Red Sapphire

[focusedheart]

Sapphire looks to Shalidor as he returned. His words only confirmed her unease with everything. She nods a bit. "I was hoping I was wrong about this." She moves for the door, pausing to look at the council. "I will return. I appreciate all that everyone in this room does." She turns and leaves to go see the Collector alone again.

[gravitron]

The Collector waited for her in the same room they had met previously, a slight look of nervousness about him.
"Queen Sapphire," he began, "I was really hoping that you wouldn't involve Shalidor in this. I am restricted by Ancient Law from giving the details, and I know that you won't believe me, I can't leave without at least first warning you.
"Shalidor is not to be trusted. He has been plotting, planning, longer than you realize, and none of it is for the greater good. I long to tell you the details, but all I can do is have faith that you will heed my warning and not trust him. For with him around, the Staff is not even a true danger by comparison. He is the devil, my queen. He.... How can I say this without breaking the Law...."

[focusedheart]

She listened to his words. No Shalidor always had a plan in motion. It caused her to remember what Shalidor had said to her before leaving for hell after killing the devil.

No, now was not the time for her to drop her guard still. She was growing tired though. Perhaps Shalidor did know how tired she Was? How long had she fought to protect this world, mostly from itself.

"He has earned his name well. I will stand by my decision in giving him hell. If he wished my death ,he had several chances to do so and hadn't. I care only now for the safety of the people. I hear your warning. Yours is the same as many. Very few trust him." She sighs and shakes her head. "The staff is guarded well where no one shall find it. No one will ever get close enough to. As for Shalidor himself, if he becomes the threat so many fear him to be, then I will do what I must for the safety of the people."

[gravitron]

He frowned. "He is not so easy to kill as you think, for he is not at all what you think. And his plan is in motion even now, I'm certain of it. This is not just mistrust, this is more than that, goes back further than that. It is his very essence, his duty in existence, what he was given his immortal life for- And yes, he is immortal. For he is- Ah, confound the Law! Shalidor is-" His face formed a shocked expression as he gasped, falling to the floor. Behind him stood a grim-looking Shalidor holding a knife.
"My, my," spoke Shalidor, calm and cold. "'Confound the Law?' You were about to reveal secrets held by the Ancient Law? You are no true Ancient. You have changed, Alec. So much." He looked up to Sapphire. "Sorry about the mess. I had to carry out the will of the Law. Surely you must understand." He gave one of his signature mischevious and knowing smirks, the likes of which he hadn't shown since Lucifer had come.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire tensed as the Collector spoke. So there was more going on. Before she could move, the Collector fell to the ground and Shalidor was revealed.

There was no sadness in her eyes no exhaustion. No, there was nothing now as she gazed at him. Had she been so foolish to once more fall for his tricks? She had let her aching heart get in the way of her decisions.

"So tell me then Shalidor what is your plan this time? Your smile tells more than just what he was saying." She says, her voice now void of emotion. She couldn't let her emotions control this anymore.

[gravitron]

"Tell you my plan?" He laughed heartily, completely amused. "But where is the fun in that, Red! No. Much better to let you figure this out on your own. For now, all you need to know is that you have finally reached the climax of this story. The conflict has been revealed. And can not be resolved without death. For I have worked so long and so hard on this, Red. And I will not give up. Not so close. So go confer with your Council, go have one of your long, drawn out meetings. I'll be making the finishing touches. And when it's time, and when you're ready, I'm sure you will be able to figure out where to go. Farewell, Red Sapphire. And consider yourself lucky- You are alive to see what is coming." With one final laugh, he faded away.

[focusedheart]

Yeah, she had been a fool. That much was very clear. After he disappeared, she headed to the room. Her anger was at the surface but she didn't reveal any emotion. No she was beyond angry.

"We have a problem and one I created."

[gravitron]

"You don't say," groaned Lockhart, steadying himself against a wall. The rest of the Council seemed to be in a similar position, dazed and half conscious.
"This isn't your fault," Alistair told her. "You didn't know. He's the Deceiver, it's what he does."
"He used some sort of a spell," explained McIntyre, a already standing on his own again. "We all went unconscious for a minute. He was gone when we woke."
Matthew stood frozen in the doorway, entering. "The Collector.... He's dead?"

[focusedheart]

She shakes her head a bit and gritted her teeth. "Are you alright?" She asks then turns as Matthew spoke and entered.

She stared at him a bit then nods carefully. "Shalidor killed him."

[gravitron]

"We'll be alright," Hunter answered.
Matthew punched a hole into the wall. "That guy was my shot at getting my mother back! You're going to kill Shalidor, right?"

[focusedheart]

Her eyes flickered from light to dark for a second as she gazed at Matthew. "I'm going to deal with him. I will get your mother back." She turns to the council. " We need to prepare. We don't know his plan yet but we need to be ready. I'm tired of these games of his. He needs to be dealt with." Then an idea came to mind. A challenge. One not even Shalidor could get out of. He would have to accept or die.

[gravitron]

"What's your plan here?" Matthew asked her. "The Collector told me he's immortal."
"You're not really the brightest, are you?" answered Lockhart. "We have an Artifact that can kill immortals. It doesn't matter if he's mortal or not if we use that."
Alistair nodded slowly. "He has a point. The Staff."
"Excuse me, but didn't the Staff have the potential to end the world?" asked Hunter.
"Compared to Shalidor?" Alistair said. "It's a risk, sure, but isn't Shalidor the true threat here? With the Staff, we can end this quick."

[focusedheart]

She shakes her head. "That is what he is expecting. Is us instantly going for the staff. I have it hidden currently where not even he will ever find it." She shakes her head. "There are worse things than death and he knows this." She looks to everyone on the room. "I need to go to the tree of the gods. The same place they had me go when they passed their powers to me."

[gravitron]

"Why?" Alistair asked.
"Whether he expects it or not, there's no defense against it," debated Lockhart. "Besides, this is Shalidor we're talking about. There's no telling what he's thinking of."
"As long as Shalidor lives, he's a threat," agreed Matthew.
"Hang on," Alistair stopped them. "What's your plan, Sapphire?"

[focusedheart]

She shakes her head slightly. "The staff must remain hidden. There is too much risk of him being able to get it."

She nods to Alistair. " The gods had the power to put him away before. They gave that power to me and the other guardians the last time. This time there are no gods to assist and the guardians can not leave their areas. There is another way. Unfortunately the details of the rest of what I plan to do, I will not share with anyone and am keeping my own mind on lock down."

She looks to Matthew. "I may be able to get you a small window where you can get to hell and bring your mother back. There are gateways in this world to other places." She says.

[gravitron]

"Sapphire," Matthew warned one last time. "I don't know what Shalidor is, but it's not what he says it is. It's not just a human with training in magic. He killed the Collector, an Ancient. You don't just kill an Ancient." He sighed. "Whatever you do, don't let your guard down. Something is not what we think about him."
"Don't let your guard down for sure," agreed Alistair with a nervous smile. "Now go, do what you need to do. And don't let Shalidor trick you."

[focusedheart]

Her eyes seem to flicker slightly. "I know he isn't human. I don't know exactly what he is either but I do know he has seal3d his own fate."

She nods and leaves the room. Once outside she shifted to her dragon form and took off. She flew as fast as her wings would carry her towards the tree of the gods.

[gravitron]

"No way will this work," Matthew said once she had left. "She needs the Staff. As long as he lives, he's a danger, and if he doesn't have a plan for whatever she's doing, then I'm Batman."
"That may be so," agreed McIntyre, "but we must have faith in our queen-"
"Your queen," Matthew told her. "Not mine. And I don't do faith. But Shalidor will make this a Hell on Earth if we don't kill him."
"I'm with you," Lockhart told him. "Shalidor should have stayed dead. If we don't kill him again, and permanently, he'll never leave. And knowing him, he probably knows exactly what Sapphire's doing."
"Hell on Earth," mused Shalidor, keeping his presence hidden from Sapphire. "I couldn't have put it better myself." And with a flick of his wrist, the Council fell dead, though Shalidor made it appear as if they were still alive and well.

[focusedheart]

As she flew she reached out to the guardians, sending them her orders. The energy around the world began to change, a surge of light energy that bursted before fading sharply and the guardians went to ground. Barriers began to form in their regions.

Sapphire landed near the tree as she reached it. She gazed at its long branches and thick trunk. How long had this tree stood? It was the place of her first birth and would be the end of all.

Staying in her dragon form she approached it. Her eyes became darkness as she touches her head to its thick trunk. A memory flashed through her mind instantly. A growl rumbled from her belly as she jerked her head away. So that is what she would have to do. Her heart ached but it would have to be done.

She looks to the sky and then to the tree again. With a roar of anguish, she swung her tail as razors formed on it.it cit through the tree in one swipe. The god tree fell with a crash. It's branches withered and died but as it died, her scales glowed and the last of the gods power surged through her body that had been hidden in the tree.

[gravitron]

"Took you long enough to figure it out," Shalidor's voice said, though he wasn't there. "Well, how to unlock the power, that is. Not how to defeat me. After all, I am immortal. Listen, I'll give you a hint, because a fair fight is a fun fight. We Ancients, we're powerful. We can only be killed by other Ancients or by Artifacts. And the gods were Ancients, but you are not. Because power doesn't make you an Ancient, you are born that way, and we were born before time. So either find another Ancient -good luck, they're just about all dead- or bring an Artifact. Then, and only then, I will kill you."

[focusedheart]

Her eyes flicker as she heard his voice. "Why wait? Face me now. Even if you did kill me, you fail to see the bigger picture." She shakes her large body and sat down, her tail curled around her. "Face me now Shalidor."

[gravitron]

"You are a fool," his voice told her. "You can not kill me on your own, not without an Artifact. This is your final chance. It's no fun when there's no risk."

[focusedheart]

She stretches her wings before tucking them again. "Or maybe it is you who is the fool and have finally been tricked by the gods themself." She taunts.

[gravitron]

"I have not," he insisted calmly, "but as you wish. You have chosen to sign your own death sentence." He appeared before her, wearing jeans and t shirt and unarmed. He smirked at her. "Whenever you're ready."

[focusedheart]

As soon as he appeared she had disappeared. Her large form disappearing before appearing suddenly in human form before him. She aimed a bit to his right knee before drawing a dagger and bringing the weapon towards his torso. Power surged into the blade. Not god power, not guardian power, but power that had been used to resurrect her time and time again. The power of an artifact that had been hidden within her. Unlocked only now with the finaly possession of the last of the gods power. Their finaly gift to her.

[gravitron]

In the instant she reappeared, he had already spun to face her and a sword had materialized in his hand, with which he parried the strike.
"I was wondering what the gods had done with that one. Haven't seen it in eons. But at least now I know what trick you were hiding up your sleeve. You see, that's not far from Matthew's plan- I read his mind before I killed them all, he was considering taking Alec's Artifacts and challenging me himself. That many Artifacts, it wouldn't necessarily have been a bad plan. Too bad he can never find out if it'd've worked or not."

[focusedheart]

As soon as the blades connected, her hand turned into dragon claws. She sent her claws to his side as she pushed forward with her dagger still locked against his sword. She heard his words and it only caused her power to increase. "Keep talking Shalidor because you shall join your victims."

[gravitron]

He disappeared, only to reappear a few feet back. He was laughing, clearly unbothered by her. "We shall see. You have just no idea what you're dealing with here, Red." He beckoned her forward with a cocky smile.

[focusedheart]

She arches a brow as she calmed her stance and gazed at him. "I see what I'm dealing with. You are nothing but games. Always have been." She shrugs and flexes her claws before her hand returned to normal.

Suddenly there was a blade at his throat. Her original image fades. "You are old. Ancient doesn't even cover it. You're ego is larger than this world though."

[gravitron]

Shalidor laughed, seeming not to care about the blade at his throat. "Checkmate." He stabbed his sword into the ground, and its image shifted into that of the Staff of Death, and a wave of energy swept across the area, going farther than the eye could see. Shalidor simultaneously appeared a bit away in the other direction. "You really think you can trick the Deceiver, Red? I see through everything. And after so long in possession of the Staff, you don't think I bonded with it? That has been my weapon since its creation, and mine. Now," He began walking slowly back to her, hands in his pockets. "You may want to hurry up and kill me, before the spell kicks in."