. Carefully she placed the head back down on the ground, a shuddering sigh leaving her.

Lexia forced herself to bite down the tears that she felt building in her eyes, forcing herself to her feet as she turned her attention to Sly. Walking over to him, she paused for a few moments, before closing the final distance and throwing her arms around him. Regardless of either of their states, she pulled him forward, her face buried against his chest as her tears of misery flowed freely down her cheeks.

Currently, she really didn't care of her surroundings. That the ground which was cracked had those spiderweb fissures slowly spread across the floor where they stood. The pedestal where Nithya had rested removed itself from where it was, sinking into the ground for another use later on. Soft noises of the hum further fans and the sounds of cascading water broke Lexia out of her own thoughts. Behind her, yet exactly where Sly would be facing, the gateway which Nithya had guarded slowly forced itself open, the rusty gate groaning from age.

Now isn't the time to stop... We're getting close now. Wait...

A thought came to Destruction, before Lexia nodded slightly and pulled herself away from the man, "I'm... sorry, that hurt more than I thought it ever would if I saw him again... But, Sly, may I have a look at your timepiece? Destruction... Knows a way to give it a temporary patch, if you're willing to trust me?" With the back of her sleeve, she cleared her tears away from her red eyes, puffy from her own tears. But there was still a faint determination there, to see this through and to make sure that, maybe, one of their future tasks would be that little bit easier.

Curiosity got the better of him. Like a perfect fit, the orb slammed and clicked into place. It was to jam the area under the wing. Maybe the foreleg as well to grant him the advantage. Little did he suspect it would do more than that. Without any warning, he witnessed the orb crumble. Creases formed, like candy being crushed between teeth, before it shattered into large pieces of shrapnel. Some of it spat outwards like a gunshot. What became of the others stilled his blood. One by one, the gears swallowed and ground against them, the fragments disappearing. The effects, almost instantaneous, with Nithya sounding a metallic growl. Then loomed a row of blades charging into his chest.

Sly braced, pulling his belly back as he immediately jumped back by instinct. A surge of flames shot warmth over his arm. It was not blood. The ball of fire bounced at the wings, and the clockwork beast staggered back. But not before delivering a paw right into him. Sly grunted, his balance thrown back and he stumbled. Staggered. Then his feet gave way and he was on the ground. The beast was already upon him, fangs out to execute him. In desperation he drew his blade in between, with little hope if would do something.

Yet Nithya never made the contact. Instead, it collapsed to the ground, one of its legs awkwardly outstretched and stiff. Sparks and screeching of metal rung in Sly's ear, and he quickly shuffled back from the beast. The sharpnel. Like poison, it seeped all over its body. Not just the legs, but wings and even the jaw. Nithya shook abruptly, its movements slow and shooting more sparks now and then. Something snapped inside, and suddenly the beast dropped. Only its two front legs were fully functional. For now. A slow death for the fallen. In its dying glow, Nithya turned to Lexia instead. The red glow, nothing but hate. Which soon to fade into nothing but the cold and dying blue.

Then it was silent.

The chamber fell into silence, but the trickling water trenches. Lexia was the first to move then, walking to Nithya. The gears groaned, its head craning to see her. Sly immediately hopped onto his feet, blade in hand, ready to make a dash. Yet there was no red in the eyes of Nithya. No tense or swift and practised movements the foenix once had when faced with a foe. It was then that Sly knew that Nithya came to his senses once again. However brief his final moments were with Lexia before his final departure. The scene, of her holding what was once flesh and blood in between her hands, and weeping her final farewell to the calmed beast that finally gave her its pardon. It was one ephemeral moment that would one day leave an everlasting presence in his memories.

Sly stared at what remained of Nithya with a heavy heart. Never had he got to be there in his final moments, nor saw his real body before his passing. But the scraps of metal that imitated him would have to suffice. Lexia's looming shadow snapped him from his silent mourn, as she marched closer. He was a loyal companion to the last, and in the end, fought with his heart and- she was suddenly over him, her arms wrapped around him in the warm embrace. A well-welcomed moment to thaw the ice of their grievance. Sly dropped the R20 to return her hold. Tightly this time. How their hearts were close that the connection of her emotions to him was strong, that he sensed her sorrow. He... at the very least... finally found peace.

Almost quickly she pulled from him, another look of resolve among her tears glittering past. He should not be surprised at this point, if Destruction was also guiding her beyond Sly's ears. But her next request made him frown a bit. He slowly gave her his timepiece. Even though it was useless in combat at this point, it was still imprinted in him that he was giving away his own strength. He had to constantly remind himself that his strength was already taken anyways, but even so, it was still a priceless treasure. The only thing that kept him from refusing the request of Destruction, was that Lexia trusted it. But a 'temporary patch' all the more sound intriguing enough. If Nithya gave them this much trouble, who knows what the further Guardians, or even this water spirit, were capable of? He would need any help he could get.

Here. He pulled the device, the faint and irregular ticking still echoing behind the casing, and dropped it onto her palm. Sly then noticed the gate had sprung open, leading to yet another spiralling staircase descending further down. A hand was to his chin, and he pondered about the temple. The stones told him it existed long before any of them set foot upon the world. Yet here they were, just barely out of a fight with Nithya, whose spirit was somehow entrapped in this temple to become its guardian. His rage was not of torment or pain, but it was sincere and directed at Lexia. He must had become a guardian willingly. But why?

Sly had many theories, but nothing stood out to the others. Sure enough, this temple held many secrets. They had to continue to find them out, yet if the temple guardians were like Nithya, he was more worried with what the rest were like rather than curious. He shook his head. They could not turn back now. Not if Horus' last wishes were to be fulfilled.

The timepiece felt heavy in Lexia's palm. She took a few steps away from Sly, Destruction guiding her movements. With ease Lexia quickly opened it, her hand moving with surprising dexterity as its very essence was provided to her. Multiple gears all turned, the sheer volume of stored pieces through its internal mechanisms enough to blind any normal human. For a few moments, she idly wondered why Sly always fiddled with it when it almost had nothing stored inside. Almost nothing at least. Magic bloomed and faded as the gears continued to turn, parts of the plating lighting up in deep symbols which one two beings would read.

And Destruction was one of those two.

Her eyes glanced over the deeply engraved magical based creations, knowing the deep connection woven through time and space needed to create this. "Something only you could create... But without me, the cycle would never cease, and without me... Some of these wouldn't know how to kill." Lexia's voice said quietly, almost a silent whisper against the quiet surroundings. She hummed quietly, the spinning gears slowing as she ran a single finger over the cogs slowly rotating and pressing against her finger in response to her pressure. Nemesis. Always a fighter. The second was gentler, and she gave a small smile. She'd recognise Mirage anywhere and the very touch of that gear made Lexia's spirit settle once more. Pulse was the next she found, but a small frown creased on her forehead. Why was Apothesis attached to...

Destruction gave a small laugh, ignoring the fact that a small, cool breeze was pushing against her skin, causing it to crawl from the lower passages. The lair certainly went deeper, through the almost burning gates, but she didn't mind it and paid it no attention. "I can swap a few gears... Use Apothesis... To bridge these two..." Destruction said, causing Lexia to refocus on her task at hand. With ease, she took the few pieces out, the magic gushing out as she took each out. Surrounding her, Destructions power reached out, almost grasping the other magic, its very soul taking to these creatures. For a split second, Sly would be able to see the 5 spirits, their true forms, surrounding Lexia- who's form was partially distorted by the form of Destruction, crouched over the timepiece. As the gears moved, the order which the spirits stood faltered a little, dashing backwards and forward, rivalries and partnerships being realigned as Destruction corrected them.

"One final time... Before the final piece waits to greet you." She said gently, clipping the back once more. Straight away, the magic vanished, sucking back into the timepiece itself as she stood. Nodding, she gave a soft smile to Sly. "One more fight, and then they will need the final spirit to be able to continue and walk forward once more in unison." Lexia shyly looked away, biting her lip a little. "S-Sorry, I'm not insane, I just know..."

With a mumble, she quickly stood and dropped the timepiece into Sly's hand, which was a little warm, as if the life within had been given a second chance. Even though her eyes were a little puffy from her tears, she began to make her way towards the twisting staircase. However, something was strange, the cold was quickly replaced by heat as the pair descended the stone stairs, but Destruction became on edge. Something was off. Horrible evilly off. A sense of dread filled the pair, as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs. The room was strange, several bridges leading to a central area. This specific area became another pillar which lead directly downwards. But instead of having the blue of Nithya's arena, a dark, mystical red came in its place. The whole section was something which her being didn't recognise. It was new.

Almost newer than Nithya.

Waters ran under the bridges connecting towards the pillar, small blue forms surfacing every now and then. However, coiling around the centre of the room was something which coiled, its tail wrapped down and around the base of the pillar, wriggling and moving as it continued to move, its fangs shining as new as it looked at the pair, its red eyes locking onto them.

But that didn't scare Lexia or Destruction as much as the form which stood beside it.

Something. Someone. Which neither knew...

He bit the bottom of his lip, watching as she clicked open the device. Although her brief moment of marvel was rather pleasing, she would only need her ears to hear how distorted the rhythm of each tick was, as well as several grinds of half-damaged gears over one another. To him, it sounded like a broken grandfather's clock, with irregular and noisy windings like the timepiece had came from a haunted mansion. What Lex said afterwards did not make any sense to him. Or rather, what Destruction said. He shook it off as Destruction monologuing something philosophical to itself, then he stiffened when Lexia placed her hand into it.

His boot almost left the floor in a step towards her, but he eventually kept still. The timepiece was a very unique device, its gears and structures fitted in such a way that worked differently to any standard timepiece. Not even Sly knew fully well how they work in resonance with one another - otherwise he would have fixed the device a long time ago. He trusted Destruction knew what it was doing with it. He could see it in her eyes. Not a single twitch of uncertainty or too much curiosity, like a craftsman he had built this model a hundred times already. Then he started to feel nervous again. Spilling from the device, were several ethereal beings. The Spirits of the timepiece. Except they were fragmented like shattered glass. Like a broken mosaic depicting what was meant to be a complete picture of several animals. They all surrounded Lexia. In the centre of it all... was Destruction.

Sly gritted his teeth, memories of ruined Xanistristan flashing into his mind. The time when what was before him, was named I̧̨͜n̡͡sa͏͝ņ̸͜i̧͡t͢͜ý. Much like the menacing beast it once was, Destruction stood in the centre, almost towering over the other spirits. Like they were cutouts of some children's book, the Spirits slide left and right, circling Lexia as she moved the delicate pieces about. Then, they were all drawn back into the timepiece. He frowned a bit at Lexia, knowing it was her as she approached him with the altered device. His hand reached out like a cup, underneath the timepiece, as she dropped it to him. One more fight? Sly said, almost in a whisper but loud enough for the two to hear. He gave the device a little squeeze.

Yes, he could feel the Spirits inside beckoning to him. But it was faint. And still as fragile as they were fragments. There was truth in what Lexia said, as he could feel the gears ticking. Working in some way, but highly unstable. Like if he pulled the gear out, it would break again. If he could only use each Spirit once, then it would be a huge pain. Then again, he learned to fight without having to rely on it anymore. You have my thanks. Sly said, just before she disappeared behind the stairs. Quickly he followed her.

The stairs lead them almost an entire floor down, before it emerged into the familiar looking main room. A look up and the two would see the previous bridges that they crossed, now several distances above them. The rushing waters continued to roar, as the falls still covered the walls of this room. Before them, were eight bridges, all linking at equal angles from the walls to the centre, where a pillar sat. Coils of black, gold and red whirled about it, leading to a hood at the summit, and a pair of red eyes from the cobra that glared at them.

Hovering above it, on radiant feathered wings, was a large and slim bird. Its red tail wavered in the air like a ribbon in the air, and its crest a line of yellow bristle-like feathers. The creature looked at the two with white glowing eyes, the beating wings loud over the waterfall. Sly looked carefully at the gold patterns on its belly. They looked too familiar...

Another whale-like cry from below shock him from his thoughts. The phoenix sounded its cry as well. Sly immediately flinched and covered his ears, the cry spearing into his ears and almost making him fall to his knees. It was much worse than an R20 at its greatest vibration. Several clockwork sentries burst from the waterfall as large balls, landing on the bridges with a loud and trembling thud, before opening themselves to reveal five falcons. Then, the centre cobra hissed sharply, its protrusions around the hood unfurling suddenly like a frilled neck lizard. Except instead of frills, they were fiery feathers. The phoenix burst into a jet of flames, descending and crashing through the bridge which Sly and Lex were standing on, before making a circle back up and behind the snake, and disappearing into the room behind it.

The falcons flew a little higher, before closing their wings to their bodies and spinning in the air towards the two, dropping like rockets. If any of them try to dodge, they would destroy what was left of the bridge, pushing the two back unless they hopped to another bridge nearby. Jump! Sly called, pushing his heel off the edge of the bridge and extending his hand to the adjacent one, not too far away. At the same time, the cobra's mouth started to glow and, with a jerk forward with its head, shot a stream of piercing flames at Sly's direction, aiming at where he would be hanging as he caught the edge of the other bridge.

The shrill cry that left the phoenix's cry left its mouth, Lexia felt her stomach flip, her mind ringing almost uncontrollably from the intense and grating noise. Her mind almost wanted to implode, the noise causing Destruction itself to howl in her head. Her vision went white as she fell to her knees, hands slamming into either side of her head to try and block her ears. The motion didn't even help her to dull the sound. However, as vision slowly returned to her, a small movement caught her eyes as something broke through the surface of the roaring liquid, almost what seemed like a dozen objects leaving the surface of the crystal waters. But they were only five, and rather quickly, they opened up into bird-like forms.

And that's when she realised her mistake.

Orange seared through the sky and, quickly, Lexia tried to stand and at least roll out of the road. However, being a little stunned and slow, she felt its flame dig into her arm, a sharp cry leaving her mouth. Her hand had raised, touching the burned skin for a moment, before she realised that the falcons were dropping down onto the bridge. She was idly aware that Sly was already moving, but she'd seen the movement of the snake. Sly had been distracted, and she couldn't... Her hand moved, accepting her fate. Instantly, her lance came to her with Destructions call, her hand clasping around the intense flames. Timing it to perfection, Lexia spun it in an arc around her, the first movement carving one of the diving falcons in half and she released it straight after.

The timing and precision was impeccable

The shot from the cobra was deflected by Lexia's spear several moments before it would have been too late. Desperately, she took a few steps forward, gaining ground towards the bridge. But the bodies of the falcons slammed into the stonework, shattering it moments before she was able to kick off from it. She stumbled as it shattered into pieces underneath her feet, a panicked cry leaving her lips before she fell through the air and into the icy cold waters. She was thrown into the raging streams, her head surfacing for mere moments to gasp for air before she was pulled back into their depths. Water rushed into her lungs, filling them as she tried to splutter and cough, find her way free from the position she was in.

Something hard smacked into the back of her shoulder, and almost by instinct, she grabbed a hold of it. Her fingers slipped, slashed by the stonework, but she held with the tips, firmly holding against the torrent of water as she pulled herself up. Glancing to her left, she realised that she'd been thrown quite far, three bridges away from Sly as she tried to haul herself up to the base of it, climbing up a small, make-shift staircase with the poorly made bridge. But her eyes tried to find the falcons, trying to judge just where they were going. But considering her right arm was half mauled by injuries, she didn't think she would be much help..

The urgency of water in her lungs suddenly came back to her, and she partially doubled over, spluttering and coughing up what seemed like litres of water from her, Destruction too disorientated to be of any use or help to her.

Although, it was during this time that she realised that she was on the same side as the weird golden feathered creation, and she glanced up to it to try and get a better view while her arm throbbed in agony.

He flinched at the sound of a sharp clang, like two blades clashing right at his ear. A sear of flames heated his cheek, following the light that partially blinded him. The cobra. It spat a shot towards him. He knew because the faint flame trails from its head to Sly was still present for a second. And Lexia, her lance was drawn, and she just finished cleaving one of the falcons. The falcon howled a hollow cry, in sync with the sound of electricity and metallic cracks, its form spliced in half before the red light in its eyes faded. As it collapsed to the ground and dimmed, anyone could see that above all that flash of red and yellow, it was just like any other sentries they faced. Silver and copper like.

Sly groaned, heaving himself up and resting his elbows on the edge of the bridge. Lexia dashed towards him, but before she could jump, the other falcons had landed, crashing and splitting the old bridge into pieces. Lex! Sly called, immediately reaching his hand for her. His finger barely grazed hers, and she slipped and descended into the water. No! It took all his willpower to restrain himself from jumping after her. The rushing water was too strong, he could fall unconscious and drop all the way to the bottom. Drown, if not crushed. A bit of relief came to when he saw the black strands of her hair, and she held onto one of the lower bridges.

The cobra hissed again. Sly flinched, his head only nmere inches away from the impact, which flashed into his eye for a split second with a loud clang. Quickly coming to, he was met with a circle of charred bricks, and a deep indentation like a rapier had pierced through it. Sly immediately hauled himself onto the bridge, and rolled away from one of the falcons as it came whizzing by and crashing into the bridge. On his feet and huffing, he ran to the other side of the bridge and lept off, as the other falcons followed and crashed into the bridge that he just left. It still stood, but with a gap somewhere along its path.

There were no bridges on this side he could clung onto. Heart racing, he fumbled for the grip on the R20, and immediately stabbed it onto the edge of the bridge. Then he looked at the snake, preparing its next strike on its only target that it could reach, while the falcons circled back and two of them headed for Sly, the other two, attempting to charge into Lex. Sly waited for the cobra to rear, before kicking himself off the bridge with his weapon in hand, and heading for another just adjacent to where Lex was, landing right on the bricks. The rather large drop sent stinging waves all over his leg, and he hissed at the slight cramps and tension his bones endured, stammering a bit as he stood himself back up.

Readying his blade, he waited for the two falcons to make their charge. Narrowly he sidestepped one, its sharp wings fluttering and cutting a thin layer of skin from his cheek, then immediately sent his blade forward and impaled the second. Sly cried in pain afterwards, dropping the blade with the falcon skewered through, and gripped his sword arm. He thought he felt something snap in it from sheer force of impact with that sentry...

She didn't hear him over the gushing waters, which crashed against the stone just underneath her fingertips. Lexia was close to death in a way, the raging waters really should have torn her down, crushed her in their black and icy depths. But they didn't. A small 'you're welcome' came to her mind as she gave a small smile. Of course Destruction had a small hand in that and preventing such things from happening. With a quick glance, she noticed the fact that Sly had continued to run down the bridges, leaping off to the one closer to her. However, the Falcons were still after him. Glancing at her mauled right hand as blood flowed from it, Lexia quickly came to terms with what she would need to do.

Throwing aside all her doubts and fears, she quickly stood, her lance flaring to life within her grasp. Almost snarling herself, Lexias blue eyes narrowed, "You darn birds, if you really want to get a piece of us, why not just come closer!" She scolded, watching the two gleaming silver birds twist and begin an arc down towards her. With the flick of her wrist as well as taking a few steps forward, she brought her lance to meet the victims. But only one saw the death waiting for it as the flames cleaved it in two, the other lived. Lexia wasn't able to adjust her own lance quick enough, the pain flaring from her arm and slightly from her damaged side screaming at her to take it easy.

And she chose the worst time to do that.

The birds wing came down, slamming against her shoulder and slicing it deeply. Muscle was sliced, rendering her right arm completely useless. With her own cry of pain, she dropped the weapon down to the ground, doubling over as her left hand rose to clasp at the freely flowing blood which poured from her wound. It ached. It burned. The pain was excruciating, like nothing she had ever felt before. That wasn't what scared her the most though. Through her anger, she could feel Destruction almost begging to take over, and for a few moments...

It did.

Moving quickly, she regained the lance in her left hand, moments before it otherwise would have erupted into small explosions and potentially caused more harm than good. With a small grunt of effort, Destruction pulled their hand back to throw the lance towards the other bird which decided to try and attack. However, Sly's anguished cry broke through her ears and her head snapped towards the sound. He was in trouble. With a small grit of her teeth, Destruction returned their attention to the other flying falcon and the cobra. Their eyes didn't seem to be facing towards Lexia, and as such, she repositioned her left hand around the spear and cast it forward- trying to predict where the cobra would appear once more so that the flaming weapon would silence it's cries once and for all.

She took a few steps back, before giving a small run up as she jumped into the air, landing on the same bridge as Sly. Quickly she made her way towards him, fingers ready to call and act if another spear was needed. Instantly, Lexia threw her left arm around him for a few moments before she stood in front of him, swallowing heavily.

"Are you alright?" She asked, her eyes keenly searching through the skies to try and find where that other darn bird went as Destruction began to almost instruct her as to how to investigate Sly's arm and why she should. But her priority was more to kill the final falcon...

Kill it and then help Sly.

The pain dwindled for a bit, and he could breathe calmly and deeply. His arm had numbed, though he feared what would happen if he tried to move it. A tightness in his stomach almost made him double over. then it felt like his arm was turned to stone. He slowly clenched his fist, then winced a little. Pain shot from somewhere around his forearm, but not severe. Then Lexia appeared before him with a hand on his shoulder.

I'm fine, Sly said, grabbing the R20 in his right hand, and letting his wounded left flop to the ground. He almost dropped it from that deep cut on her shoulder. Immediately he was going to reach for his medical kit, but the pain stopped him. Lex, your shoulder! He then swung around to look at his surroundings. There was just the one falcon left. The one Lex killed was split in two and had collapsed onto the bridge. The cobra itself was still alive, but the right portion of its hood was destroyed, like someone shot a gun through it. As the other falcon made its second pass, the cobra repositioned around the pillar, until it was facing the two, and its maw started to glow again.

Sly hissed between his teeth, his mind wandering to the device in his pocket. He did not really want to use it now, especially if they had to fight the large creature further on in this temple. And with Lex this close to him, he did not want to turn on the sonifier of the R20, even if it would allow him to cleave through the falcon more easily. Even then, Lexia was able to ignore the pain from her flailing limb, and she had a spear ready in hand.

The cobra struck first, firing a shot towards Lexia this time, while the falcon made another charge towards Sly. Instead of opting to stab through the sentry like the one before, he sidestepped the falcon, blade angled in a way to intercept and deflect the clockwork bird from slashing its wings at his neck. His wrist twisted a bit awkwardly, and, with a sudden grunt, dropped the blade. He quickly picked the blade up, then stiffened. Looking up, right in front of him, was a set of worn out stairs ascending the room. This way! He made a run for the bridge. There was a set of stairs, circling around the room, just before the waterfall, towards the pillar and therefore to the next room above. Bits of moss and fuana had grown all over the eroding bridge, the railings also fallen off. Nothing would stop Sly from slipping off the edge if his boots slid over the wet and smooth stones. He lost most of his speed on each turn, before climbing the steps, an eye on both the falcon and the cobra, as they both suddenly switched targets.

Sly immediately leapt behind one of the bridge supports and ducked, the shot from the cobra easily piercing through and splitting it, sending chunks of brick to rain around him. The bridge above groaned a little, but he immediately started running.

The falcon meanwhile, attempted to strike Lex a few seconds after the cobra fired its first shot towards her, attempting to capitalise striking her while she was recovering, its wings aiming at her torso.

Lexia was almost able Tom crack a strained smile as she saw Sly make a slight move towards the medkit. She was about to protest, only to hear a slight sound, the flapping of wings. She turned in time to see the glint of silver but before she even had time to react to the potentially lethal blow, Sly was already moving towards it. His blade came up, striking the falcon in a diagonal fashion and he partially thrust the blade to the side. With a frustrated shriek, the falcon was deflected as it curled its wings, ducking beneath a nearby bridge and losing sight of the pair.

Upon Slys call to move, Lexia gave a small nod, her left hand raising to cover over her right shoulder, arm limp as she followed him. Blood pooled and trickled overnight and around her fingers, staining her clothing in crimson as she followed him as quickly as she could. That was until Destructions voice came to her once more, advising against going near the mossy staircase, but the being was also distracted, as if trying to figure something else out. Ignoring the being warning, she continued forward, the sound of the rushing waters around them also dulling out easy to hear sounds. And that would be Lex's downfall. The faint whine came to her too late, before a release of energy sounded.

The bridge support exploded in front of Lexia, showering her clothing with stones and fragments of bluestone. Cuts and slashes appeared over her face and exposed arms, a cry of warning and pain leaving her lips as she stumbled backwards. Thanks to the slippery surface of the staircase, her right foot lost traction, causing her to fall the same way that the blast sent her. The falcon came down, wings primed to strike at her chest.

LIKE HELL IM LETTING US DIE TO SOMETHING AS PATHETIC AS THIS!!

Destruction took over Lexia's frozen body, the being calling upon the lances once more. Her hand clasped over the handle, curling around it and holding the weapon fast. It rose it up to meet the falcon, the metallic creature quickly and easily being burned by it. Her mind almost became like jelly as she felt Destructions movements take over, the sole purpose not to kill, but to save her. In all honesty, it was a rather odd feeling for her.

Destruction turned itself, the lance coming down in a diagonal sweep, carving deep into a section below the staircase. Sly would be able to reach her as her left hand released the weapon in the same motion, bringing it up to cast it forward towards to cobra. Her hand then curled around, jarring itself against the stonework as she held onto it. Her side cracked against the stone beneath, her form wanting to vomit from the feelings of such drastic changes in both momentum and pain origins. The cobra would be struck by the lance, severing the head from its body and rendering the creature useless. After several long moments, it would release where it was curled and fall into the roaring waters beneath them.

However, Lexia's hand held fast, reaching high over her head as she downright refused to fall into the ocean below as her feet madly tried to find purchase against the wall. She knew that he could reach her but... doing so... how was he going to know she was there?

"Sly! Help me!" Lexia begged over the sounds of the rushing waters, her voice replicating the fear that she felt. And her and fear... that was a rare combination for her to display. After all... If she let go, the only place she would be going would be down into the depths of the cave. And to her own death.

The rock she held groaned, cracking and beginning to give way under her weight. A few more seconds would see it freed, and Lexia would plunge into the darkness below.

When the dust settled, he immediately returned to climbing the stairs, a bit faster this time. He could hear his breath above the roaring waters, and his eyes too focused on trying not to slip off. If the cobra had decided to attack him next, he feared he would most certainly be hit. He just needed to get up to the platform, just before the entrance. There, at least he would be on level ground with the cobra and kill it.

Though just as he had made it, with a flask of blue and black, Lexia appeared. The falcon she struck shrieked, arching its body as it reduced to cinder, and the molten pieces that remained clanged uselessly onto the floor. A javelin shot up, right before the cobra, and pierced through its hood. Without even a sound, its head had lobbed off, and the gears in between detached and fell, after being severed from what's controlling them. Good. At least they were done with this room.

But, where was Lexia?

Sly quickly ran to the edge of the platform, where he last saw her popped out to throw the lance. His heart stiffened. She was there, holding onto just a bit of brick sticking out of the bridge's platform. She called out to him, her fingers visibly trembling and losing grip. Lex! Hold on, I'm coming! He screamed, immediately going back to the flight of stairs. In his haste, his boots immediately slipped and the steps came crashing into his head. His ears rung, as he rolled down the steps for a bit. Then he had rolled off its edge. If only for a moment, before his back came on something hard and he immediately stopped moving.

Groaning, he forced himself up. He wanted to scream, the waves of throbbing pain from his back piercing every limb and trying to hold on him down. Lex was in trouble. He could not afford to stay. He was at least on a bridge almost at her level, and he just needed to-

No, he couldn't even use his timepiece for that.

Sly stopped right at the edge of the bridge he was on. What was separating him from Lex was a steep drop, well past his jumping distance. Heart ramming against his chest, Sly looked around. For something. Anything. Desperately, he clutched onto his timepiece and tried to concentrate. It was no use, like wire had been severed. He could not connect with the timepiece. Come on! He hissed in his mind, trying again.

The R20. It was all he had.

Sly grabbed the weapon with his good arm. It was unfortunate he was really left-handed, and that arm was already injured. He grabbed it by the handle and, staring at the wall right below Lex, quickly aimed and tossed the R20 forward like a javelin. Only Lexia was ever good at this. His R20 did land with the blade into the wall, but it was a bit too shallow for his liking. But it would have to do.

[colo=green]Lex! Try and land on the rapier.[/color] It was all he could do for her, and he hoped it was enough to save her from the rushing waters below.

Slys voice reached her ears, and she glanced across to him. The shimmer of silver came from in his hand, his blade very obvious despite her precarious situation. Her fingers strained as she held frantically onto the rock, feeling it slip away from its place. In only a few moments, it was going to give way. But what was she going to do as soon as that rock let go? She was painfully aware of the steep drop beneath her, the raging torrents of water cascading down around them. Lexia gritted her teeth a little, feeling them grind firmly as her feet refused to find viable areas to support her weight. Rocks and stones fell free as her feet kicked at the support, trying desperately to find purchase against the walls.

Something thudded lightly against the rocks beneath her.

Her grip lost itself just as she heard Slys instructions.

He wanted her to try and land on the tiny little sliver of steel- it was barely into the brickwork! But it didn't seem much of a choice, and as such, she tried to do as he said. Her right foot caught the blade, her left hitting it near the wall. For a few moments, barely the blink of an eye, it held her. She glanced up ahead of her. Right into Slys eyes. She wasn't going to make that jump. A look of regret and almost an apologetic tone overcame her face, right as the rapier began to slip free. She bent over, her fingers just managing to clasp the handle as she, while starting to tumble forward, threw the rapier back over to Sly.

Lexia didn't know if it made it or not. She didn't know if he had the sword, his only weapon back, or not. All the woman knew was that she was falling, tumbling through the air. It whipped at her face, tore against her clothing. She fell through the air like a stone, rushing, falling. It was an odd sensation, one which even had Destruction unable to answer them. But the pair didn't know any way out aside from the cold waters. Her hand moved, summoning and clasping around her familiar, blazing lariat forming beneath her fingers. It stayed with her, lighting the way, helping her stabilise her fall as she prepared herself for something she really didn't want to do. Pointing it down, as far as she could reach, she felt the tip of it break through the icy cold waters.

But right as she thought it couldn't get any worse, she felt her legs plunge into it, quickly followed by the rest of her body. The water dropped her temperature drastically, the freezing liquid throwing her around like she was in an underwater slide. The current of the waters threw her to and fro, left and right, tossing and turning her form. Unwillingly, her lance had gotten hooked in a rock as she was being thrown around, tearing out of her grip and instantly dying to the crushing waters. The angry course of the waterfalls and rivers seemed to go on for hours, but in reality, it was perhaps only a minute, before the woman was thrown out from the deadly torrents of water.

Her form crashed down against the tiled ground, lungs expelling expelling water she didn't even know she inhaled via choking, coughing and spluttering. She dragged air into her being via ragged gasps, her form shivering, shaking, freezing cold. How she was alive, she wouldn't know. And neither did Destruction.

Heads up, Lexia...

The voice seemed just as worn out as she did, the weakened woman slowly raised her gaze. Another area, like where she had found the Nithya look alike, a paved arena of sorts, cracks of red running through their surfaces and illuminating the ground in their darkness. The room was a stepping stone of sorts for the cascading rivers, having all congregated here before branching off to circle the deeper cities once more. She was just lucky it threw her out instead of dragging her down into its icy claws. Blackened stones lined the area in the forms of walls, arching high over her to be lost in the darkness above. Down here, the only light that was present was given as a gift by those cracks and glowing red crystals planted around the area, lighting it up completely. On the opposite side of where she was was another staircase that spiralled high into the air. The way down...

However, that wasn't what Destruction was warning her about.

Still laid sprawled on her belly, her clothing torn and shredded by the vicious waters, her head tilted back. Her arms moved over her head, pushing against the ground to prop herself up slightly. Perched on a pillar, right in the centre of the room as if it were waiting for them... was... something strange.

A clockwork creation, radiating a crimson red, with the formation of a bird. It's eyes were on her, but she didn't have the strength to even try and force herself to stand. Instead, her head lulled again, still taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart.

At least the clockwork being had the decency not to attack her, simply watching her with a close eye.

She landed true upon the R20, but the weapon groaned and budged, caving to the weight as it slowly slid out. He dashed to the edge of the bridge and extended his hands out. Jump! I will catch you, Sly screamed above the waterfall. Then a sense of dread gripped him. The gap was still far too wide. He did all he could, and that thought made him want to scream out in frustration. They should have thought this through with a plan. And because of his oversight, he let her throw her life like that, and now look where they are. If anything, his mind hoped that Destruction would do something at this point. Make a leap of faith. Give her wings. Anything.

The blade almost slipped through and, through her movements, she... tossed the weapon towards him? His heart froze at that moment, the roaring waters going into deaf ears as he watched her plummeted into the pit. No! His voice cracked as he fell to his knees, watching as she disappeared further from him. Like a ragdoll, at the mercy of the rapids. And then she was gone. Sly stared at the waterfall a long while, the stampede that uncaringly drag anything in its path down into the depths. He then dropped back onto his haunches, his breath rapid and hoarse. Hands shaking, he cupped them over his head, and gripped a handful of hair. Eyes starting to sting, he felt something snapped. And the next moment, the temple boomed as he bellowed into the air.

He wished it was all a dream. One stupid dream. Why did he bring her into this? Was it all for just this stupid timepiece? It was suppose to be his only burden. He should have been firm and not let her come. Not ever. He groveled, slamming his head into the ground. Growling, and cursing at himself, he slammed his fists. Damn it... damn it all! Tears rained onto the bridge, as if it could not get any more wet, as he continued to whimper. If only for a while.

There was no point. No point staying here crying about anything. He was taught that, but still his heart was heavy. Like a faulty machine, he forced himself onto his feet. With barely anything behind them, like a mindless zombie, he proceeded further into the temple, heading down the steps. Albeit slowly. He didn't care about safety or fear of slipping. Nothing matters to him now. Since he was this deep into the temple, may as well finish it for the sake of it. Even if all he had was this stupid rapier.

Lexia. His mind continued to race with memories of her. From the moment they met, down to this very moment. The last look in her eyes before she fell into the darkness. Things he should have done, and things he could have done poured only regret into him.  Everything they did together only led them to this moment. And all he could think about now was figuring who was to blame. Him for letting her come? Or Destruction for throwing away her life like that. His heart finally soared, but not out of acceptance or peace. Rather out of anger.

It was getting dark, the grand chamber finally losing the light from above, and instead lit by the red crystals embedded upon the walls. Even the walls themselves were black, like they were charred or turned into obsidian. There was something below, a larger crystal of sorts glowing from the centre. The humming cries of the other creature was even further below, and he knew he was not even close to it. Taking further steps down and closer to this crystal, he quickly realised it was actually metallic. Another clockwork mechanism of sorts. He squinted, until he could make out a perching and sleeping bird of some kind. Kind of reminding him of a phoenix.

The moment his boot found the grand platform, it flicked open its white eyes, staring directly at Sly. A brief look around but he could not make out anything in this dimly lit room. This must be another one of those greater sentries like Nithya. Sly drew his rapier, almost in a weary and half-hearted manner and pointed the rapier towards the phoenix, flicking on the sonifier. With a high-pitched whir, the blade started to vibrate. As if to respond to that, the phoenix, unfurled its greater wings and screeched towards him. Compared to its smaller body, the wings were almost its size, vibrant with red, gold and white feathers. Some parts of its face flowed. Markings, curling around the phoenix's cheeks.

They looked far too familiar to Sly. Then he stiffened, almost letting go of his weapon. No... he said quietly. In a blink, the creature was already at arm's length to Sly. Reacting purely by instincts, Sly flicked the rapier up to a desperate guard, the blade meeting some part of the phoenix, but inadequate. Like someone scratched his face with razors, his face stung. Hard. Enough to make him grunt and flinch down, his other hand reaching to a pair of deep gashes over his cheek, extending across to the bridge of his nose and almost ending at his opposite eye.

He flicked what was probably blood from that hand as the phoenix elegantly, almost without movement, soared and made a well-practised turn around the arena to face Sly again. It did not charge forward this time, beating its wings as it looked down upon him. What the phoenix had so much pride and belief in, more than anything, who in the end turned into a disappointment.

Master Horus...

And the phoenix screeched to its name.

It hurt... Everything hurt. The world soon became clouded, her eyes drooping from the sheer exhaustion which seemed to settle against her form. The dull light wouldn't reflect her form, couldn't make her known. The cold waters simply lapped against her as she slowly dragged herself to the surface of it. With a pained groan, she rolled onto the ground, gasping and groaning as the numerous cuts and bloodied areas of her body made their forms known. Agony shot through her. Her world went dark. A blissful silence. Darkness. Something which was once so foreign to her and something which she didn't want to be near was now something that she adored and treasured.

The screen cut through the air, piercing their souls.

Her eyes cracked open, the darkness around her dispelling like the fog before the afternoon sun.

The phoenix's 'eyes' hardened, staring down at what would only be the one thing he had hope in. But no. Time after time, this one which he raised treated his teachings as if they were nothing; forgetting what he had been taught. Anger burned deep in its eyes, the wings lightly beating in the air to keep it in such a flight-like state. "I raised you better than this, Sly." He declared, his voice surprisingly accurate despite the creature being made from what would only appear to be clockwork and steel. The wings curled down against its side again, diving down against his former pupil. "You're nothing but a disappointment!" The voice tore against the winds, shrill and angry in its tone as he brought his claws up, aiming to slice deep into his shoulder.

She stood, the blood from her numerous cuts dripping down her form; the cut over her eye causing that very same lifeblood to curl down her face.

The phoenix beat down its wings, thrusting itself back into the air, only to do a second dive right away, regardless of how Sly would try and react. Its steel plating was incredibly thick; no steel would be able to break through it. "You lost my estate," Master Horus declared, the claws aiming to slice against Sly's chest. At the same time, its right wing came across, aimed at Sly's abdomen, "You destroyed my final keepsake that I entrusted to you," the wings threw him back once more, the motion thrusting him around and behind Sly. That was when he twisted into a vicious and surprisingly fast strike against Sly's back with his claws. Anger. Disappointment. The feelings would seem to overflow from the beast, the claws glowing a slight red from his own empowerment upon them. After the strikes, the phoenix would pull itself up and away from Sly, lingering in the air over him for a few moments, before it would dive down once more, the deadly, metallic claws shining in the light as he would aim to gouge out Sly's eyes from his face.

"And you couldn't even save the girl you loved; do you not remember anything I taught you!"

But the strike wouldn't connect.


Out of thin air, her form would appear in front of Sly, her back towards him. He'd see the agonizing black and purple bruises mattered over her form like a horrid paintwork, red from her cuts lacing through them. Tattered clothing barely clinging to her frame over her legs and arms, gashes from the waterfall marking what was responsible for the damage. The air around them came to light, the flaming red arc was already primed, like she had seen this coming a thousand times before. The flickering lance cut through the air; slamming into the phoenix's wing. The jarring in Lexia's shoulder caused her other hand to come over her form; left hand grabbing the fires of her lance to redirect the bird as the right took the blow. With a grand, surprised cry, the blow landed true and sent it off course. The bladed tips sheered into the rock walls over Sly's head and to his left, the creation giving a mechanical shriek as it threw itself back away from the wall with its dangerously sharp claws. A snarl on her face, she would continue her own assault and throw the lance forward, aimed to slam into its wing once more and cripple it further.

Lexia's form turned, her eyes wide as she would try and curl her hand around Sly's wrist and pull him back towards her. If he would let her do this, she would pull him through the spacial fold that she'd created, pulling him to the side and onto her own as she quickly lowered him to the ground to rest against a pillar which would hide him from Horus's sight. Her left, burned hand came up, placing itself lightly against his face. "Shh, it's me, it's me, I'm alive, it's alright... I... It takes more than water to quench the fires burning in me." She said, her voice betraying her, croaked and exhausted, her magic coming to curl around Sly's wound, healing his sliced skin over his face. "Just rest, my dear... That bastard is mine." Lexia said, giving him an exhausted smile, but he would see the absolute fury that burned in her eyes, almost to the point of being in turmoil from seeing that former 'master' berating him like he was nothing. He would know there was nothing he could do to stop her as she stepped back through the fold she had made, her smirk wide on her face as the phoenix turned to face her, the fold evening itself out once more.

"I'm not some girl that you should push under the rug. If you want him, you're going to have to go through me, pretty boy. Listen, I can handle you leaving me in the water and leaving me alone. I can handle that, but as soon as you touch him... As soon as you insult him... As soon as his mentor, his MASTER berates him, as soon as you CUT HIM. As soon as you LAY A FINGER ON HIM with the intent to HARM HIM." The tone of her voice became angrier with every word, each one amplifying itself against the last as her eyes narrowed, Destruction answered Lexia's calling; claiming the sentence to finish it off on behalf of them both.

"Your very soul is MINE!"

The fury, the sheer intensity of the voice which came from the eternal being caused the room to shake, the anger woven into the voice caused even their skin to slightly change; a blueish hue beginning to over take the natural soft white. Their hand rose, the area in front of it heating up as she began to prepare for her lances and knives once more.. this... This was a challenge the phoenix couldn't afford to shove aside.

Especially when her anger could be considered to rival its own.

---

-Spacial Distortions used; 6 post cooldown!

He slowly turned to face him, the scars flaring and irritating him. Or it was the blood that slowly painted his face like reaching crooked fingers. Sly expected it would be his turn to face his own guilt, as much as Lexia did. He knew who he would meet. And despite how he prepared himself to face his master once again, to see his phoenix form out here once more struck something deeper within him. One that turned his heart cold and weak, and his arms without any fire behind them. Like an army without its leader or a will to fight.

Sly slowly pointed the R20 to Horus, even as he spoke with the familiar soft voice he used to have. But now, harsh like a falcon's gaze as he berated him. He thought back to Nithya, but when the two fought, the foenix said no word. But every strike resonated with anger. Sly would be a fool to think he knew how Lexia earned Nithya's forgiveness, but to earn Horus'...

As the phoenix soared down again, his gold and red wings cutting through the air in a display of trailing lights, he spoke again. Voice akin to before, even as he was on the attack. Sly held his breath and intercepted the blow with the rapier, deflecting the claws from him. The blade chimed a high note, vibrating and screeching against his ears as the sonifier rippled the absorbed energy all over the rapier. Sly grunted, taking a step back from the impact and away from Horus as he soared overhead again.

Horus' voice echoed from behind him almost immediately. Instantly Sly spun around, blade across his chest to block. It found the claws. The force shoved the blade into his ribcage, the vibrations cutting across his clothing and searing over his skin. Before he could retaliate, Horus' wing found his belly and sliced a clean cut. Sly groaned, spinning away to let Horus through. Then his legs wobbled, and he stumbled a few steps back. Slightly doubling over, he placed a hand over his belly. There was only a little blood, the wound being no deeper than a slash from a knife.

A sharp pain coursed through his back, and Sly screamed. He swung the R20 around in a large slash as he turned to face Horus again, his claws now dripping in blood, glowing like lava behind whatever enchantment within them. His blade had missed, and he staggered from the momentum, until his knees struck the cold brick below him. His upper body was about to go next. Quickly, fighting off the pain, he stabbed the R20 into the ground before him, the vibrations diminishing as it easily cut through the brick. Almost halfway. Until it stilled. Sly clutched the handle with both hands, huffing for air. In this pose, it looked like he was in a praying position, begging for forgiveness, and he slowly looked up to the one who would pass judgement.

It is all over... anyways, he panted, watching as Horus made his decent towards him. Do away with me... what you will. Sly looked into Horus' eyes. The anger. And the pain that fueled it beneath. He knew of all his past failures, ever since Horus had departed. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, he could not protect all he held dear. Like he was far too dependent on Horus. Sly rested his head against the rapier, wondering if this is what Horus was really thinking, or what he will think if he really is here. He gritted his teeth, eyes starting to sting as tears trickled and followed the gash marks, drawing blood down his cheeks with it. How could he even think about drawing his blade against Horus? How could he hope to continue his legacy? How could he even think of moving on? I'm... sorry...

Then there was darkness.

A voice spoke from the depths, no, right in front of him. A familiar scream. Sly flashed his eyes open, and saw Lexia standing right before him. Right in the path of Horus. In her grip were the flaming spears, which she launched right into Horus, knocking him aside. The phoenix, screeched into his ears as he soared by and pass them, before another lance struck the back of him. Horus landed against the wall with his claws and rebounded himself off to soar around them. Lex-? A grunt cut him off, his shoulders burning as he tried to stand, and he fell back onto his knees. Something warm wrapped over his hand and dragged him up. Sly suppressed his cries, hissing between his teeth as he let her drag him up onto his feet and he ran towards where she wanted him to go.

It was like only a few steps before they were right up against the pillar. Strange. Sly vaguely recalled it was some distance away, but that was unimportant. He looked up wearily into Lex's eyes, like he was moments away from unconsciousness, as she held onto him and let him look into her eyes. She is alive. Sly smiled a little. That was a relief, but how much damage to her body she sustained could not be masked by her words. She was in no condition to fight herself, especially if she used her magic to heal him.

When she said she was going to fight Horus, Sly stiffened. He tried to force himself off, but the pain had worn him already, and he collapsed back against the pillar.

--

Horus watched on as the two reached towards the fallen pillar, their conversation muffled behind the rushing waters surrounding them. So she is still alive. Even if she wasn't, it did not matter to him. His target was his butler. Until the woman approached the centre of the arena, speaking out against him. Horus remained quiet and unfazed by her words, even if they were to sound distorted in the end. Destruction. Zen warned him of this god. And it seemed it has re-awaken within its host. Horus chuckled, looking down at the woman. Fair lady. You should never be in a place as dangerous as here. I am... disappointed he let you come. He turned his gaze to Sly for a moment. Though I am bound to guard this place, my purpose is clear. I will not strike what is not mine to kill, especially if she is a woman. However... Upon speaking the last word, his wings flared a brighter color and emitted a dense aura around it, akin to it being on fire. The red crystals flared, brightening the entire underground arena in a hue of red and fire as even the water seemed to glow with blood. You who host the harbinger of death! How many innocent men and women did it stole? How much have suffered in the aftermath? He soared a little higher before descending rapidly towards Lexia, a lot faster than before. My apologies madam, but this beast I cannot allow to live another moment!

If Lexia decided to launch any of the spears of knives at Horus, he would evade them rather effortlessly without losing speed towards his dive towards her. And when he got close enough, he would use his empowered claws to stab for her chest, aiming particularly at her heart. Anything she tried to block him with, his claws would land, the fire having no effect on him, and he would clench and crush her weapons in two.

It didn't matter what those fires would do to this body. The damage was already done. Their skin rippled, fury flowing through their mind, the image of Sly's battered body burning deep into her. Her beloved Sly, the one that tore her out of the watery grave. The one who picked the shards of her soul up and fused them into being once more. The one that stood firmly over her, protecting her with everything that he had. Her face took a dark expression, eyes hardening as she looked to the phoenix.

"You're wrong, Horus." She said, a small smile pulling against the hazed skin, shifting it more towards the blue. Her hair mimicked that of Horus's appearance, flaring slightly to orange and then back to black. Anger coursed through their form, their focus purely on the imbecile before her. The one that dared to try and touch the one that they held so closely to their heart. "Everything you said... To bring Sly to misery. That won't work on us!" Even though the phoenix began its ascent, they decided not to make an attack. They knew what would happen if the spirit trapped within those mechanical parts didn't hear what they had to say about him. About the one that saved them.

She took a shuddering sigh, feeling angry tears building in her eyes as she stared down the beast. Her pale lips parted, her voice crying out.

"It was my fault! The Timepiece, your sole surviving trinket, your legacy... I broke it, I allowed myself to buckle under the I̧̨͜n̡͡sa͏͝ņ̸͜i̧͡t͢͜ý boiling inside of me. It wasn't Sly's fault. It wasn't his fault, he didn't mean for it to break! We did it, that's why we are here, guiding the one that saved us... The one that gave his very life to help us." The phoenix turned towards them, the intent to kill over its clockwork face. Calming their rapid pulse, but allowing the delicious anger and fury to burn further into their core, their hand rose, an accusing finger pointing towards them. "HE saved me, Horus. The one you raised, the one that you took in and looked after, the one that you had so much faith in... He took one look at me and brought me under his wing. I haven't left his side since he saved me from my drinking habits. Although my liver is shot, although I cannot have a single glass of alcohol more without perishing, Sly, your son, he saved me from myself..." It was hard, they wanted to take a step forward, tear that mechanical bird to pieces... But they couldn't... If they did, then this whole mission to put Horus's soul to rest would be in vain. But at the same time, oh they wanted to TEAR him apart!

The phoenix turned, diving straight towards her. It was a sure kill shot, and they knew that. Watching him come closer, eyes narrowing once more, the last words she needed would leave her lips.

"You might think that he's a failure, that he's lost everything... But he's done more for me than I even wish to admit! He is the person I love with every shred of my existence... And... I am so sorry, but... Our journey will not end here!" Their body twisted, slashing through the fabric over her chest. The empowered claws tore chunks away from their chest, the metal sheering flesh from bone in the deep gouge. Her form bent over backwards, her face contorting from overwhelming emotions. Fury, pain, anguish, desperation flowed through them as they screamed in pain.

Inwardly, Lexia could have sworn that she was going to die. At the same time, she felt another answer open to her. Something that she never thought would happen, like Destructions arms had come around her. An unearthly cry left her form, her soul eager to relent and bind to the orange flares of Destruction. In the same moment a bright light like a sun exploded through the room. Her hand twisted, slamming straight through the wing of Horus, destroying inner mechanisms. Her orange hair flared behind them, her skin blue and engraved in various markings. The shredded clothing lay before her, rags in comparison to her larger form. "Rest, Horus, you grieved man... Know that Sly is more of a treasure to me than you give him credit for." Lexia spoke, the experience entirely foreign as Destructions voice coming forth instead of her own.

She removed the hand, before slowly standing back at a normal angle. Her hand rose, clutching the wound to her chest. Bright blood flowed over her hand as she collapsed to her knees, her breath coming to her in pained gasps. It hurt. Everything hurt. Movement was an enemy. Blood didn't stop pouring from the wound. Destruction called upon exactly what she was thinking of; a flaming lance, before twisting it and dabbing lightly at the wound. A snarl left her, feeling the wound seal a little, but they gave a cry of agony as the flames licked at the bone. Letting the lance go, they slammed their fist against the stonework beneath them.

Pain.

Agony.

Something moved to their right.

In a display of speed unparalleled by most, the monster twisted herself as the fingers once more curled around the lance. With a brilliant flash of light, she turned to throw the lance directly towards what she had seen. A figure. Movement by a pillar. Although, she would aim too high, missing them by several feet as she collapsed against her side, snarling quietly at her side as the movement ruptured the scab over it. Or, more accurately, the melted flesh.

"Holy fuck I am not doing that again..." She groaned, voice distorted as she rose a hand to press against the bloodied side. It hurt more than she could have imagined, flesh almost cleaved from bone. Although, she did her best to ignore it as her head turned a little, glancing towards the metal of Horus.

She was just hoping that monster was dead.

Although, her heart skipped a beat.

What happened to Sly?

He tightened his grip on the R20, the blade trembling against the wet stone. As he did, the wounds stirred and forced him back on the ground. It was sharper than before, almost cutting through his throat as a loud grunt. His hands turned cold. He couldn't feel it brushing over the rough surface. Sly predicted he would lose consciousness if he continued. Yet how could he just sit there?

Alas, before him Horus took flight. His words were muffled, like it was coming from the next room. And he saw the mechanical phoenix dash towards her. Yet, Lexia stood her ground. She did not flee, neither did she brace herself. Instead, there was just a smirk. Before a sudden flash of orange, as if a latent volcano erupted. She spoke up against Horus in the midst of their battle. Her voice, calm, yet the message projected like a thunderclap.

Sly's heart settled to a soothing rest. His form frozen, as he looked to Lexia. Her words cut through to the phoenix, regardless if he heard her or not. How she blamed herself at first, of all the unfortunate events that gripped them by their necks. Then a new light on her words. Sly leaned his back carefully against the pillar, hearing her speak of how he saved her. How in the end, he gave her what he thought was the will to live. His mind pondered, a bit too long on that, before a sudden chime of metal slicing echoed the chamber.

He flashed his eyes open, heart to his throat, and gasped. Horus. He was right over her shoulders, his wing right in the path through her chest, and casting into the sky a splatter of blood. Lex! Sly kicked himself off the pillar, before a sudden weight collapse onto his back. His legs gave way and, with a heavy grunt, he collapsed onto the ground. Through his pain, he looked up. Right into her face, the light in her eye fading as it come by him. His heart tightened, a whimper coming out of his mouth. He watched her fall slowly, like time itself mourning her eventual passing. A mockery, like it was about to rewind back. He wished it would. He wished this was all a dream. How could he-?

Wait. Her eyes flashed again, like life's candle rekindled. A scream hurled out from her. It was not of pain. It was not even human. Then everything burned orange. Sly turned away, covering his eyes. It almost seared into his eyes, and he recoiled as much as he could, trying to shield them. Another sound flooded the room, but it was hard to distinguish what it was. He tried to force his eyes open. For a split second. He saw it. A large claw coming out of a silhouette. And another, split in two pieces. Something clattered across next to him, too metallic to be hers. Then that entity spoke, a voice Sly was far too familiar with.

Destruction. No, that was Lexia. He knew it was her. The glow finally faded, and the chamber back to one lit dimly by the red crystals. Sly looked forward first. There she was, but badly hurt. Her and slowly reaching to her chest, dripping copious amounts of what he assumed to be blood. Shit! Sly grunted, slowly pulling his legs close.

Flames suddenly flickered from her. Sly looked, and froze, as a lance soared above his head and right into the pillar. Right where he would be, had he not move prior. As he turned to look at it, exploding against what was left of the pillar, he looked at Horus. Or what was left of him. His voice was gone. Instead, it was the weak shrills of the phoenix, slowly raising itself in vain. It's wing, severed, bleeding out the gears and broken pieces that made it.

Her familiar voice called. One that warmed him finally. Sly gritted his teeth, forcing himself up onto his feet, wobbling a little until he pierced the R20 into the ground as a makeshift cane. Lex... Sly called, staggering and stumbling onto his knees, right before her. He fell on some of her ripped clothing, still tortured by the wounds on his back. And now, his stomach wanted to turn. The room started to spin. He felt he would throw up if he was forced to stand up again. ... are you... feeling alright?

The phoenix hissed gently, collapsing onto the ground some distance away. Sly carefully turned his head to him. Horus shouldn't be able to fight without his wing. As he prepared to face the worst, he stiffened. Horus' eyes glowed the same fiery white. But something about it was different. Even more telling when Horus looked back without so much as to screech or charge at him. He finally found his footing, the metallic talons pressing against the stone, standing like a weary phoenix. Standing.. like Horus.

The bird suddenly lowered his head, until the ribbon-like crest touched the ground. A bow towards him, supported by his remaining wing against the floor. Sly blinked, surprised at first. But remembering his respects, he bowed back. As much as he could. After a moment, Horus' lights flickered, and slowly faded into nothing. The beautiful glow of flame, smouldered to revealing what it still really was, as the broken phoenix structure remained still, in its bowing stance.

Sly forced himself onto his feet again, fighting off the dizziness, and, gently, draped an arm around her. They both looked like a complete wreck of their former selves, but at least they had survived. And from her moment, he remembered all those times they fought. Side by side. Dragging one another through whatever mess they were in, with whatever hand Fate dealt them. Lex... I... His eyes started to sting, as he took more effort to force the next words out. I'm so glad... you're okay. He let a moment of silence through, tears trickling down and onto her exposed shoulder. He really thought he lost her. That moment before and now. When he recovered enough strength in his legs to stand on his own, he dropped the R20, and wrapped his other hand around to the back of her head, holding her close to him in a warmer embrace over the amount of blood they lost. Please, don't... don't scare me like that again. I don't want to lose you. I- Sly grunted, a wound on his back flaring out again, but not as severe. I want us to get out of here alive. Back to our guild. Back to we enjoyed. I can't lose you Lex. You're all I have. His voice cracked, and he sniffed lightly. S-So... don't you dare die on me! I love you. He held her a bit more tightly. At this point, he just let his tears fall the rest of the way out, almost whimpering with every breath. Then he spoke the next words softly to her ear, I love you.