Saffron Sapphire (Part 2)

*3rd Person POV*

Like a wild vortex of ancient saffron flames rushes through the dojo... the ground shakes with her each step.

"Open... the p-portal..."

A duel voice of rage, deep and unforgiving, seethes from Sura's gritted teeth... her words come out, as if each syllable pronounced with stammering difficulty.

"OPEN... THE PORTAL!!!"

Engulfed in saffron ancient flames and much taller than she ever has right to be... the air boiled around her as her pupil dilated with intent. This had been her plan, now the need to execute it.

"Sura!! What are you doing!!"

Ohari cries out, Sura had taken off her rings... letting her guilt and desperation, pave way for wrath... and with out it, each increasing palpitation of her ravaged heart set out to pump more ire in her veins.

The portal begins to glow... and space folds within itself, shrinking to a point, then tearing open. Ohari gasps...

"Myriam!"

"Ohari... if I don't let her through she is going to go critical and Heiwa won't be safe!"

"That brat!!!! You... god damn idiot!! Why!!?"

Kyuu cursed... her little sister... was trying to intentionally give Alycia just what she wanted! Herself, away from here, just them. That idiot! Our lives aren't in danger, yours is!!

"So, this is your true power."

A direct, shattering blow from Alycia digs into Sura's face... who cares about pain?!

"HARRAAAGH!!!!!!"

Alycia finds herself suddenly grabbed by the neck and together, hurls themselves through the portal. Mind filled with rage, Sura manages one more cohesive action before losing to her wrath, blasting the portal behind her once she passes through... the blast coming through the other side, destroying the ground... and the ruins that charge up the portal, closing it.

"SURAAA!!!!"

Ohari yells trying to chase after her little daughter... she dives, and falls through empty space.

"No no no!! Myriam! Open the portal!!"

"I...I cannot. The portal is destroyed..."

Mountainous stalagmites form ranges across the continental shelves of the barren planet. Blackened rain pelted the rough terrain... everything was a reflected obsidian dark. Save for moments when the whole black tundra flashes of slick, blood red from crimson lightning.

In the next thunder strike, two figures collide through rocky obsidian outcrops, fragmenting brittle rocks sharp enough to slice clean through meat. Entangled in twin flames of saffron and sapphire, until the blue flames blasts the other off into the ground.

Alycia slowly descends to the ground, watching as a hand grips the edge of the crater, pulling itself out... she sees the steam rolling of hovering low, hissing loudly as rain evaporated and masking the figure within. It roars, sending the steam bellowing outwards revealing twin molten eyes.

"...Asura?"

No... impossible... Alycia takes a step forward, then another... quickly picking up pace... head down and pumping her arms as she rockets towards her target. Sura barrels towards her with earsplitting roars, half running half on all fours, nearly tripping as she claws her way towards Alycia.

"HAARRAAAAGHHH!!!!!!!"

Ground zero, like a nuclear explosion... the clouds blasts away and rain vaporizes as entire mountain ranges fissure under incredible force, lighting up the world for a brief moment. Solar flares carves valleys, 3 consecutive punches to the chest forces Sura to the ground as she clambers her balance. Pulling back her body, Sura summons a gargantuan pillar of saffron energy penetrates the mountain behind her... and in one massive lunge, throws forward... as if the sun itself is falling.

Alycia, spreads her feet, bearing the full crushing weight of the burning sky. The pillar carpets the land with fire, rupturing the ground with seismic earthquakes.

"Powerful!!"

The colossal force weights upon Alycia... as she legs buckle holding the scorching pillar.

"But!"

She strains, muscles feeling like acid... cradling the entire weight and force with one arm... forcing herself, she races towards Sura while still holding up the pillar and slams into her full force, hurling Sura into mountains.

"Untamed!"

From the rubble, debris begins to rise as saffron fissures leak out. A surges of fire lashes out, at first indecipherable... Alycia dodges before the flames suddenly morphs into 4 fiery arms, clamping on to her body.

"What?!"

Spinning around her around violent enough to create a whirlwind, Sura yanks Alycia around with her malformed petals as Alycia braces herself, feeling body go through stone and towering stalagmites. A fiery sword forms from her hand as Alycia slices through the flamed claws, jetting into Sura with a stomach kick, Alycia sees a building fire pit within Sura's unhinged jaw as she's doused with plasma fire.

Alycia's fist sails through the flames, snapping Sura's head downwards into the ground and just as fast petals rise up grabbing her arm, pulling Alycia in for another swipe.

"She's reacting to me fast..."

The retreated clouds clamber back to cover the sky once more, raining black... hiding the victor. The world then flashes bright red, within that thundering glimpse, two figures clashes echo across the planet.

"Haa...haa....haa... Harraaaghhhh!!!!"

Sura begins to feel her core burn ever more... body shackling under the weight of her own power. The unimaginable pain of her own body incinerating herself, at the cost of more power. She won't be able to hold on much longer... her long roar and screams met with only stoic silence from Alycia standing in dead center in her view.

Alycia disappears from sight. Wild eyes dart around, searching for where it would come from... behind!! Sura's shoulder cracks sickeningly and she's pummeled into the ground again, she tries to stammer to her feet before a hard, short uppercut reels into her jaw with such momentum she's spinning in the air before immediately following with a hard knock down... hard enough to return a bit of sanity to Sura.

Her strength was sputtering... her body weakening, Sura's echoing voice becomes haggard... as she pulls her head up, she sees her own reflection... two fluttering, molten eyes stare back with maw full of teeth... a monster... no no, this can't be me!

"No..."

The reflection shimmers slightly, revealing dull, soulless gray steel as Alycia unsheathes her massive blade. There was a pull almost, a tug... as if the sword as trying to absorb her essence... intent on savoring, a god's death.

"ENOUGH!!"

A violet power blooms upon the field... stunning Alycia. Sura jerks her body around, eyeing the new figure, growling weakly... another one after her?

"...Mother? Why are you here?"

As the violet fizzes... six arms emerge, robust, yet relaxed. The woman stood tall, her long abyssal ocean hair catching the stormy wind. Hearing the animal like growling, she turns to Sura, her large serpentine tail swinging behind her... her eyes of golden sun, and deep space was enough to quiet the wild child... bringing back even breath of consciousness as Sura's eyes widened in disbelief... unknown tears warmly trickled down her cheeks.

"Yo-You... I've see-en you before..."

Those beautiful eyes, bore a profound pity looking at her. Sura found herself reaching out to her, her clawed hands trying to lovingly caress this... familiar stranger.

"Hello there~ are you ok? I won't hurt you... but I'm sorry... sorry for this."

"Huh?"

The woman steps back, betraying Sura's reach...

"N-no, don't go awa-"

A golden ring snaps onto her wrist as she feels the ring pull her arm to the ground like strong magnetic force. Sura returns feral at the sudden assault and she begins to reignite.

"HAARAGH!!!"

Her body erupts in rays of primordial lasers, beginning to recklessly firing off blasts. The woman and Alycia quickly back off, shielding themselves.

"No you don't!"

More rings come in, forcefully clamping onto Sura's arms, hissing loudly and doing their best to diminish the growing fire within. Upon spinning rings, Nezha rides in, firing the rings banded on his arms and floating around him in rapid succession. Masterfully waving his hands to encircle Sura... one locks onto her leg, thrusting her momentum into the ground as the other rings work to pull her, doing their best to hold her down.

A ringing pain pierces Nezha's head as he almost losses balance! The pain seem to invigorate, making him slowly lose sense and yelling.

"Some sort of... psychic attack?! Lady Seriana! I need you help!!"

"Psychic?"

Nezha throws a different, silver control ring to Seriana and waists no time, thrusting her six arms forward, she bulldozes through the flaming barrage.

"HAAARAAGHH!!!"

She clamps the ring around Sura's neck and grapple holds her.

"Shhh... calm down, calm down... you're alright now."

"HaaA...her....ugh...."

Her roars become dwindling in intensity, as a tired, sweet voice of a young maiden begins to clear. Her flames diminishes, her form shrunk, and at last, she lay limp in the arms of the serpent woman... she looks up, into those eyes again.

"...Ser-Seriana..."

Her heart hammers inwards, was a mistake? An audible hallucination? Seriana's eyes widen... within those fainting words, there was no doubt. When was the last time... when her name was called with such affection...

Grasping at the air, hoping that something will, maybe fold in, open! But no... the portal is has long gone... Ohari falls to her knees.

"Myriam can you open the portal again?! We have to get to her!!"

Goddess Myriam can only look on, not wanting to meet her eyes.

"I'm sorry... Ohari. The portal gate was a gift from the Prometheus clan long ago... I myself don't know how to open a portal to the realm."

"NO! No no no.... can you try? Please? She's stuck on the other side!"

Kyuu puts her hand on her mother's back, trying to share her pain but finds herself angry, desperate too. A small beep, sounds off from One-Shot implanted earphones only heard by her.

"One-Shot, she's been taken under custody. Seriana was able to intervene along with Nezha.... what a damn mess. I'll have you return soon."

"Ah piss... you know Ohari here gonna throw a storm if she finds out?"

"Your voice, I take it you aren't so well."

"Yeah? "

One-Shot coughs, her slightly damaged voice box chittering and her voice traced with static and glitching.

"You owe me some repairs, scruffy, over and out."

The transmission cuts off, leaving One-Shot to her own devices, shouldering the burden of what to do with the information. She looks over to the distraught mother... no matter how many times she's seen the devastation wars leave behind...orphaned children and childless parents always scratched at her nerves.

"Ah damn... it's always awkward... well at least no one is dead."

Swigging the last of the alcohol in the bottle, One-Shot taps Ohari on the shoulder.

"Now now, your lil' beastie still alive... captured yes, but alive... you can... don't know, find some solace in it?"

"Sura-chan?"

*Kyuu's POV*

I'm running into Heiwa, it's not even 5am yet and the town is going haywire. Everyone's awake from the ordeal... the brat's still alive! The aching numbness of my shoulder was gone. Goddess Myriam helped heal everyone in battle, including my broken arm but One-Shot needed repairs since she was a cyborg. She stuck behind to talk with my mom while I hurried with everyone else to help the town.

"Baby?! You're ok, you're ok!"

I see a frantic father rabbit-kin rush out onto the street from his house with his son, just in time to watch the roof of their little wooden house collapse. More and more people come out, coughing, some injured... some holding their arms. An old man stumbles out in a hurry, holding his hips as he collapses.

I catch him, and hold his arm over my shoulder, he moans while weakly pointing back at the demolished front porch.

"Thank you, Kyuu... darn glasses were lost in a hurry."

"Mr. Arthur! Please, hop on my back. I'll carry you to the hospital."

Goddess Myriam appears, helping many people with injuries and healing them.

"There's a lot, help take them to the Magami Aura. Mokuren's there to help. Blair! Xata!"

The two guardian appear, gently nudging the injured and guiding others to shelter... hoisting some onto their back and carrying them towards the Magami Aura. Klara's there too, helping... and I felt a twinge of great pride, seeing my students helping too. I see Pandora lifting some large branches out of the door ways of homes and streets while Artemas helped along.

It was thanks to them collateral damage was minimized... I myself couldn't help but feel guilty. The sonic booms I created sprinting to help caused some structural damage to the houses and buildings, causing quite the disturbance... I never thought about that even though it was so obvious, something as seemingly small as even sprinting could cause harm.

Approaching the large doors to the Magami Aura with Mr. Arthur on my back, I hear the muffle of many busy voices inside... and a domineering voice I recognize is giving instructions.

I open the doors to find a large, make-shift hospital inside spread out on the inner sanctum field of grass... with patients and families gathered inside. People laid on branch crafted gurneys just under trees, some slept against the trees resting having their home damaged.

"Lilium! Bring some bandages and healing potions! And mom! Hurry up!"

Mokuren orders Goddess Myriam in, hastily but carefully putting down the injured.

"Geez my daughter's so feisty! Kyuu, help around. I must check on Magami Aura itself after it receives a large gash... I could not even sense Alycia entering Heiwa's vicinity. I will be back! Hold on!"

I nod affirmatively, before flying open arms wrap around me tightly as two marshmallows smoosh against my chest, Eh?!

"You're ok! You idiot! Risking yourself like that against someone like Alycia!! Idiot!! Reckless!!"

Mokuren hit me with her fist each time she insulted me... her righteous fury devolved into a hug... and I embraced back. She looked up at me, pouting... cute.

"Ugh... who would've thought Alycia of all people would personally attack Sura! Lucky I was up... god, the fallen debris caused quite the property damage... no one was killed... there were injuries though. I was up and at them, running around to help once mother woke me up."

Rambling on as she will, she helps heal the scrapped knees of a centaur-kin while I helped carry patients, watching as the fairies tirelessly whizzed around carrying green potions and bandages, rags of blood to be washed and alcohol for cleaning.

As I'm inspecting the injured leg of a sniffling goat-kin child... she couldn't stop the tears. It was a minor scratch, only a little blood leaked... did it hurt that much? As if on queue, she complains at my attempt to bandage the wound.

"It hurts!"

"Ah... sorry... don't cry?"

And she cries... ugh, I don't know how to deal with this. Mokuren peeks at me from another gurney, snickering as I shrug helplessly.

"Here let me help."

"Wah!! Spider lady!!"

The girl bleats out in fear as Saraswati comes from behind alongside Wukong.

"Th-here, be a brave little girl. I'm here to help! See?"

She pulls out a guitar from behind her back.

"I'll play a song for everyone if you be brave, ok?"

"Re-really?"

"Yes... now come on."

She starts to spin thread from her abdomen, wrapping the girl's leg in thin silk that works as a bandage.

"Eh that's so cool and weird! Thank you spider lady!"

The girl laughs... I didn't think Saraswati had it in her to help with so many people around. She looks at me, chittering nervously.

"Wukong and Mokuren encouraged me to come... apparently my silk acts as a sterile bandage, I didn't know I could do that... I guess I never tried."

Finishing bandaging up her legs, I pour a bit of a healing potion onto her leg.

"But it feels... nice... that I can help others."

"I wanna hear the song now!"

The goat-kin girl's siblings suddenly joined in out of nowhere, circling Saraswati and Wukong... heh. Time flew by as we tended to those in need, then Goddess Myriam entered.

"How's everyone?"

Mokuren crosses her arms after removing her gloves.

"Everyone's pretty much tended to, how is Magami Sura holding up? I felt it weakening."

"It's stable now... took a bit of power to tilt the Magami Aura back and regrow the damaged nerves. Here, let me cast a healing for everyone."

She puts her staff down, and spreads her arms, closing her eyes as she concentrates. The mantra behind her glows glyph by glyph, slowly a widening circle of green rejuvenating aura envelops, mending any last wounds and fully recovering everyone.

"Praise Goddess Myriam!"

"Thank you Goddess Myriam! Mokuren-Sama!"

We hear applauds of thanks as people... but it doesn't relieve us and as soon as it was over, it could no longer distract me from worrying about Sura... I... I should've done more, and I sat around like a blindefolded idiot in the beginning... I just...

"I should return to mom... there's, a lot to process."

Mokuren hugs me once more, her sincere emerald eyes seems to see straight through my self-loathing.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up, otherwise I'll have the pleasure of being your personal nurse! I'm here for you... I'm here, if you need me."

She squeezes a laugh out of me and I gently pull away at the, curious hypothetical prospect.

"Thank you, but this is something I must face."

"Of course, stubborn."

She takes the sudden opportunity to peck and run me, jumping my heart rate up with a mix of embarrassment, and elation. As I turn to walk back out, Goddess Myriam speaks to my mind.

"I am not the expertise here. Kyuu, your mother, and One-Shot will be the major players of the next move. What will you do?"

Yes... what will I do now? What can I do? I...

"I don't know..."