Of Darkness and Light

[Malakim]

The demon stepped forth from Blackrock Mountain, he had been playing with the orcs and dwarves in there all day. He had been practicing his new skills wrapping the shadows around one dwarf until blood was pouring from every crack in his tiny form, then moving to an orc and ripping different body parts from his form just to use that severed limb to beat the orc until he died. It was a gruesome sight not like the fights that occurred there everyday, this was just sick twisted pleasure.

The demon walked through the Steppes, it had been the week he promised to the mage, and now it was time for his own personal fun to begin. The mage alone hadn't been able to stir the light within him he hadn't been able to pull his brother out. Although there was another fool that lived with this mage, a certain trolless that his other half had once felt so strongly for. More than likely the combination of the two would be useful in achieving the demon's goal. If he was lucky though there might be more people visiting the foolish mage today for him to test out all his power on. Either way he would have what he wanted today.

The demon wasn't entirely sure where the home of this firefly was but he knew a fun way to find out. As he walked through the steppes there were ogres and orcs everywhere some were staring in awe as a random demon was just walking through the Steppes. The demon spawned an idea, since the mage was most likely in a cave along the mountain walls, and what better way to say hello then with some knocking.

The shadows crept up behind some of the orcs he walked by, lifting them into the air and hurling them against the mountainside, each one landing with a scream and an echoing thud. The demon couldn't help but laugh as the orcs sailed through the air, he may have even started a grand new game, orc ball.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin heard the thumping, vaguely. Such impacts really couldn't draw much attention through so much stone.

With a grumble he rolled over and pulled the blankets over his head. Now was time for sleep.

[Malakim]

The demon had walked the length of the mountain range several times now, he was running out of orcs to throw into the walls. Still there was no sign of his adversaries, infuriated the demon screamed out, "Come and face you fools..." That's when his eyes caught sight of it. There wandering around like a lost child was an enormous magma giant. Lava poured from the cracks in it's rock hide as it walked making the ground around it shake as it moved.

The demon rubbed his hands together, "Or perhaps I just haven't been knocking hard enough for them to hear me." Straining the demon moved his hands to command the shadows to envelop the beast, it took a few moments and a good deal of effort from the demon but soon the creature was suspended upon a giant mass of darkness. With great effort the demon threw his hands forward, the shadows mimicked his motion and tossed the great giant forward into the mountains. Instead of bouncing off and screaming like the orcs before him did, this beast crashed through the rock formation shaking the whole area, and creating a rather large hole.

The demon laughed, "That ought to grab their attention."

[Lupen]

Lupen stumbled rode toward the gate of the mountain atop his Dreadsteed, dust kicking behind. Upon a feeling of great power surging nearby, he pulled the reigns tight back. Searching for the power nearby, Lupen came upon its source... A brilliant, destructive Demon of Destruction. The Warlock looked around, dismounted, and waited, nether fires prepared in left hand.

[Malakim]

The demon looked around, smelling the fires that the warlock called forth from the Nether. Staring down at the warlock, the demon's mind shifted from the two he was looking for. His voice echoed throughout the area, "So now little warlock, what are you here for? Are you here to help me or here to hinder me?"

The demon bent down looking at the warlock awaiting his answer.

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva felt Sulajin stir beside her. Taleron, sleeping soundly by her side, didn't make a sound as she turned to her husband and took delight in the sight of him; covers up to his forehead, curled up like a child. Who else had the privilege of seeing the fire mage, like this?

"Slep well, dah'lin'," she whispered, kissing his neck affectionately.

There was a strange thumping, through the stone. Taleron scrunched his tiny eyes and began to cry.

[Sulajin]

It was a jungle. Idylic. The sun was warm, the shade was cool, the cannopy was a labyrinthe of inter connected and intertwining branches. Various insects chirped and buzzed around, feeding on the assorted fruit and plant life, occasionally each other or smaller animals. Khiskiva dozed lightly in the arms of her husband. A little ways away Taberon played with a toad. Life was good.

The dream shattered with the screaming of a child. There was no time to wonder, no time for anything. Sulajin was awake instantly. His family was under attack, his territory was violated.

No time. No time. Throw on the robes, and bolt from the room. Flee the sanctuary to it's defense.

As the mountainside split Sulajin rose from the depths of his home like a beast from hell, not questioning, not stopping, only acting. Before him came a swirling blast of flame, sure to char the flesh from anything before it.

[Malakim]

The demon turned away from the warlock to see the mountain erupt into destruction, "So it would seem, he finally heard me knocking." He saw the massive fireball come his way, though it was thrown with complete reckless abandon and very poor aim. Stepping off to the side a bit he watched it sail by and off into the distance.

Yelling in the direction the mountain split apart at and where the mage surely was the demon said, "Now now firefly is that anyway to treat a guest to your land? I come out here all this way I give you a whole week to get things ready for me and what no party, no ale, and no whores I swear what kind of host are you at all?"

Walking towards the mage the demon could make out cries, he stopped for a moment wondering what could be making that horrid noise so far out here. The light made a quick push to rebel at the demon from the continued wailing, easily suppressing the weak attempt at by his brother. "Oh, is that what you have been doing, she had it did she. This is too perfect I can destroy everything he cares about or could ever care about all in one fell swoop fabulous. Oh, but I am being rude, aren't you going to introduce me to the whole family?"

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Kiwi stirred again, he could feel his master's presence stronger than before, there was something going on, something big and he was going to need help...

The halls of Sanctuary were relatively quiet at the moment, that was until Kiwi decided what he had to do. He was going to find Malakim and he was going to fight with him, the whole way through this time if one was destined to fall today then so would the other. The bird ran through the once quiet halls screeching and yelling for all he was worth. He finally came to the great door that held back the evil of the outside world from the purity of the inner sanctum. There was no way for him to open the door, it was his rock that would not be moved, not easily at least.

Kiwi started slamming his body against the door rattling and clawing at the wood and iron that held it together, the door held strong holding the bird from his goal. Though it would not hold him forever...

[Sulajin]

There was no time for words. Everything was being threatened by this wretched creature. Long enough had it troubled him with petulant talk of challenges. He had no such time now, and that it would stalk him into his home spoke that it was indeed a foolish creature. This was his land. Here he was the master.

Sulajin advanced, the very earth splitting beneath his feet, filling the sky with noxious volcanic fumes. Once more Sulajin struck, another fireball blazing brightly towards the interloper.

[Malakim]

This was great the mage was playing right into the demon's hands, it was true his anger made the mage more powerful, but it also made him more reckless more careless, he would break the mage shatter his wife and destroy the child. It didn't matter anymore to the demon he would crush whatever he was necessary to bring the fight he wanted to the surface.

More fire... does he never learn?

The demon lifted a large shadowy hand into the air commanding the darkness around them to rise up into a large wall in the path of the fireball. It crashed into the darkness with incredible force, even surprising the demon a bit at the power behind it. None the less, the wall held as it was intended to folding in upon the fire, it shattered spreading pieces of the shadows all around, creating small black pools wherever they landed. Each pool in turn rose up as a small demonic creature, slightly larger than an imp. Each creature of darkness jumped at mage, concealing the true purpose of the black shield they spawned from, that the demon had vanished. Although the demon was nowhere to be seen on the new battlefield the cries from within the cave grew louder...

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Kiwi continued his struggle against the door clawing at the wood as if it were his favorite scratching post, and biting at the handles and locks that kept him in. The bird sat back for a moment, wondering if he would be stuck in here while his master fought alone. That's when Kiwi formed as much of a smile as a beak would allow, there was always at least one person around. HE could open the door for the bird. Kiwi bounded up to the easily spooked banker of Sanctuary's room, he let out the loudest screech he possibly could trying to rouse him from his bed.

[Sulajin]

A wall of flame rolling across the landscape made short work of the interlopers. But there was more, the earth itself shook, large boulders falling from the mountainside to crash into the ground. Sulajin roared his defiance, snarling and looking around for his attacker.

[Vilmah]

Elliot Steinburg awoke with a frightened shriek as Kiwi awoke him. Looking at the bird with shock, her thought perhaps he should wake Kalgor and scold him for allowing the bird to make so much noise. With a sigh, he decided it was best to let the boy sleep.

"What is it you want, bird?" He asked Kiwi with a tired smile.

Kiwi led him to the door, and pecked unrelenting at it.

"Oh, right right, you want to go outside, very well then," Elliot said with a yawn. He opened one of the large doors that would allow Kiwi the right to leave. "Be free then, little bird. I'm going back to bed.."

[Malakim]

The demon stepped forth into the cave that Sulajin had emerged from, using his shadow creatures to help mask his entrance, and hopefully keep the mage busy for a little while longer. He was close to what he came for now, he could feel his brother pushing against him as he made his way through the odd home. It wasn't too hard for the demon to find what he wanted, after all he just had to follow the screams.

There across the way he saw what he wanted holding a small child was Khiskiva, he made his way over to her, all the while hearing Malakim scream at him to stop and not to hurt her. The demon let out a slight laugh and said to the trolless, "Hello beautiful."

__________________________________________________ _______


Kiwi finally had his release, he nearly ran over Elliot on his way out the door not stopping for anything, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the zeppelin. He bolted up the ramp to the flight tower faster than he ever had, making several goblins jump out of the way or otherwise position themselves out of the way of the hurried plainstrider. When he finally reached the top of the tower there were no zeppelins left... Typical.

Kiwi squawked at the zeppelin master as if it would hurry the ships along their path and give the bird the passage he needed. He just hoped it wouldn't be too late.

[Lupen]

Lupen stood back and watched the incidents unfold. Should the Demon come close to killing a comrade Troll, Lupen would intervine... Otherwise, it may be worth Lupen's time to find the motives behind this Demon Lord.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin whirled and dashed down the cavern, it had intruded in his layer! As he ran hundreds of small creatures, homunculi, began to drip from the walls. The beings crafted of pure magic were little more than fiercely bladed bodies on stilt like legs. Sulajin led his army of defenders forward.

Between his wife and the demon rose a terrible sound, like a mountain splitting in two as the Grom'ja rose from one of the many spatial rifts in the cavernous layer. It's bulk was just sufficient to fill the entire cavern, and it quickly wedged it's shoulders in, serving as a shield while the flames rushed down towards it.

Around the intruder various sygils began to glow, hidden by an expert hand in the craggy surface of the cavern wall, they now spilt a harsh light, boiling away the substance of the demon.

There was only one choice left. Retreat or die.

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva held Taleron protectively in her arms. She took a step back, the tiny baby crying out, as if he knew that they were both in danger. Khis looked at Mala defiantly, shaking her head at the thought of him entering Sulajin's home.

"What'v ya dwone, Mala?" She asked, both fearful and sorroful of what was soon to happen. She could feel Sulajin's anger through the stone. "He gwonna kill ya, an' der ain' nuttin' ya can dwo ta stop 'em nah!"

[Lupen]

Lupen sat, arms folded, watching the hopeless battle unfold. He could retreat, assuming the Demon and his lessers would not allow him to present himself, or confront the being of Shadow. He would very well allow anyone to die if it impeded the Dread Mage, yet those currently in conflict held a considerable amount of power.

The Warlock stood and allowed his mind to reach that of the Demon, thinking in pure Demonic, sygils and runes appearing as he closed his eyes. "Greetings, my Brother... An interesting situation you have found..."

Lupen stood, his own Demon blood boiling, he waited for a responce.

[Malakim]

The extra voice in his head was something new, it wasn't his brothers nor was it his own... That warlock! He was greeted by two very distinct answers from the mind of the demon, one cocky and destructive voicing an answer, "Oh you just watch what I have planned for this party, though any added distractions would be welcome friend."

The other was calm yet fearful, "You have to help me stop him, he is evil and will destroy everything. I don't know what power I can use to stop him at the moment but I am trying."

The light created by the mage was horrendous it burned into everything the demon was, cracking the shadows that made him what he was. It took immense concentration to hold onto his form as it was, the shadows briefly parted revealing the troll still inside. The agony was unbearable, but he called upon the remaining miniature shadows to help aid him holding up the demon's form long enough for him to slip again into a smaller more flat shadow to ease behind the rock wall.

There he found reprieve in the shadow of the rocks as well as his key, the key to what he really wanted. Khiskiva was there cradling her child, if this didn't bring his brother out he didn't know what would. He was able to gather his strength back up behind the momentary relief of the new darkness maintaining his dark appearance he mocked the trolless, "I will show you what is in your Mala's true nature." The demon raised his hand high above the lowly shaman, striking it down hard upon her face. The shadows parted around his hand again burning into him the promise that his brother had made. Focusing to reform the darkness the troll brought his hand down again, striking out against the promises of his foolish lighter half. Again the shadows parted straining the demon to keep up the form he was now accustomed to.

Maybe his brother was not only weak but a coward, maybe he feared for nothing about the powers he controlled. He raised his hand up again laughing at Khiskiva as he brought his hand down again. However, this time his hand didn't get the chance to strike against her, his hand stopped inches from her face. No matter how much more pressure he threw into it he could not get his hand to move any closer to her. For a moment the briefest of moments the demon could swear he saw the image of his brother holding his hand from moving any further.

"Excellent" he yelled, retracting his hand he smiled at the work he had done against what his brother actually cared about. Drawing upon his remaining power he knew how he could break both his brother and this foolish girl at the same time. "You ready for some real fun girl?" Then the demon made the darkness rise around them all, the child, the shaman, and himself. Moving them all at once outside that blasted cavern of light, and into the open grounds of the Steppes.

Outside the demon struggled to his feet glad to be out of that infernal trapped hell. He created a little throne of darkness for his guests, complete with bindings to hold them in place. "I told you I would let you see what he was really capable of didn't I? well enjoy the show, you better make it a good one brother, I don't want to have to..."

The demon's talk was cut short as his head was thrown back violently, again he could briefly see the image of Malakim. Perfect he would finally have the chance to defeat his brother for the first, and last time.

Whispering out to warlock he mentioned, "You know that mage is a very annoying pain in my side if you wanted to help me out I wouldn't stop you friend."

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After what seemed like an eternity the zeppelin finally came and carried Kiwi across the great sea to where he needed to be. Again the feeling coming from his master was getting stronger and it seemed to be coming from... What was it with Malakim and battles in the Burning Steppes?

There was no easy way to get there he would have to run through all kinds of stupid monsters and Alliance camps to get up there and it would take entirely too long. Unless... the bird chirped at his own great idea. Kiwi walked over near the Wyvern Master and began kicking rocks and dirt up at him, the orc started spewing a great deal of profanities at the bird and eventually took up chase after the plainstrider.

Just as the bird had planned he ran for all he was worth around the zeppelin tower increasing the distance between him and the angry orc. Finally, coming full circle to where he started, staring at a wyvern... an unattended wyvern. This was most likely the dumbest thing Kiwi had ever planned but he was determined to help out. He hopped on the back of the beast wrapping his large legs around it's waist and was soon sky high flying off towards his destiny.

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva strained against the bindings, trying to get to her baby. He was only a few feet from her, but she couldn't stand the sight of his body covered in a shadowy prison. Taleron cried out, his tiny arms reaching for his mother as tears poured from her eyes.

"Mala!" She cried out in Farraki. "Give me back my son! Please!!"

[Sulajin]

Sulajin broke in on them, seeming nothing more than a being of wrath incarnate. Beneath every step the stone boiled and melted, the walls around him dripping in the heat of his rage. He brought with him an army, or so it would seem. They sprung at the demon, blades whirring every which way, a few dashing their companions in the cramped area.

Still the runes were glowing, burning their way into the gloom.

[Malakim]

The demon laughed at the mage, "Oh now this ought to be fun indeed a cute mage coming to the rescue, unfortunately for you, I will not allow for your interference this time. Well I suppose it would be better to say that your interference will be costly."

The shadows tightened their bonds around girl and her child pulling the child into the depths of the nether where the demon would travel. The shackles that held Khiskiva tightly now spawned large spikes that stopped only centimeters from impaling the scared shaman. "Now then mage you have a choice, you can sit there and watch my fight like a good little boy or you can use all your pretty powers to come here and rush me trying to save your pathetic wife. Which won't work, I will kill her before then, I will crush the child, who I really hope enjoys the dark, and I will leave you to your misery for all the annoyances you have caused."

"Now then mage, what's it going to be the tragic hero? or do you want to see the show I have in store?"

The pulsed closer to Khiskiva and the demon watched the mage, silently laughing that this day was going to be fantastic. However, he had taken his eyes away for too long he didn't see the spirit of his brother press forth into him. Leaning over from the sudden hit he yelled out, "Damn you brother come out so that they can all see what you have become!"

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Kiwi could hear the rumbles of the earth much more active then he remembered, something big had to be going down. He clutched tighter to the wyvern he didn't plan on falling off today.

[Sulajin]

Sulajin halted, quietly grumbling. Though to Khis' ears it would ring true.

"This is not the place to fight your brother, interloper. Begone from my home and I may be merciful. You are at your limit. Touch her and you have no power over me. Harm them and there will be nothing to stop me from destroying you."

The army chattered along side the mage. "You are beaten! Only in desperation are hostages taken!"

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva couldn't believe how much it hurt, to see Taleron taken away from her, to see her entire world stolen by someone like Malakim. Her memories returned, like a trickling waterfall. She remembered the last time she'd cried, like this. The death of Xiarti, her brother. The sweet natured troll who had been kind to her. The loving eyes of Malakim, as he spoke words of devotion and romance into her young ears. She remembered, but still she wept.

"S-sula.. get him back.. get Taleron back.."

[Malakim]

The voice echoed like the banging of a drum inside the demon's head, "You have done enough today, you have done enough forever, you will not take anything more from me. You want to fight me then so be it, but today you get no mercy from me. You get nothing and you will not win today, and you will be broken, and battered."

The demon's head again jerked to one side spitting out a dark spray of spit and blood, as his brother's spirit fought against him. Each blow he landed flashed a ghostly image of the troll's actions as if for that moment he was real again. Each blow against the demon flashed memories of his past to the troll. With each blow he landed, he saw his past, moments of scarred helplessness of his youth fighting alone against the world, of moments of brief acceptance when the Sandfury were amazed at this power. This power that haunted and cursed him, the very power he was fighting to contain once again. Then he saw her, sitting there bound and helpless against this demon that he had become. She once saw him with eyes of love, and everything he had done now shattered every word he had said to her.

Behind him he saw Sulajin a mage he met in Orgimmar once, after the last time he fought against his own evil. Now a ferocious enemy of one he may have called a friend once. Everything had gone wrong now, he had given so much of himself to try and help everyone, everything he could and all he ever was capable of was destruction. Perhaps the demon was right, perhaps he should have been a destroyer. He obviously had the power to end so much, to break everyone around him. Yet, however few those fleeting moments of happiness the troll had. No matter if they were all taken from him at one point or another, were they not worth fighting for, weren't they worth giving everything to keep alive?

The light pushed it's way out to the mage, willing his voice to enter his mind, "Save her, save your wife. I will... stop my brother, and I will return the child..."

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Kiwi could smell the sulfur in the air it was burning everything around him, and yet the wyvern moved on pushing through the thick smoke and into... Darkness? There shouldn't be random patches of darkness in a land of fire. Looking down off the mount the bird could feel his master, fighting once again with all he had and Kiwi screeched with excitement.

__________________________________________________ __


The light again pushed forth worming through the frightened shaman's mind, "I am sorry, I am weak, but I will stop him... I will keep my promise to you and I will save your child, my angel."

The demon howled at the foolish efforts of his other half, "Brother! you think it so easy to save everyone do you, well then how about I show you how wrong you truly are?" The demon waved his hand and the spines around the throne prison began to close around the shaman.

Instead however, he didn't see the image of his brother despair, he saw him laughing. As if something had happened that the demon hadn't anticipated. "What is so funny brother?"

The light echoed back, "Oh, just a friend about to say hi"

Out from the sky a loud screeching could be heard getting louder and closer the demon looked up in time to see a pink bird falling from the air landing with his talons grinding into the demon's neck and back at fantastic speed, stopping the demon's control of the spikes around Khiskiva. The demon screamed at Kiwi as he walked away and stopped where he could smell the spirit of his master. "So, I misjudged your stupid pet I didn't think he was even alive let alone that he would come here."

A ghostly hand reached out to pat Kiwi on the head, which upon stroking the bird revealed the hunter again, keeping the transparent spirit of Malakim there for all that would care to see him. This time it was the spirit's turn to mock the demon, "I guess that's the difference between us brother, you thought he wouldn't come, I knew he would."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin acted in an instant, first to Khiskiva then to the child. Around them the darkness was crumbling, the combination of the "Brother" and his wards were beyond the ability of the demon to counter any more. Sulajin snarled as his army of bladed creatures struck, with no life to care for they fought as rabidly as any scourge.

He gripped Khiskiva tightly, the trio retreating into the lair that was rapidly shunting aside a patch of darkness. Sulajin didn't know where the bleb of night was going, nor did he care. He was home, and everything was safe again.

[Malakim]

The demon shuddered with delight this would be a glorious battle, the one he had always wanted. Not confined by the powers one of them could control in their mind, but real raw strength, there was no way Malakim could best him in this way. The demon slammed his giant hands against the ground creating large walls of darkness around them to keep other interlopers out and his brother in.

Malakim stretched out it had been so long since his soul had been outside able to see the world. He smiled at Kiwi, silently thanking him for showing up when he did, for all the effort he had put forth to reach this place.

The demon laughed, "So how are you going to fight me brother? You have weapons this time, no bow, no sword, nothing."

Malakim cocked his head to one side and raised his hands, "These are all I will need to destroy you, I have been awaiting this day for awhile and I am more than prepared. I also have Kiwi, and I am sure you remember how he beat on you the first time we fought."

The demon was angered at the memory, that infernal bird had attacked his back before, and given his foolish brother the needed motivation to stop him the first time they fought. "Well, brother we shall see, in fact I have a little playmate of my own just for your stupid bird."

The darkness began to pool together at the side of the demon's feet, rising upon itself forming a large cat. A demon of a cat with glowing red eyes and sleek shadows for skin and fur. The demon mocked the hunter, "This is Labyrinth, my pet much more loyal than some beast of the wild like that thing, plus he has a great many more powers than that foolish chicken ever will." The cat snarled at his counterpart then faded into the darkness reappearing under Kiwi tossing him in the air.

Malakim charged at the demon confident that Kiwi would prevail. The hunter threw a fast volley of kicks and punches only to have them easily dodged by the demon. The demon countered with his own punches pounding his large fists into the ground creating small craters with each punch, and each punch of his was dodged by Malakim. The hunter jumped and flipped around the arms of the demon easily outmaneuvering the demons deadly but slow punches hopping up the demon's arm on his final punch the hunter ran across his shoulders and dropped a mighty heel kick upon the demon's head.

Kiwi was faring as best as he could clawing at the demon cat with his razor sharp talons and pecking for all he was worth. Labyrinth wouldn't be denied though in a cunning move the cat jumped high into the air, which Kiwi easily countered by laying down upon his back and tossing the cat with his powerful legs as soon as he landed. However, the demon cat had expected this and faded into the ground as soon as he landed rising up under the pink bird and grabbing his neck with his powerful jaws.

Malakim stopped his relentless attack on the demon for a moment at the sight of Kiwi being caught by the infernal cat, who was now squeezing the life out of his best friend. Blood began to form around Labyrinth's mouth and flowed to the ground in pools. Malakim screamed at the cat jumping off the demon only to be caught in his recklessness and slammed to the ground with an incredible crash. The force almost made the hunter black out from such a sudden stop from that great of speed. When he opened his eyes he saw, a horrid sight, the beast was shaking Kiwi around by his neck his blood flowing freely. Only to toss the limp form of the once brave bird to the ground.

The demon laughed, "I told you brother that I would take everything from you, and this is the first, I hope you and that foolish pet said your goodbyes earlier."

[Malakim]

Kiwi did not move, Malakim screamed and cried at him but the bird would not move. He just laid there his eyes closed, forcing Malakim to watch as Labyrinth began to walk over to where the bird now lay. The demon held his brother tightly holding his head up so that the hunter would have to watch as his pet was devoured by the demon's.

Malakim struggled against the might of the demon, he had to stop that cat, he had to make him pay for what he did. No matter how hard Malakim tried to move to escape the grasp of the demon he could not break free, he wasn't strong enough. Knowing what was about to happen the troll reached out a hand towards the dying bird, as if to pat him and let him know that everything was going to be alright. He reached out to his friend with his heart to apologize for not being strong enough to save him, to thank him for everything he had done for him, while cursing himself for not having the power he needed.

That's when it happened the troll's light finally came out, it extended from his outstretched hand past the cat and surrounded Kiwi. The light wrapped around the form of the bird like a mother wrapping a blanket around her child. As the light passed over and around the bird the flow of blood stopped pouring from his wounds and the gouges, cuts, and scratches began to seal themselves up. Finally, Kiwi opened his eyes again to the world and Malakim cheered at him, thankful to whatever power came to his call to save his friend's life.

Labyrinth picked up his speed as he saw the bird stumble to his feet, irritated at the power the hunter and his pet shared. Again the demon cat jumped at Kiwi and melted to the ground to surprise him from the ground below. The plainstrider cackled as he rolled out of the way as the cat emerged below him, he was not going to fall for the same trick twice. As Labyrinth jumped out of the pool of darkness below Kiwi, he was surprised to find that instead of the birds throat he instead was caught by the sharp talons of Kiwi's claws running across his throat and down the side of his body.

The demon cat stumbled to the ground his body bouncing over itself, the shadows began to spray from the grievous wound Kiwi had inflicted upon him. The spray of darkness and blood came out at tremendous speed bleeding the life out of the demon, the cat fell to the ground. Labyrinth let out one final growl before his body pooled into a dark ooze on the ground and evaporated into the air returning to the darkness that had spawned him.

Malakim laughed at the demon, even though he was still his prisoner he, had proven to the demon he was far from invincible. "So it would seem, you are not as all powerful as you would like to believe, but I guess that is to be expected when you challenge me and my friends."

The demon spat at his brother as he tossed him far across the arena, "That stupid cat died for his incompetence, he shouldn't have toyed with your bird for so long. Never the less, I will destroy you both."

"You will destroy nothing anymore brother, you will be the background to me once again, because you are not worthy to be in charge of our form."

With that the hunter and the plainstrider charged at the demon. Kiwi running up and over the demon again sliding his claws into the shadows of the demon's back, while Malakim ran with incredible speed thrusting punch after punch into the demon's chest. The demon growled at the pain from the two, grabbing Kiwi from his back and tossing him into into Malakim, knocking the two across the ground. Watching the pair slide to a stop the demon laughed, "What do you think you are going to do with claws and fists? I am a demon you cannot hurt me that easily, I am shadows, I am the dark part of everything you are."

The troll got to his feet wiping blood and dirt from his mouth, "Maybe so brother, but I am not afraid of the dark. How about I show you what we are truly capable of?"

The hunter ran for all he was worth at the demon picking up speed as he went. Along the way Malakim was regaled with visions of not only his past, but images of what he really wanted in his life, what he really wanted to be, and none of it involved this demon. The light began to spring up around the hunter, swirling around him, bathing him in a bright light.

The demon had to look away from the bright blinding light that now enveloped his brother, when he turned back he was greeted with a sight that actually frightened him. His brother had taken on a form similar to his own except that he was surrounded by light instead of darkness. The demon's eyes grew wide as his brother came upon him.

"If you are the darkness, then I will be the light."

Malakim actually smiled for the first time in a long time, as he thrust his hands into the demon, knocking chunks of shadows off of him, bringing his hands above his head he brought them both down with tremendous power knocking the demon into the ground. Lifting the demon into the air with his hands Malakim spoke to his brother, "You have tried to take everything from me, you have tried to take everything from people I care about, and you don't even care. You are not worthy to have control over my life, and now I will have it back."

The light burst out from the troll surrounding his brother, wrapping the area in a beautiful white light. When it subsided, there was only the demon remaining. Standing there he swore out, "Damn you brother, damn your resolve, damn your light." The demon's form broke, shattering into thousands of tiny fragments. Dripping to the ground they formed a massive black pool below the troll's feet, and evaporated into into the air returning the demon's form to the Nether where it had spawned.

Malakim rose to his feet, struggling to open his eyes, as if he hadn't used them in months. Everything on his body ached, his hands, his legs, his head throbbed something horrible. Lifting his hands up to massage his head he felt something new, there was bone protruding from his head... He had... Horns.

Kiwi came running over to his master licking his face happy to have him back, Malakim stroked the birds head, "I am glad you are here friend, I couldn't have done it without you." reaching up to feel the length of the new structures on his head, "I guess I can't hide who I am anymore can I?"

Malakim reached into his pack to find a banana, the demon actually left one in his pack. Tossing it to Kiwi, "You did great today you deserve a lot more than that, which you can have when we go back home..." The hunter stumbled a bit before falling to the ground, his body finally giving out from all the stress he had put it under today, as his eyes closed he said, "I could use a quick nap first."

[Ellsbeth]

((Awww! Kiwi saves the day!! Amazing story guys!!))