The dangers that awaited them along the path to the fortress ranged from darkened dragons to clouds of dark fairies, seeking to turn the pair into wood. The venture seemed impossible, but Arianna held Skyler under the arms and soared over the battle.
Suddenly, Arianna was violently jostled by a Shadewing and they fell from the sky. Upon hitting the ground, the girls found themselves surrounded by all manner of evil and darkened creatures.
"They're protecting the keep." Arianna realized.
Skyler surveyed the creatures. "There's no way we can fight our way through so many."
        At that moment, twenty griffins swooped down, depositing their elven mounts around the girls.
"You don't have to." One knocked an arrow and faced the tumultuous horde.
"The rest of the army is fighting its way in. Go." The speaker drew two swords and charged into the action without awaiting a response.
"We'll hold them off." The first assured, firing another arrow into the shadowy crowd. All the archers turned their bows skyward and shot enemies out of the sky. The corpses plummeted to the ground, pummeling creatures below them. A swan-like bird rose into the swarm of adversaries above and ignited, dropping more dark beings and clearing a hole in the dark cloud over-head. "Now!"
Arianna grabbed Skyler and propelled into the air with her huge wings. Rising up through the horde, the girls noticed the griffins fending off the aerial attackers. As they neared the keep a few enemies broke off of the group and pursued them.
————
Along the outside if the circle, Farin watched as a winged girl shot up out of the center of the horde. Could that really be her? After all these years, he could never have hoped to see her again, but there she was, living unaware of him. It was almost more than he could bear, but if it hadn't happened this way, she wouldn't have been here at all. So, he was grateful for his tragedy. No matter how much it hurt it could have been worse.
Farin fought harder it seemed than anybody. There was a fiercer fire in his eyes for every foe he killed. It was as if he had more to fight for, an old wound that could only be healed through the heat of this battle. There was one peculiar thing about Farin; it wasn't his dirty blonde hair that fell to his shoulders or his tanned skin. It was his eyes. They weren't normal. During the battle, they turned red, like an emo-shifter's.
————
Teran was unable to attack his own son, but he was losing the battle. He knew he had to strike back, but how could he? This was his son. He didn't want to kill him if there was a chance to save him, but he didn't have to kill him; he just had to keep himself alive. His chest and forelegs were already saturated with blood and dirt, making his fur red, black, and brown. Teran staggered on his feet.
His son lunged at him. As he attempted to dodge, his son caught him by the hindquarters and dragged him to the ground. His son pinned him to the ground and no matter how much he struggled, Teran could not escape his grasp. He was too weak to keep fighting. His son's claws dug into his right shoulder. With a weak howl, he submitted to his fate. His head lolled to the ground. He was completely at the mercy of his son.
Teran yowled and whined as his son shredded his flesh. His son's forelegs were stained crimson up the joint, but not with his own blood, with his father's. As Teran's vision blurred, the tip of a sword plunged through his son's back.
Shinx threw the corpse aside and lifted Teran from the ground. "Teran. Teran." There was no response. He was unconscious. Picking him up, Shinx flew out over the battle towards the wall.
————
The girls had slain their pursuers and now rocketed towards the fortress. Once over it, Arianna began to circle lower and lower.
         Suddenly, she dropped Skyler and dove after her. Landing on the brick roof, they found close to thirty soldiers and Ronan guarded by two darkened Nymphs. The Nymphs' were now black like charred wood with an inky black aura obscuring their features.
"Ah, you have returned." Ronan looked Skyler up and down with a look of disgust. "And I see you've brought 'reinforcements.'"
"Don't underestimate us," Skyler challenged.
"I don't intend to." He banged the stone with his staff and the soldiers readied to attack. They were surrounded.
As the guards closed in, Arianna twined her fingers together. Skyler stepped into the hold and was thrown into the air before the guards knew what had happened. They were startled and confused for a minute. When they found Skyler in the air, she was aiming a knife above her head. Skyler threw the sharp projectile at Ronan, but just as it reached him a dark Nymph darted into the path of the knife. It fell to the ground with the hilt protruding from its chest. As Skyler dropped back towards the roof, an archer loosed an arrow at her.
"No!" Arianna tackled the archer to the ground and slit his throat, but it was too late.
————
The army fought with diminishing strength. The dark creatures had multiplied during the battle and now out numbered the army three to one. Gorgrim the dwarf hacked at his adversaries with hatchets, cutting into bellies and slashing across the back of their legs to get them lower. All around him dragons blasted enemies with fire, light, and shadows. Short stout dragons flung earth into the eyes of their adversaries and bashed them with their club-like tails. Long slender dragons with four wings gusted whirlwinds at dark creatures. Finned dragons with huge powerful wings spewed scalding liquid flames from their jaws. Gigantic dragons vomited lightning across the field, scorching and electrocuting creatures. Shadewing swooped and darted among the creatures of light, slashing, biting, mauling, but hope was slim.
————
Skyler plummeted down to the keep roof the arrow protruding from her chest. She crumpled to the brick with the sickening crack of breaking bones. The soldiers, who stood around her, stared down at the corpse. As they did, it began to fade and dissolve. "What?"
Out of nowhere, a knife launched towards Ronan, flashing in the sunlight. Distracted by the mysterious body, the guards failed to protect their charge. The knife lodged into Ronan's shoulder. He let out a scream that resembled a roar and collapsed.
         Arianna smirked as Skyler appeared in the air, held by a Sprite with wings. The confusion allowed Skyler to descend safely and the Emo-shifter that she had conjured melted away.
Ronan rose to his feet, blood staining his hand and clothes, breathing heavily. Looking up from the dagger that impaled him, Ronan's pupils slimmed to thin slits. In a frenzy of anger, he lunged at the girls. He landed nearly on Arianna and attacked.
         She threw him away. Without pause, he was on her again. She tried to hold back his clawed hands with her sword, but his uncontrollable rage overpowered her and she found herself on the ground pushing Ronan back with her sword.
        Skyler attempted to aid her friend, but was halted by the soldiers trying to protect Ronan.   
       Arianna managed to roll away from Ronan and stand up. Soon she and Skyler were back-to-back blocking, swiping, and attacking the surrounding soldiers. All by now had joined the skirmish. The girls didn't stand much of a chance.
————
Shadewing gained altitude and belched out shadows, drenching the battlefield in almost tangible darkness. No one could see anything and yet the dark creatures still managed to fight effectively. Some of the dragons with horny crests and solemn faces emitted eerie glows across the battlefield. All around these dragons the shadows dispersed. Light began to seep through the murk.
————
The girls fought desperately as the soldiers bore down on them. Several times, they were nearly forced over the edge of the roof.
        Ronan tackled Arianna to the ground, clamping her arms to her sides. His claws dug into her flesh and saliva dripped onto her face, feeling like blood as it ran down her cheek. He bared his teeth and lurched to bite her neck.
        As Arianna watched the fangs approach, Ronan toppled to the ground. Skyler had lunged to protect Arianna. She stood over Arianna, defending her friend.
        Ronan lay on the ground heaving.
        Two soldiers tried to help him to his feet, but he wrenched free of their grip and flung one of them over the edge. He jerked his head around until he made eye contact with Arianna. Quick as lightning, Ronan dove at Arianna and raked his claws across her chest. She fell backwards, but the iron chest plate protected her. She barely managed to block Ronan as he threw his weight on her. His clawed hands made contact with her sword and pushed. He clutched the blade so tight that blood began to flow from cuts in his palms.
         Skyler still fought the mounting number of soldiers as Arianna struggled.
        Her arms decreasing in strength, Arianna relinquished more and more distance between her chest and the blade. Just as her arms were about to give out, Skyler swung her sword up into Ronan's lower torso. He reeled back, staggering away from Arianna. She stood and watched as Ronan struggled to keep his balance, her vision hazy. As he stepped back, a portion of the roof crumbled under his weight and he tumbled to the ground screaming.
         There was a horrid noise as he made contact with the ground.
        Arianna and Skyler glanced over the edge at the morbid scene, but had to quickly look away from the mangled corpse.
       Ronan was dead.
————
The army of light slowly gave way and was forced back, away from the keep. Soldiers fell left and right. The dark army advanced. Hope waned with the sun.
From the fortress rose a roaring cry, a scream that haunted nightmares. The armies halted and watched as a dark figure tumbled down the side of the castle. Many averted their eyes as it hit the ground, horribly mangling its body.
         The turned creatures seemed to lessen in strength and brighten if only a little. They began to yield to the army of light.
         The fallen creatures fled at the sign of defeat along with several Shadewing.
        The darkened army lessened and lessened until, battered and exhausted, the creatures of light prevailed.
Carcasses littered the battlefield in varied stages of gore. Many died by the sword; others by fire, water, lightning, or dark magic. Fires still burned in the fading sunlight, which shone crimson against the blackening sky, painting it orange and red and yellow like flames in the night. It was finally over.
————
Too astounded to rebel, the soldiers allowed the girls to lead them down the halls and imprison them in their own dungeon.
The pair returned to a hero's welcome on the battlefield. They were nearly suffocated as the whole army tried to congratulate them all at once.
         Soon, Dalmen, the kindly old squirrel, intervened. "Alright. Give them some air. They've had a harder battle then we." At his words the soldiers backed away, giving the girls some room to breath.
        Dalmen removed his helmet and revealed his haggard little face. He looked older then he had before the battle. Arianna and Skyler were too breathless to thank the poor squirrel.
Shinx flew in over the crowd, landing with her wings drooped. "Teran is dead." The crowd gasped as she retold the story. "During the battle, Teran's son made an appearance. I only reached Teran and killed his son after much damage had been dealt. I'm sure Teran couldn't bring himself to attack his son so he was just taking hits. I carried him outside the wall and stayed with him as a guard. As the naturally dark creatures fled, I tried to hold them off, but in the end I wasn't enough. They managed to get to him and finished him off. I would've brought the body, but there was nothing of significance left." Tears streaked down the pixie's face.
"It wasn't your fault lass." Dalmen placed a reassuring paw against her leg. The highest he could reach with his short stature. "He went bravely. He will be honored."
————
This had to be a dream. Farin stood in the middle of the battlefield, too overwhelmed to notice the crowd gathering a good ways off. It was actually over. He couldn't believe it. After all these years, his parents were avenged. The kingdom of Faringhine was restored. And on top of all that, his sister was alive and well. This was too good to be true, wasn't it? Farin had lost everything in one day, but now, twelve years later, he had almost all of it back. He turned and noticed the congregation of men, animals, and creatures to his right. This was no dream. It was real. This was his opportunity and he had to grab it. He straightened his sword belt, removed his dented breastplate, and walked towards the group of victors.
————
Skyler wandered away from the group of mourning animals and celebrating creatures. She wasn't in the mood for a party. She stopped at the crumpled body of the dragonoid Caleb. Yes, they had won, but at what cost. They had lost Caleb. She had lost Caleb. Now, there was a void inside her that she wasn't sure how to fill. Skyler sank to her knees and broke down into tears. This was worse then living under the tyrannical rule of Ronan. Skyler knew that it was wrong to think that, but she couldn't help it. She had lost someone she loved. Her arms were crossed over Caleb's upper torso and she sobbed into her arms.
         Suddenly, she felt him breathing. Skyler let out a little scream, which attracted Arianna and the rest of the army.
"Skyler, what's wrong?" Arianna knelt beside her.
"Caleb is breathing." Her voice trembled.
        Arianna stood and reached for her sword.
       "No!" Skyler grabbed Arianna's arm. "Are you sure we can't help him?"
"Skyler, the only chance we had of fixing him was murdered. You have to let him go."
        Tears rolled down Skyler's cheeks. How could she let him go?
Someone cleared their throat. "Excuse me, but I might be of some assistance." A large dragon that shone like a star stood behind them, considering Caleb's body.
"What?" Skyler asked skeptically. She couldn't dare to hope.
"I may be able to restore him." Skyler's anxiety showed though she tried to hide it. "But it would kill me."
Skyler was crestfallen. "We can't ask you to do that."
"But I want to. I've lived a long time, but he still has much life in front of him."
"Okay. Only if you want to." Skyler stood and Arianna walked her back a few steps. Lilac climbed onto Skyler's shoulder.
The dragon shoved Caleb onto his back using his snout. Then he grabbed the arrow in Caleb's chest and yanked it out.
         Skyler covered her ears as the arrow ripped out of his flesh.
         Tossing the arrow aside, the dragon carefully shoved one of his claws into the wound. It made a sickening squelch as it entered Caleb. The dragon laid down as best he could, still keeping the claw in the injury. It closed its eyes and shuddered. When it opened them again, the light seemed to have faded from them. The dragon growled softly as the brightness seeped from its body.