Dark City

A small little short story, written in my earlier days.

Dark City.

Chapter 1: The freeloading bear.

(The two brothers of the INN?)

-Arkais blew on his nametag and whipped it with a nearby cloth. He looked around the INN lobby. He could not believe he finally had his own INN, well, almost his own. As Arkais was taking in the reality, a female bobcat came down the stairs. - “Excuse me, but I was wondering if you could tell the people in room 38-B to keep it down? I don’t normally get involved in people’s lives but I can’t sleep with that music playing.” The woman asked.

“Ok, let me just see who is in that room…um ma’am there isn’t anyone in that room.” Arkais said with a confused look. -Arkais looked back at the keys and then back at the check in and out board; no one was checked into the room. He apologized to the woman and asked her to stay in the lobby while he checked on the situation. He walked up the stairs and reached the 2^nd floor and room 38-B. He pounded on the door. He heard the music stop and someone talking. He yelled loudly “I don’t take kindly to freeloaders, now open the door damn it!” When nothing happened he summoned his weapon of choice, a sword with a small blade on the end of the handle. He slammed it in the door three times and on the third hit, it broke into pieces. Arkais rushed inside, and found a bear, white with black patches all over his fur trying to climb out the window.- “Intruder!” Arkais yelled at the top of his lungs. -The bear dropped down into the ally below and began to run. He ran to the front of the building when he was cut off by a dragon…another dragon.-

“Hello there. I’m Tempest, the older brother of the INN keepers, and the grounds keeper.” Tempest explained calmly. -Arkais lands with a loud thud behind the bear.-

“And I’m Arkais, the inner INN keeper, and the guy who’s going to kick your a*s!” Arkais said as he summoned his sword.

“Now, now brother. Let’s let him introduce himself, who are you?” Tempest asked nicely.

“Oh, well I’m Oki. New to town.” Oki introduced himself.

“Well dear Oki, we have a problem. You see, you have no money, and we have no patience for people who use our rooms and don’t pay. Killing you is out of the question but-(Summons a scythe) beating you to a pulp, and sending you to the Hospital on the edge of death isn’t.” Tempest said with an alarmingly calm voice. -The two rushed at Oki, who summoned a giant sledge hammer, and used it to block the attacks. He punched Arkais and knocked Tempest away with his hammer. The brothers quickly recovered and rushed at him again, this time Tempest used the pole of the scythe to trip Oki and Arkais used his sword to slam Oki’s head into the ground. Oki slowly recovered from the attack. As he regained his balance he backed up against a fence and began talking to himself.-

“See, I knew I shouldn’t have listened to you. Relax? How can I relax? Oh…I forgot we can do that…ok. But no longer than it needs to be. Ok. Deal? Good then let’s do it…Iko.” Oki said to himself.

“Who are you talking to freak?” Arkais’s asked.

“Oh I’m talking to Iko. He’s my braver, stronger alter ego, and you get to meet him soon” Oki explained. -Oki began to laugh and sat down on the ground, the dragons just stared.-

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2: Oki’s darker side

(Blackwolf, the sheriff and Iko?)

-Oki continued to laugh for several seconds until Arkais stopped him. Oki stood up and looked down. His hammer disappeared. The dragons looked relived. Then Oki began to glow like weapons did when summoned. The light covered him then disappeared just as fast. Oki was still there, but he was now black with white patches.-

“what the hell? Wasn’t he white with black a second ago?” Arkais asked Tempest.

“Yeah he was. And where did his weapon go?” Tempest asked back. -Over hearing the brothers discussion the bear answered both their questions.-

“Yes he did have white fur. And yes the hammer is gone. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Iko. Oki’s alter ego if you would. I am the result of years of bottled up emotions.” Iko explained. -Iko summoned a two sided ax, and readied himself. Tempest and Arkais rushed at him. Just as quick as they got to him, Iko moved behind Tempest, and swung his ax. Arkais blocked his attack with his sword. Iko, swung his ax and caught Arkais in the head. He managed to strike Tempest with the hilt of his weapon.-

“Wow, you guys really aren’t that tuff. I guess killing you will be doable.” Iko laughed.

“What? We can’t kill them we have to think. Lets just knock them out and make a break for it.” Said Oki from the ax.

“Oki…is the weapon. I get it, when they switch places, the one not using the body is the weapon.” Arkais explained to Tempest. -The two dragons rushed again, this time, Iko turned back into Oki, who used his hammer to break the dragons apart. Oki switched to Iko who slammed Tempest in the gut with the hilt of the ax again, this time however, there was a small, snapping sound. Iko kicked him to the ground. Tempest spit up a little blood and rolled over. Arkais rushed at Iko, who again turned into Oki. Oki swung his hammer, and knocked it into Arkais’s stomach. Oki switched to Iko, who loomed over Arkais.-

“one death wouldn’t hurt.” Iko laughed.

“Damn it Iko! You can’t!” Oki yelled from the weapon. -Iko ignored him and swung the blade down. There was the crackling of electricity, and a flash. Iko went flying back, small scorch marks on his fur. Up on the highest railing of the INN, a black wolf stood. Small sparks could barely be seen jumping around the red rings on his fur. The figure jumped down and landed as if it were nothing.-

“Tempest, can you fight anymore?” The figure called out.

“Yeah, just not too hard.” Tempest answered.

“Arkais, are you ok?” The figure walked over and helped Arkais up. -The figure’s red stripes began to glow. He shot out a long bolt of lightning and knocked Iko out cold. Unconscious, he changed back into Oki. The three were about to strike the unaware fighter, when three shots rang out. Three darts between the three standing fighters were seen. The two dragons and wolf fell down, fast asleep. The town sheriff walked over.-

“Attacking a man while he’s down? How low can you get?” The man asked.

-Several other men and women showed up and carried the three off. It took most of them to pick up Oki. They loaded the four into a truck and drove off. Off in the distance, a fox that was watching the whole fight suddenly disappeared. Back in the truck, the three that were hit with the knock-out darts were waking up. Oki was already awake. He looked at the three with a pissed, yet scared look. The three were on their ways to prison…the worst place to be. The guards were more corrupted than the inmates,

 

Chapter 3: Alpha dogs of the yard.

(The deals are struck?)

-Two days had gone by sense the four had arrived to the Dark City prison. The four talked it out, and agreed to forgive and forget. The four, in the course of those two days had taken over the yard. They were walking around, collecting everyone’s payment, when they were taken to the Warden’s right hand man’s office.-

“Boys, we have a problem here. See in the last two days there has been a shift of authority amongst the inmates. You four are the alphas to say the least. But there in lies the problem…I am the only alpha in this prison! That’s me, Anglat!” Anglat shouted.

“Sir, we just have influence over the masses of this prison. The guards and you still rule.” Blackwolf explained.

“Yes well, even then, they fear you all over me. Now let me tell you something:

Oki Nagasaki-One count of breaking and entering, and two counts of assault.

Tempest, and Arkais Darkscale-two counts of assault.

And Blackwolf- well, one count of magic using. Oki and you dragons are looking at least…two years. Blackwolf…DEATH.” Anglat said.

“What?!” Arkais yelled. -The guards in the room moved closer.

“Sir, we understand that there is a law against magic, but I think we can work out a deal. You see, the way I think of it, you must be immensely powerful to be the warden of the 3^rd most strict prison. So, how about a 3 vs. 1 match. We lose, you double our sentences. We win, we walk. Sound good?” Oki asked.

“Deal.” Anglat replied with a grin. -The two dragons and bear were marched out into the yard. The wolf was placed under lock down. The three challengers summoned their weapons. Anglat did the same. A hammer, sword, and scythe, against twin magnums. In the hands of the prison keeper. Tempest and Arkais jumped up and soared down at Anglat. He side stepped Arkais but got skimmed by Tempest’s wing. Oki came up from behind Anglat and went for a low strike against Anglat’s knees. He barely dodged. He regained his balance and shot at Tempest and Arkais. Who being in the air, dodged easily. Oki rushed up to Anglat again. This time however, Anglat shoved his guns straight into Oki’s stomach, and fired. The shots ran out, and echoed in the yard. Oki landed face down on the ground.- “OKI!!!” The dragons yelled out. -Oki moved around. He turned over on his back and held his stomach.- “Oh…F**K!! That hurt like hell! What the hell kind of guns are those?” Oki asked rolling around in pain.

“(Sighs) Do you think there would be even half the number of inmates in here if I used normal guns? These things take air in, super compress it, and shoot it out. With that combination, it heats up and glows like you saw. The blood warm feeling is the heat hitting you. The shots hurt just as much as hollow points would, but this pain stays longer.” Anglat explained. -Oki got on his feet, and smiled. He got rid of his hammer and turned into Iko, who immediately summoned his ax. Before anyone could resume fighting, an explosion sent the yard into a cloud of smoke. When it cleared, a fox stood in the center of the yard. She was a mix of black and red. She held a clipboard in her hand.-

“That’s it! Match is over. Oki, Tempest, Arkais, Blackwolf, and Anglat, to the wardens office…NOW!” She yelled. The four who could walk, got rid of their weapons and walked. Blackwolf, was lead to the office. Inside it was dark and empty, minus a table. The four sat down, and Blackwolf was released. The fox walked in and shut the door.

 

Chapter 4: Hit men for Mr. E.W.

(There are mobs and gangs here?)

-The five sat at the table. The fox had left the room. She walked down the hall and walked in the door marked: Biohazard.- “So?” Asked a man in a lab coat.

“Oki Nagasaki: Hammer user. Lacks a back bone sometimes. But can be very intimidating in a pinch. Has the unique ability to change into his alter ego Iko.

Iko Hiroshima: Oki’s alter ego, and ax wielder.

Tempest Darkscale: The older brother of the Darkscale dragons, and co INN owner. Wields a scythe, which is ironic, seeing as he loves nature.

Arkais Darkscale: Younger dragon brother, and sword user. He has Hallucinations from time to time.  He gets upset when people threaten his INN or his mate.

Blackwolf: Magic user, and Arkais’s mate. Unknown origin.

Anglat Jailer: Local Prison keeper. Uses dual magnums. He had these guns modified.” The fox explained.

“Good. Go back to them. And tell them the deal. And don’t forget to tell them the consequences for not obeying.” The man ordered. - The fox made her way back down to the room, where the five guys were waiting.-

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Now then, here’s the issue. My employer Mr. E.W., owns portions of the local buildings. Including the Prison, and the bank. Now it as come to our attention that you all have charges against you that will land you in, or back into prison. And this Mr. E.W. doesn’t want. So here is the deal: You work for him, and he lets the charges go. What’s the job exactly? Well, there are mobs and gangs in this city, threatening Mr. E.W. ’s businesses. We need the five of you to take them out. Death would be best here. We hope you would consider. After all, we don’t want to have to resort to the alternatives. Those being: The Darkscale INN owes the bank money, it would be a shame if it had to be destroyed. And That grave marked: Tiffany Hiroshima is in an illegal area not marked for graves. Magic is not tolerated, and all those who use it must be dealt with. And you Anglat? You have been hosting illegal prison fights, a lot of guys in prison would like to pay you back for that. So do we have a deal?” The fox asked.

“Deal.” The others said regrettably.

“Good. Then head down to the front gate and get you first assignment. Oh, and ask for me if you have any questions. The names…Angelus.” Angelus explained. -The five made their way to the gate and picked up a card. It showed a picture, name and location of the man they had to kill. They headed out, only to be called back for earphones that will let them talk to one another. They walked away from the prison, as hit men for blackmail.-

“Are they wearing the earphones?” E.W. asked

“Yeah. They are all wearing them.” Angelus reported.

“Did I ever tell you what a good assistant you make?” E.W. asked.

“Ugh, yes sir. You tell me all the time.” Angelus said looking at her clipboard. -E.W. began laughing. Meanwhile, the group, had just finished rigging the targets vehicles, and factory with explosives.-

“Here he comes…5...4...3...2...1...NOW!” yelled Anglat. -The factory exploded, and several men came running out. They all piled into several of the vehicles. This time, Oki set off the bombs. The cars exploded. The group regrouped and walked away from the factory.- “This is Oki…target eliminated.” Oki reported. -The group walked to the prison.

 

Chapter 5: 5 vs. 1

(The ultimate opponent?)

-A month later, the group had taken down several of Mr. E.W. ‘s rivals. They had just taken down the last in the north end of town and were making their way back to the prison.- “Dude this f*****g sucks! We’ve been at this for over a month. When are we finally going to have repaid our dues?” Anglat asked.

“Who knows or cares? Let’s just get our next assignment.” Arkais said leading the group. -They reached the prison, and were greeted by applause. They were confused but brushed it off and made their way to the of were Angelus gave them their assignments. They filed in and were greeted by Angelus and a man in mask and lab coat clapping.- “Ok, I give. What the hell is this?” Oki asked.

“Well it’s big news when one inmate even has a chance of getting his freedom back. But five is unheard of. News of you guys getting your freedom passed so fast through the prison grapevine, it could have broken the sound barrier. My employer will give you the last assignment himself.” Angelus told.

“(Distorted voice) Hello you guys. Thanks to you, my opponents in this game have given up and signed half of their companies to me, or died. Thank you. There is one last guy I need you to eliminate first. His name is Richard Thorne. He owns the south side of this town’s smaller businesses. I want him eliminated. It will gain the bank, and therefore me money. Go now, he is in the tallest building there.” Mr. E.W. ordered. -The gang walked out of the yard and made their way to the to the south side of town. They found a building that fit Richards core building description, and moved in. Inside they found a cat, silver with black patterns on his fur. He sat on the steps of the building. He looked up at the group as they walked in. The cat summoned his weapon, a giant combat knife.- “If you’re here to kill Mr. Thorne, you have another thing coming. The only one to get in here would be me, Pepper.” Pepper announced. -The group all summoned their weapons and charged. Arkais used his sword to try and end the fight quickly. But pepper was too fast and dodged. Tempest swung his scythe down with all his force, but again the cat dodged. Oki used this opportunity to get close enough to strike. The hit didn’t appear to even phase the cat. Pepper quickly retaliated and charged Oki. Oki used his hammer to block, but Pepper still managed to slash Oki’s arms. The cut wasn’t deep or big. Oki ignored it and charged. Blackwolf (who had been watching the first half of the fight) used the chance when no one was near Pepper to attack. The cat however, as if know what was coming, in a flash hit the other four fighter with metal wires. He used his blade to channel the electric charge to his opponents. Anglat (Also watching) fell to the ground and passed out. Blackwolf looked around, amazed. Tempest and Arkais dropped down, passed out. Oki dropped to a knee and winced from pain. He watched as Pepper attacked and took Blackwolf down. He stared at the cat and finally passed out. Angelus who had been watching the night from high up in the trees nearby called back to Mr. E.W.- “you were right, he had a guard. He thrashed our hit men. But the building is strapped up with explosives. I will get the guys and blow it sky high.” Angelus explained. -As she did, several police officers walked into the court yard and took the five unconscious bodies away. Angelus waited and blew the building. The last thing she saw was Pepper hopping a fence to escape. She glared at him as he ran off. She jumped out of the tree and made her way back to the prison. She felt defeated. Back in the prison, the group awoke, with guards surrounding them.-

 

Chapter 6: Anger surfaces.

(Why blame anyone this far in?)

-The group awoke in the conference room. They all scrambled to get up.-

“well gentlemen, lucky for you Ms. Angelus was able to destroy the building. She assured me that not even she could be able to defeat that guard. So you are safe to walk. Good bye. Oh and Anglat, your fired.” Mr. E.W. announced. -The group walked out of the prison yard.- “Well, that was…different. Well later” Oki said to the group.

“Wait. You don’t honestly think your leaving that easily do you?” Tempest asked.

“Yeah I do. He said we were free to walk.” Oki explained.

“Yeah, but your free loading a*s is the whole reason we wound up in there in the first place.” Tempest argued.

“Bro give it a rest.” Arkais said.

“F**k off Arkais. This guy is the reason we had to take so many lives. And I’m about to make the burden a little lighter, by killing him.” Tempest said summoning his scythe.

“Ok. If that’s the way you want it.” Oki said summoning his hammer.

“Come on guys. Seriously, don’t you think is pointless?” Anglat asked. -Anglat took a few steps forward, and was stopped by Arkais’s hand.- “ Let them fight it out. If I gets out of hand, we will stop them.” Arkais told him. -The two fighters stared at each other. Their weapons in an attack position. Tempest rushed at Oki, using his wings to push air back and speed him up. Oki readied himself. Tempest soared into the air, and came back down with a strong force attack with his scythe. It pushed Oki into the ground slightly. Oki used his strength  and pushed the dragon back. He moved out of the way before Tempest could counter attack. Oki rushed at Tempest while he was pulling his weapon out of the ground. Tempest barely managed to get it out, and blocked the blow. The recoil sent Tempest flying back. Oki began rushing again. This time he turned into Iko, who maneuvered around the dragon. Iko switched back to Oki, who use his hammer and struck Tempest, straight in the side. The attack caused Tempest to cough up a blood. He went down to his knee. The look of hatred and anger in his eyes.- “S**t…he has the same look as our father. The look that nearly cost the world and it’s inhabitants their lives. (thinking) Don’t go down this path brother. Your better than that.” “Arkais said out loud and to himself.

-Oki walked over to Tempest and raised his hammer. He brought it down on Tempest with as much force as he could. Tempest laid in a small crater from the impact. He moved his hand and slammed his fist into the ground. Oki repeated his attack. With stronger force. A larger crater was made. Tempest’s arms moved as if trying to lift him. But slowly fell down. Tempest didn’t move. Arkais ran past Oki, who got rid of his hammer. Anglat walked over to Oki.- “Happy now?” He asked.

“No.” Oki replied.

“OKI!” Tempest shouted. -Oki turned around.- “We will finish this later.” Tempest yelled.

“what ever. But next time…try not to be so weak.” Oki commented. -The five walked back to the INN and relaxed. Tempest slept the entire time, Oki rested his muscles, and the others just talked amongst themselves.- “Mark my words you fat a*s bear: I will get my revenge on you, someday.” Tempest said to himself.

“Kids, going to push himself over the edge one of these days, and I will be waiting for him to fall, right into my trap.” Iko thought. -Eventually, the group fell all relaxed, fell asleep. Still think about the events in the last twenty-four hours. So much had happened.

 

Chapter 7: Spirit fight!

(How do fight a man with a thousand lives?)

-The next few days were awkward for the group. The others did there best to keep Tempest and Oki away from each other. Eventually, Oki and Tempest forgot their petty feud. Oki was walking around the town, on his way back from picking up food, when he over heard two men talking about a man in the woods who worked for Mr. E.W. The man was supposedly unbeatable. Smelling a chance for an epic fight, Oki rushed back to the INN where the other waited.- “About time. I was worried you were going to eat it all.” Arkais laughed. -Oki threw the bags at him.- “Guys…I heard there was a man out in the woods. He’s been killing people, and is supposedly undefeated…interested?” Oki asked.

-The group agreed to the hunt. Packed their bags. And left for the woods, on the outside of the town. The woods were thick, and dark. There were sounds of things moving all around the group. Finally thy came across a clearing. In the middle, on a rock sat a man with a large straw hat covering his face. Oki and Blackwolf tensed.- “Hey…Iko you see that? That glow?” Oki asked quietly.

“Yeah. I see it.” Iko answered.

“You guys see that too?” Blackwolf asked.

“Yeah.” Oki replied.

“What? See what?” Tempest asked.

“Well, because of his magic, and for me Iko, the two of us have a higher sixth sense. And we can see people’s auras. And his is…made of evil, and…it’s like there’s thousands of them. Guys…I think this is the infamous Shadow-Eater!” Oki exclaimed. -The man, quite until now, rose and laughed briefly. He rushed at the group. Quick movement from Arkais led to a quick death. A single slash ended the mans life. However, before the group could celebrate, the man rose from the ground. He spat up a blob of blue liquid, that vanished. He ran past the others in a flash, and shoved his palm into Arkais. Sparks of black light shot out of the man’s hand. They traveled all over Arkais until he fell to the ground. His eye in the back of his head. Tempest summoned his scythe and slashed wildly about. Wanting the man’s blood. Several successful slashes did little or no harm to the man. He took out Tempest the same way he did Arkais.- “Oki, Blackwolf, I have an idea. We can’t kill him in this realm so long as he has those souls. But if we were to travel to the world of the spirits, we can take him down from within. But the connection will have to be made through Oki, which means Anglat will have to hold him off alone.” Iko explained. -Anglat wasn’t listening. He was fighting with the man from a distance. Blackwolf and Iko entered the spirit world. Inside there was one object that caught there attention. A large rock. For what ever reason, the rock held the souls that were inside the man outside. They began attacking it. It had a physical effect on the man. Each strike caused him to spit up another orb. Eventually, there was nothing but a stone orb in place of the rock. A small, normal sized aura came off it. Iko and Blackwolf went back to physical world. Blackwolf walked over to the man and gasped.- “No…you are supposed to be dead!” Blackwolf yelled. -The man laughed and jumped in the air. Blackwolf yelled and shot several bolts of lightning at the man. The man avoided all shots.- “Hmm, good to see you too…see you around bro.” The man laughed. -The man faded away.- “What was that about Wolfie?” Arkais asked rising up.

“(Sigh) Nothing, he was a friend turned enemy. My brother…Whitepaw.” Blackwolf said.

 

Chapter 8: The graveyard calls.

(Can the dead really rise?)

-The group took a few days to patch up there wounds. As normal, Tempest was walking around town admiring the fauna. He was fallowing a rare colored fungus to it’s source, when he was jumped by some muggers. He naturally fought them off. Followed them back to an abandon building. Inside there were others. And a woman by the body shape. They were all talking low, but Tempest’s dragon ears heard everything. We failed. Please tell Mr. E.W. we are truly sorry. No matter, we have other ways to succeed. Upon hearing this Tempest ran back to the INN and informed the others. In a flash the building was in shambles. The thugs told the group Angelus ran to the graveyard. They made their way to the graveyard. Upon entering, the gate began to close. A woman jumped out and ran for the gate.- “NO! Don’t let it shut!” She yelled. -The gate slammed shut.- She ran off the other way screaming. In the chaos Tempest and Oki disappeared. The rest of the group continued walking until they saw Tempest walking towards them, a girl tied up over his shoulder, and dragging a knocked out Oki.- “She was hiding in a tree, and he saw her and passed out…again.” Tempest explained. -Oki came to, just in time for them to start questioning Angelus.- “Who is Mr. E.W. and why did he send those thugs at us?” Arkais asked.

“I would love to tell you, but we have company.” Angelus said gesturing to a man hobbling over to the group. He rushed at Oki and was killed by Arkais. The body fell and remained motionless. But the head continued to moan. The group continued through the graveyard and quickly learned from Angelus, that a parasite was re-animating the corpses in the ground. The only way left to go was out the other end. But they had to kill the parasite source first. She told them it was in a large bodied man recently buried. As the group progressed, they found the disembodied head of the woman from earlier. And not to far away, a large grotesque creature. It had tentacle like objects sprouting from its back. It ran towards the group with surprising speed. It grabbed Anglat and tried to crush him. A blow to the back fro Oki, and to the gut from Arkais caused it to drop Anglat. The creature roared a deep menacing roar. Oki fell to his knees. He just stared at the creature as the other ganged up on it.- “You see it don’t you? That’s the power behind the parasite. Uncontrolled of course. But if you let Mr. E.W. continue his research…we can make it to were the person comes back…alive. Normal. And with all memories.” Angelus explained to Oki. -Oki stood up and looked at the creature, who was on the ground. To wounded to stand. He took his hammer and raised it over his head. He looked back at angelus and slammed the hammer down.- “I don’t care. Let the dead sleep.”  He said to Angelus. -At that moment, all zombies that were marching to the fight, dropped down. It was silent. The group located the exit and made there way to it. On the other side they found a place to rest. They put Angelus on a tree stump and started asking her questions.- “What was the parasite for?” Arkais asked.

“All in due time my friend.” Angelus replied.

“What about E.W. who is that?” Tempest asked.

“Hmm. Fine you earned that at least. His name is Ezekiel. Now if you will excuse me(cuts herself loose.) I need to give him a full report. I bid you all goodbye for now.” She said as she ran off. -The group wanted to chase her, but was too exhausted from the previous fight. They let her go until another day. For now, they all marched back to the INN.

 

 

Chapter 9: Much need R, R, and F.

(A discovery from training?)

-The day after the fight in the graveyard, the group decided to have some much needed rest and relaxation. Blackwolf, Anglat, Tempest, and Arkais were playing basketball outside. Oki was taking a hot bath in the INN. When he walked out of the room, Tempest was there waiting for him.- “Oh, you scared me. I thought you were down stairs.” Oki explained. -Tempest glares then grins.- “Come outside with me Oki. I need to show you something.” Tempest told him. -The two walked into the front entrance.- “Care to explain this?” Asked Oki. -Tempest holds up a tombstone, with the letters scratched out.- “I wanted to show you, this.” Tempest said as he snapped it in two. -Anglat, Arkais, and Blackwolf stared. Oki glared at Tempest with a look of pure hatred. The two summoned their weapons.- “Look, Oki. I realize it was a really fucked up move, but you cant just beat him to a pulp.” Iko tried to explain.

“No I can’t. I’m not going to either…I’m going to obliterate him!” He screamed as he ran towards Tempest. -With Oki swinging wildly out of rage, Tempest had no problem dodging. Iko kept trying to switch with Oki, or talk him out of it, but nothing was getting to him. Tempest was winning the fight, with no change in sight. After awhile Oki stopped chasing him.- “What’s wrong? You giving up you worthless piece of s**t?” Tempest yelled. “Tempest f**k off!” Arkais yelled.

“You…you think your so much better than us. You walk around and talk to us like we are nothing. Your pathetic. The fact you have to try and beat me to prove a point is pathetic. Your weak!” Oki yelled out. -Tempest ran at Oki in anger. Both anger provoked, slashed wildly. Tempest finally got a hit in, a cut to Oki’s abdomen. He fell over. He tried to switch to Iko, but failed. He kept trying. But every attempt ended in failure.- “See, the strongest part of you can’t even fight. No wonder your father gave up on you.” Tempest laughed. -At that, Oki’s hammer disappeared. He stood up, his eyes red. He began to glow like he did when switching to Oki. But instead, his body grew taller, and larger. The glowing dissipated, and a grey colored bear stood in Oki’s place. He summoned a hammer, with an ax blade on the opposite side. He pointed it at Tempest. Tempest readied himself. The bear rushed at him, and swung. Tempest blocked, but was sent flying back. The recoil, much stronger then before. The bear ran again, this time using the blade of the weapon to strike. It knocked Tempest’s scythe to the ground. The bear switched directions and slammed the hammer side into Tempest. Tempest land a few feet away. Wheezing, he very slowly regained his balance. The bear raised his hammer and slammed it on the ground, sending a shock wave at Tempest. The wave caused a cloud of smoke to form. When it cleared, the was a small ditch from where the wave began to Tempest. Tempest himself was out cold. As was Oki. The others, still shaken from the wave carried Tempest to his room, they just brought Oki a blanket and pillow. The others walked back into the INN.

Meanwhile, Angelus and Ezekiel were going over the results from the graveyard.-

“Did you feel that sir?” Angelus asked.

“Yeah. Probably a low scale quake. Forget it and look at this. It’s perfect. I just need you to get it to the lab on Shroud Island.” Ezekiel explained.

“Yes sir. But tomorrow. I’m still worn out from the fight in the graveyard, and the run back here from yesterday. Good night sir.” Angelus said as she walked out of the lab.-

 

 

Chapter 10: Port Side to Shroud Island.

(A chase to the lab?)

-Angelus awoke the next morning, got her supplies, practiced her fighting skills, and left for the port in the town East of Dark City. At the same time, the group was searching for new rumors and picked up on Angelus’s mission. They quickly began tailing her. They weren’t far off when they passed an abandon shack. Searching inside, they found supplies that were still good. They continued walking to the town known as Port Side. Port Side had the oldest, yet still most used port in the land. Arkais and Tempest chose to fly ahead and see how far ahead Angelus was. She was a few hours walk ahead of them. The group rushed, not wanting to miss their chance at catching Ezekiel’s assistant. Up ahead. Angelus began talking to herself.- “It’s not fair. I’m the smart one. Yet I’m doing that idiot’s work for him. When the hell did I turn into an errand boy…oh yeah, when I fired the errand boy for hitting on me. I need to rethink my chain of command soon.” Angelus said to the wind. -An hour later, she made it to Post Side. She was walking around the city and walked into the town square when Tempest and Arkais landed in front of her, weapons drawn. Angelus smiled and put her stuff down. She stared at the two and summoned her weapon, a kusarigama. The dragons ran towards her, but Angelus didn’t budge. They raised their weapons, ready to strike simultaneously. Then, as if not even trying, she threw her kusarigama blades around the dragons’ weapons and pulled them to the ground. The dragons looked up at her and she looked back and just smiled. Back with the others, it took them another hour to reach the city. They walked around, looking for Tempest and Arkais. They saw a large crowd of people gathered in a circle around a section of the town square. They moved through the crowed and in the middle, Tempest and Arkais. They were tied up with rope and unconscious. The others broke the crowed apart and untied them. A shock from Blackwolf woke them up.- “Damn, she got away. Sorry guys.” Tempest apologized.

“Yeah, sorry.” Arkais chimed in. -Anglat walked away to ask a man something.-

“No need to apologize. She is Ezekiel’s assistant. You can’t expect anything less.” Oki laughed. -Anglat walked back over.- “Well, we still don’t know what she is actually doing in this city.” Blackwolf complained.

“Well, nothing. She’s heading to Shroud Island. She was asking people if any boats went that far. Only two go that far from this port.” Anglat reported. -The others all thanked him and rushed off to the port. One boat that would take them to the port was left. They all checked it for traps Angelus might have set. The boat was clean. They paid the boat owner and headed off for the island. As they were passing over the water, Blackwolf looked down into the water, and thought he saw something large moving near the ocean floor. He shrugged it off and focused on the task at hand. The group needed to find out what Ezekiel was doing. They needed to stop it if needed. They needed to feel like life was safe again. The boat owner called land-ho, and slowed to a stop. The group disembarked, and asked the man to wait an hour before leaving. He agreed. The group made their way up the hills of the island. They made their way to the top of the first hill, and saw it. A large structure, high walls, barbed wire, and a large steel gate. What ever was inside that building, wasn’t meant to get out. Nor people to get in. Regardless, the group had a job to do. And they were determined to do it. They knew whatever Ezekiel was up to, couldn’t be good. They moved closer to the building. As they reached the wall, they were captured.

 

 

Chapter 11: An elixir of life.

(Oki and Iko separated?)

“Ugh, where…am I?” Blackwolf asked.

“In lab 21-H.” A man said. -Blackwolf, Arkais, Anglat, and Tempest were chained up to the wall. They looked around for Oki, and saw him in a tube filled with some kind of liquid. Angelus walked in at that moment, and looked at the four.- “Hope you boys are comfortable. You wont be leaving for awhile.” Angelus said as she laughed. -She walked over to the tank.- “Hmm. How are we doing on this one?” She asked a scientist.

“Good ma’am. We have successfully found the DNA strand that belongs to Iko. Would you like to begin the second step ma’am?” The man asked.

“Yes. Begin it now.” Angelus ordered. -The men began turning knobs and pressing buttons on the console. A large needle entered the tank and stabbed into Oki. He didn’t flinch.- “You fuckers killed him!” Tempest yelled out.

“Stupid boy. We are scientist, not animals. We have him under such heavy sedatives, a bomb could blow his leg off and he wouldn’t realize it.” Angelus explained to the group. -The needle didn’t extract blood. But rather a strange clear slime like substance. The needle top opened, and a man poured a vile of black substance into the needle. The two substances began to mix and swell together. It turned red. White and several different colors. Then it all stopped. They poured the substance into the tank next to Oki. The substance seemed to be taking a shape. It quickly formed a creature like shape. The it grew to about Oki’s size and shape. It grew fur. Legs, arms, a head. Black fur covered it from head to toe. It was Iko.- “Ma’am that’s it. The elixir is finished. Bones, muscles, brain, organs, blood, and fur are there. We have done it.” A man reported.

“Good. Get the final mixture ready for transfer. And send these…six. To Lockdown area seven.” Angelus ordered the men.  -The men escorted the four chained furs out, and carried the other two. They put them all, in a fairly large room.- “Oh, wow I just had the weirdest dream Oki.” Iko said out loud. -He looked around and down at himself. He looked over and saw Oki still asleep.- “Maybe not a dream.

“Dream or not. They are planning to revive someone with that stupid elixir. And we are locked in her, with nowhere to go.” Anglat complained.

“Well, you could sit there and complain. Or you could explain to me why Iko is in front of me.” Oki said lifting up a security key. -The other took turns tell part of the story to Oki and Iko. At the end, Oki unlocked the door, and the six made their way to the docks. Angelus’s boat was nowhere to be seen. The six piled into the boat they charted, to find the driver dead. They pushed his body out into the water and took the boat. They were on their way back to the mainland. Meanwhile. Angelus had reached the mainland and was picked up in a chopper. The chopper flew towards Dark city. It landed near the center of town. Where the shrine of Draco the Dark lied in wait. Together, Angelus and Ezekiel made their way down to the shrines burial grounds. There, they found where the legendary Draco The Dark’s bones waited. They dropped the entire vile of elixir into the ground. It seeped into the ground. Their was a rumbling, and then nothing. Suddenly the ground broke apart, and a dragon, the same colors as Tempest, and Arkais stood. He looked at the two furs.- “Thank you for reviving me. Now to repay you.” The dragon roared.

Meanwhile, on the boat, Tempest and Arkais dropped to their knees and looked to the now black sky in horror.- “he’s back. Draco…Our father is back.” Tempest said.

 

Chapter 12: A city in ruins.

(That which they value most is gone?)

-The group of six reached shore after what seemed like forever. They saw people in the town rushing around franticly. They began a fast march back to Dark City. As they got closer to the city, the smell of smoke grew stronger. The looked to the sky. Despite not being able to see the sky, they knew it was stained red with evil. They reached the last hill before the city at last. They walked up the path and reached the top, and were greeted with despair. The city was in ruins. Buildings on fire. Those that weren’t were piles of rubble. Arkais looked towards where the INN would have been.- “S**t…Tempest, Blackwolf the INN!” Arkais yelled running down the path. -The other two followed.-

“Iko, mom’s grave.” Oki said with a paralyzed look. -The two ran to the next hill over. Anglat made his way to the prison.

Arkais, Tempest, and Blackwolf arrived at the rubble that was once the INN. Arkais dropped to his knees and yelled out in anger. Blackwolf got down on his knees to comfort him. Tempest just put his hands behind his head and looked at the rubble.

Oki and Iko made it to what was left of the small graveyard on the hill. Oki looked around, and found where his mother’s grave once was. A large footprint smashed it, and several others into nonexistence.

Anglat looked all over the area f0r the prison. The place he helped run for three years. He helped create its rep. Now he couldn’t even find it’s rubble. Disappointed, he marched to the city square.

Angelus awoke under piles of debris. She moved it and looked around. She walked out of the destroyed cave. To see flames in all directions. She looked around for her brother, who she found holding an odd looking stone.- “This rock has given me nothing but trouble since I found it. Now that he’s back. I don’t feel insane anymore.” Ezekiel told Angelus. -The two made their way to the city square.

Tempest stood staring at the building remains, and final tapped Blackwolf, and Arkais on the shoulders. He nodded and looked to the road that lead to the city square.

Oki and Iko sat, looking at their mother’s ruined grave. They looked at the town. And saw that the city square was empty. They made their way there. A few minutes later, they entered the square, and saw Anglat, Tempest, Arkais, and Blackwolf enter too. The group, was reunited. They heard footsteps and summoned their weapons. Two furs walked into the square, a black and red fox, and a fox-wolf cross breed. It was Angelus, and who the group could only guess was Ezekiel. The group rushed at the two but stopped. They wanted to kill them, for everything they caused. But when Ezekiel explained about the digging, and the rock, they believed him for some reason. They partly forgave the two, and decided to forgive them completely if they helped kill the one who was truly responsible for the town’s destruction. They all looked at the far side of town. They had seen it before but didn’t care. But now they wanted revenge. On the far side of town, in a throne made of destroyed buildings, sleeping, was a large dragon. It looked like Arkais and Tempest. Black and silver scales. They knew, that this was Draco The Dark.

They walked closer but were stopped but a shout. There on a building were Pepper and Thorne. The two joined the group, weapons ready to go. The fight for the city, for the world was about to begin. They knew it was going to be a long fight too. But they were ready. The group walked to the sleep giant. The greatest battle was about to begin.

 

Chapter 13: Homecoming…

(Friends, and foes fight for life?)

-The ten furs stood in the center of town. Weapons in hand. Staring at their foe. They all charged. Arkais, and Tempest flew high in the air. Blackwolf, Angelus, Ezekiel, and Pepper jumped from destroyed building to destroyed building. Anglat and Thorne ran ahead of the bears and joined the others on the rooftops. Oki and Iko charged in the back of the pack, as the big hit dealers. They finally managed to join the others in their air assaults against Draco’s chest. As if knowing they were their, Draco’s eyes shot open, and roared. The wave from the roar seemed to hit the furs in slow motion. It felt they were all being hit, dozens of times at once. When the feeling passed, they all fell to the ground. They looked around and saw that they were all bleeding, but brushed it off. They figured frontal attacks wouldn’t do anything. So they designed a plan. Arkais, Tempest, and Oki ran behind some buildings. While the others tried to distract Draco. Angelus used her kusarigama to tie Draco’s snout shut. Anglat and Ezekiel used their guns to keep Draco from moving to much. Iko and Pepper used their blades to strike at Draco’s hands. Thorne use his katanas to attack Draco’s head. Finally, after several successful attacks, Draco managed to break free of the kusarigama chain. He roared, knocking the furs down. He grabbed Ezekiel and Anglat, and started squeezing them. They were gasping for breath, when Arkais, and Tempest dropped from the sky and cut the Dragon’s wrist. The for dropped back to the ground with the others. The Dragon looked at the group, with rage.- “You fools are on a dead mans quest! No one defeats Draco!” Draco roared. He began form an orb of flame, when something slammed into his head, causing him to look up, in pain. Oki rolled down the dragons tail. He held his thumbs up. There was a loud blasting sound, as Draco shot the fiery orb into the sky. He looked down at the furs and was about to roar, when the orb came down, and struck him. There was a large explosion, that sent the group flying away from the throne. When the smoke cleared. There was an egg in Draco’s place. The group cheered.  They had finally done it. Arkais looked at the sky. Still black. Then, in the middle of the celebration, the egg began moving. It was slowly breaking apart. It finally blew apart, and there, looking like nothing had happened, was Draco. He was now about as tall as anyone in the group. However, he still had the same feeling of evil. He looked at the group, and summoned a sword that looked like Arkais’s. He took his stance, and in a flash, as behind the group. Deep cuts appeared all over the furs, who fell to the ground.- “I’m in my top physical form. You worthless mortals don’t stand a chance.” Draco gloated. -Arkais, who had managed to escape the primary attack landed close behind the dragon. The two stared each other down. They rushed each other and met half way, swords clashing. The other nine managed to stand. They watched, as Draco over powered Arkais, cut him, and knocked him towards the group. The group helped him up. They split up, leaving Thorne with Draco. Thorne managed to get past Draco’s sword and used his katanas to hit Draco back. Ezekiel and Anglat used their charged guns to knock him back further, Angelus used her chain to trip him. Blackwolf’s shock wave sent Draco flying another direction, Tempest used his scythe to throw Draco at Pepper who cut and passed him to Iko, who used his ax to send Draco high in the air. Oki jumped up. And used his hammer to slam the dragon towards the ground at break neck speeds. And waiting on the ground, Arkais, who with one final slice, upwards, sliced straight through Draco. The group surrounded the dead dragon. It was over. They won.

 

Epilogue

(Rebuilding their lives?)

Oki & Iko: Oki and Iko didn’t stay around Dark city long after Draco’s death. They made their way up to Antarctica, where their father’s clan lived. Oki, being the outcast, challenged his father, for permission to be part of the alpha family again. It was a close fight, but Oki won the throne. Iko was made his advisor. The two commanded the northern branch of the bear clan, and did so to the point life for them and the clan became better.

Pepper: Pepper quit his job as a bodyguard. He started up a school for self-defense. He actually made a decent teacher. He soon found that more people wanted to know his skills. He opened a large build only months after the first one.

Anglat: Anglat gave up on ever trying to become a prison guard again. Rather he became a cop…which still is the same general thing. He started a team of his own, whose region contained Dark City, and Port Side. They are currently working on a drug bust in the west side of Port Side.

Richard Thorne: Richard eventually gave up on his mob. They disbanded, and he went to work for Ezekiel, as a contractor. He still challenges Ezekiel’s authority from time to time. He also helped create the new graveyard, where Oki’s mother and Draco rested.

Ezekiel & Angelus: Ezekiel admitted to the town’s people that he was the cause of Draco’s resurrection, but made it up, by funding the town’s reconstruction. He still has an interest in fur’s DNA. After the town was built up, he became mayor. As for Angelus, she was the plans, and brains behind all of Ezekiel’s successes. She was ok working behind Ezekiel, she made up for it, by swiping money from him. Angelus was still curious why Oki got a nose bleed around her, she found out from Blackwolf that she had a dark aura, which caused it.

Tempest, Arkais, and Black wolf: The three spent most of their time, over the months rebuilding the INN. After it was reconstructed, they quickly got business booming again. Tempest, angered at his burned garden, started a new one, and soon made it a green house area. Blackwolf, no longer needing to hide, he became a house keeper. He used his magic to speed things up. As for Arkais, he stuck to being inside. He added locks to the windows, so that the whole Oki deal never happened again.

The Shroud Island scientist: After the Draco incident, they all retired and destroyed the lab on the island. They all were believed to have committed mass suicide.

Dark City: Dark city, was completely rebuilt eighteen months after the Draco attack, it was better than before, thanks to the combined efforts, of it’s neighboring towns. After it was rebuilt, it was called Dark City: The city of the end. Appropriate.

The town had statues of the ten heroes made. And placed in town square.

The group: The group that stayed in town kept in contact, Oki and Iko never heard from anyone, mainly due to no one knew what happened to them. But They all remembered each other, and the adventure that brought them together. None of them could believe, that all that happened, had happened, because Oki was too lazy to get a job. But that’s how the world works they say. Things happen that don’t make sense.

And thus the story of Dark city ends….

The end

Author's Note

(WARNING) This is a story bout furries.