“Zi…….” Zero’s eyes began to tear up from the shock and joy of seeing Ziro after so long. Ziro smiled and embraced the shocked Zero in what can only be described as pure genuine love. Ziro and Zero meet with a kiss as Wisp and Kali looked on with a smile., Zero Spouted out “Where have you been, more importantly how have you been doing and what?!” “Well when you left I Felt like I lost my other half, and so I took you up on your directions, I did some odd jobs to get enough money to leave Elantra and headed straight for Veil. Knowing you I knew you would be there by the time I got over to Veil.”

“However when I arrived I asked around if anyone saw an elate girl with jackal ears anywhere. I kept getting no answers so I went to the towns guards. They told me that they almost apprehended one such girl a month back but she was saved by her “Mommy”.” Ziro looked over at Kali. “Hehe yeah about that.” Zero said nervously chuckling. “It’s okay I can only assume this Kali lady saved you which I thank her for greatly.” “No problem!” Yelled out Kali. “Anyways I asked around town about a woman and an elate girl and I was told that they haven’t been in town in a week or so. So I assumed you moved on from Veil with this woman.”

“A few months passed while traveling through the nearby forest I saw a rock golem with a fairly similar cracked skull mark. The one that Dicer used to make, I said to myself that Zero must be around still, in a hurry I ran over to the Jolder and asked around their.” “Yeah we joined awhile ago to make money, our first quest was” Wisp paused remembering the blood curtailing scream. “It was a mistake is all.” Ziro looked at Wisp with cold eyes. “The Front desk said that an Elate girl a priest and a sprite left a little bit ago to this new dungeon discovered called the Bastion.”

“Using shadow leap I ported from The hall to the dungeon and entered slaughtering everything inside in order to find you guys. And look here you all are!” “But why the mask?” Asked Zero. “Oh this I use it to mask my voice in order to fool my victims and it has night vision far better then an elates eyes.” “Well now that the two love birds are back together can we continue Ma’am?” “Yes Wisp, also Ziro your welcomed to tag along for this quest if you would like.” Ziro Stood up releasing her cloak, revealing her red hair, long fluffy tail, and medium sized round red ears. “Sure thing Kali!” “Then lets get moving.”

The four moved forward to the next room killing two more dark soldiers. Noticing how they have only been running into dark forces Zero suggested to Kali “Maybe since we are dealing with so many dark soldiers that a leader of the army is here?” “Or at the very least a general” Suggested Ziro. “Maybe it could be a general, maybe it could just be a temporary base of operations.” Wisp Proclaimed, “Whatever or whoever it is, eventually we will find out.” Just as Kali finished her sentence a soldier came out of the wall, “UGH don’t these guys ever learn?!” Zero charged towards the soldier attacking with Dicer.

*BLOCK* Zero’s attack was deflected and made her bounce back. “What the hell?” The soldier turned and laughed. “Foolish Adventurers I wasn’t trained by a mere grunt! My master saw promise and gave me this weapon to show me I had promise. The soldier took out what appeared to be a long sword with a curved wooden base made from the bark of a fider tree. “That’s! That’s Layla’s sword! How did you get that I thought Julius took it!” “Huh? You mean the little elate girl who tried to kill our master? She fought but didn’t put up much of a fight haha! She was actually quite tasty.”

Licking his lips he snapped his fingers summoning 3 more Soldiers, carrying the dual blades of Julius, Might and Honor, another stayed in the back with Arc’s bow of light beside him was another soldier holding the small wand of destruction used by Solar. *TINK TINK TINK* “HELLO? HELLO HELLO? Is this thing on? Oh It is good. Haha Hia well seeing as you all have found each other again, and you ran into my elites I might as well introduce myself. My names Scarab. And well I know who you two are, and as you might expect you know me. After the catastrophic failure attempt at the assassination of the Queen Stri I took GREAT LOSS in seeing how my beast couldn’t kill y’all back in the sewer.”

“However you dumb souls left your friends bodies AND their weapons. So I took on responsibility in retrieving your dead friends and weapons and making them of use again.” “What do you mean making them of use again?” “Oh that well its simple really. I took your dead friends to dark one. He said I took great initiative and promoted me to general. He gave me your dead friends as my elite body guards, turning them into what you see in front of y’all. Well minus the one with the goat horns she was eaten.” “BASTARD!” “Awe is that really how you treat me after all this time?”

“Haha, Rude oh well, it’s been nice chatting with you ladies. Take care of them, please.” Snapping his fingers the overhead rang out. “As you wish general.” Zero and Ziro looked at each other and knew that they had to free their allies souls and without hesitation the two vanished into the shadows. “What the where’d they go?” “boo!” Zero sliced the solider holding arc’s bow in half killing it instantly “GAH”, while Ziro grappled The solider with Julius’s Swords beheading him spurting dark blood all over the ground. “AHHH!”

Retreating to the shadows Zero and Ziro tossed each other around until the solider holding the Wand of Solar became dizzy and confused the two tripped and downwardly stabbed the soldier leaving only the soldier with Layla’s Longsword, the two charged at the soldier who was readied, until they dropped into the darkness and dropped above the soldier. *Gah!* “I wont be so easy!” “we’ll se about that!” Zero rushed side to side lightning fast slicing through the soldier who stood their laughing. “Imbecilic worm!” “What?” “HAHA” The dark soldier regenerated the fatal wound. “I see now what true death feels like.” “YOU KNOW NOTHING OF WHAT TRUE DEATH FEELS LIKE!”

Zero charged at the soldier who stepped aside dodging the attack and stabbing Zero’s arm, leaving a giant gash in her tiny arm. “Gah…..!” Zero hit the ground with a loud thud holding her arm wincing in pain “AH!” Zero stopped moving but still gripped her arm. “ZERO!” Ziro cried out throwing her scythes at the soldier who turned and grabbed the weapons with easy. “Pathetic.” “huh?” The soldier ripped the chains pulling Ziro towards the beast where he grabbed her by the neck. “Wow too ex shadows downed just as easy as that?” “You son of a…” “No no no puny human.”

“Take another step or rather float towards me and ill kill them both!” The soldier held Layla’s sword above Zeros chest right where her heart would be and held Ziros neck ready to crush it like a twig. Kali and Wisp both stopped in their tracks knowing he was serious. “HAHAHA I knew humans and elates would be easy but MAN, this was too easy.” Turning to Zero he said “It’s as if you wanted to die.” “Sh…shut it!” “Hmm?” “Leave her alone!” “HAHA why is the little fox girl gonna fight me? I can crush your neck and stab your girl a the same time without breaking a sweat!” “NOW SILENCE!”

The loud roar seemed to go throughout the entire tunnel. *Riiiiiiiing* “Hello? Wait a minute Burg, are you still fighting down their?” “Yes General I have injured the blonde one and am currently holding the red one by her neck, what should I do?” “Oh that simple, bring the fox to me.” “And what of the blonde?” “Do I look like I care? Do what you want you’re in control there.” The overhead turned off leaving Wisp, Kali, Ziro and Now named Burg alone. “Well you heard him. Just take me and…. Gah…just leave her alone!” “Hmmm tempting but…” The soldier slashed down at Zero, fearing for their separation again, Ziro slashed at the soldier’s face making him miss the chest and slash at Zero’s other arm. “You little animal! I’m gonna bring you to Scarab dead now!”

“Try it!” With the Soldier distracted Kali casted Blind betrayal, casting a bright light the dark solider became blinded dropping Ziro and the Sword of Layla. Injured beyond belief Zero grabbed the sword and thrusted it into the soldiers abdomen. “GAH YOU…. LITTLE ….. WORM!” Grabbing the sword hilt the Soldier pulled the sword deeper into him but at the same time pulling Zero closer. “Animals like you, belong in the afterlife! HAHAHA AHHHA AHA-“ *SMASH* Zero looked up to see Ziro’s Scythes in the Soldier’s skull. *Cough cough*

“Regen…after…that you piece of garbage!” Still feeling the effects of being strangled to death Ziro fell over. “ZERO, ZIRO Hold on!” Kali Rushed over to their sides and started a grand healing spell, healing Ziro’s bruised neck and arms, and fully recovering Zero’s gash and slash in both her arms. With that the confrontation with their past is almost complete. Putting their friends souls finally to rest Zero went and rounded up the weapons and stored them safely in her gate. “Ziro, lets go kill this son of a bitch.” “Agreed.” Zero, Ziro, Wisp and Kali boldly walked forward towards Scarabs lair, to end their past and rekindle the fires of the future.