Entering inside the ruin branches off into two different paths that seem to circle around. A large monster statue placed directly in the middle, and Brooklynn hopes nothing that size is here. Small rivers of fire runs through the place giving off little light. The girl could've sworn she just felt a trickle of sweat run down her forehead and they just walked in. "Man it's so hot! This definitely looks like a step up from our last mission."
"Let's get moving to finish this ruin quickly. I don't wanna suffocate inside here. Watch out for the fire though."
"But which path should we take? It looks like they both lead around towards the back." If each one leads to the most inner part anyway perhaps it doesn't matter. However Sonny goes to the right opening listening for a moment. Then doing the exact same thing with the left path.
"What are you doing?"
"Listening for noise. I hear less down this right path so we should run into less monsters."
"I see, seems it's the right way to go then."
Following his lead they take off down the right pathway. The monsters in here are a bit tougher than those ants. Still they manage to get pass them smoothly enough. If anything being careful not to make the wrong step amongst flames and traps is more troublesome. Running further down the two separate paths now join into one. They didn't even have to fight many monsters at all.
"You're hypothesis was correct. Looks like this was the faster route."
"The center can't be far now. Let's move!" Though Sonny comes to a sudden hault her nearly running into him. Looking ahead a single figure emerging from the opposite direction greets them.
"So this is the ruin the SP chose for you second."
"Gores, we were waiting for you to show up," Sonny already on the defense.
"I won't let you kids defeat me this time. The Felixa will be coming with me."
"How do you always just pop up where we are?" Even if he knows around what time they usually go on missions, how does he predict which one they're going to? Gores simply snorts at her question as if the answer isn't worth explaining.
"It's my special ability, obviously. I can track whoever I please that comes to mind. So I can always keep tabs on the two of you." As usual monsters surround them now resembling dark hounds, and Sonny lets out a sigh.
"You can never fight us without Duran backing you up. Why doesn't he come here himself than hiding behind monsters, huh?"
"Duran doesn't have time to deal with you insolent kids. He has much bigger things in store. Too bad you won't be alive to see it!" The man charging at her yet again as Sonny focuses on the hounds. Her choosing ice and him fire as their attacks collide, then the elements cancelling each other out.
Gores forms small dark balls that float towards her. One of them hitting the girl's leg and it explodes upon impact. "Bombs!" she exclaims, and quickly jumps back to create distance. Bringing out the swords she moves fast cutting each in half before anymore can touch her. All but one last dark ball lingering close behind her. Brooklynn doesn't get a chance to act fast enough it blowing and blasting her body foward.
Even more hounds gather around Sonny one lunching right on top of him. He uses his lance to push the mutt away then piercing it. The dog slowy fading away to nothing. No matter what magic combinations he tries they're taking so long to die. "This isn't working!"
"We should switch, I have an idea!"
"Alright, I'll take care of Gores then." The teens changing targets as the ginger goes for him.
Brooklynn sets all her swords ablaze and uses them to cut several down at a time. Falling one after another until none remains. "That takes care of it. Duran must be pretty drained now, so there shouldn't any back up coming."
Her partner still fighting Gores using a shockwave attack to daze him. While he's out of it she transforms into her Duclea form. Launching a light attack that finishes him off. His body drops to ground unable to move an inch. "Think we overdid it this time?" she asks, staring at the man laying face down on the floor.
"No way, he asked for it. It's getting easier to deal with him now though."
"True, it's nothing like when we fought him at the start. I guess we're being lenient not ending him right here, since he'll only pick a fight with us again tomorrow. Even so, I still don't want anyone else to die like Cheryl did."
"...We should be careful. It's only a matter of time before the other members make a move. They know we're in the smaller ruins now and working are way up, so it's a lesser chance the chest was hidden in one of these. However the more we knock out the stronger they'll come at us."
"Oh, I see."
"Well let's get back to it."
Pushing on foward they approach near the end of the ruins. There's some kinda glyphs on the floor with a large door just past this point. Similar ones are on the nearby wall along with ancient dialect. They learnt some of this medival writing last year, but it was very hard to memorize. Quite honestly by the end of the summer she practically forgot everything, besides a few phrases and her name.
"So this is a puzzle then? Do you have any idea what that says?"
The ginger takes a moment to study it over examining the symbols on the floor. "I think I get it now. We have to cross in order with these six glyphs lined up here. Oh, and the writing is basically just a warning that a misstep can lead to death."
"Death?! A-As in instant death?" She knew traps would be here but combinding them puzzles is crossing the line.
"Look at the fire underneath all the stones. I'm sure if you were to press down on the wrong one it'll burn you to a crisp."
"Um, wouldn't be easier if I simply fly across, and you use your gravity jumps or something?"
"Yeah, though I'm sure the door won't open if we don't complete this puzzle. I've got the pattern in mind now so just follow behind me." Sonny already starting to move across the tiles.
It's not even that the order is difficult to remember, but anxiety could cause her a tiny slip up. Which in this case there isn't gonna be any second chances. Still if she transforms leaving her partner to do all the legwork isn't excatly fair. The burnette hurrying behind him before he gets too far ahead.
Moving at a slow careful pace they eventually are lead to the otherside, and the once sealed door opens up by itself. "That wasn't so hard, right?"
"I guess after I got my nerves to calm down it was doable. This should be the place so let's see if the chest is in here."
Searching the inner room they find again it's completely empty. Only reward being the cool draft blowing there compared to the earlier heat. The boy stretches letting out a sigh. "Must not be this one. There's still four more to go though."
"Of course it's not in here. Better cool off a minute and head back to the entrance then."
After a short rest they turn to take their leave. Despite the door being open now the floor puzzle is glowing a fiery red. Most likely still active to turn someone into charcoal. Sonny seems to realize the same thing. "Just getting the treasure is half the trial. Adventurers would've still needed to make it out in one piece."
"Well I feel more comfortable that we've crossed it already. Better not keep the agents waiting too long."
"Stop, Brooklynn!" he exclaims, snatching her arm and yanking the girl close to him.
"W-What's the deal?! I know the lion head was the first in the sequence."
"That was for our way to here. We're backtracking now so the order is reversed."
"Oh..." It's true since they're moving the opposite direction the pattern would be flipped around. If Sonny hadn't caught her just then she doesn't want to imagine the outcome.
"I'm really glad you stopped me in enough time. Perhaps it's best if you stay in front instead of me," she suggests, with an awkward chuckle. Glancing over to realize how close they're standing, given he hasn't released her arm yet. The boy's cheeks turning crimson as he stumbles a few steps away. "Sonny, is something wrong? You're face is red?"
"N-No, it's just really hot in here! Come on, I'll guide you back across." Not getting the chance to reply as he rapidly begins head back.
Naturally when reaching the halfway point Gores is no longer on the floor and has disappeared. Choosing to return down the same path they came it's not long until approaching where the exit should be. As well as the huge monster holding an axe that's now standing in front of it. The sight causing her stop dead in her tracks. "T-That was a statue before right?! What on Nebula is going on?"
"Gores might've deliberately set something off."
Once the monster notices their presence charges right for them. It's huge being three times the size they are. A body of black rock with fire coursing through it's veins. Unlike the previous monsters in here this thing is nothing to play around with. The entrance is currently sealed off so they have no choice but to fight.
"If we kill this thing the door should open! Electric shockwave!" Sonny not wasting any time lands the first hit.
The monster stunned for a second though quickly snaps out of it. He charges with his lance and jumps up for an airborne attack, but the monster catches her guardian and throws him across the room.
"It's so strong...Duclea!" Transforming she uses her light beams blinding the monster with such a spell. In anger the rock giant begins stomping around making it hard for both of them to stand. Moving towards Sonny with it's free hand into a closed fist. The ginger just flipping back out of range before it can pound him. Then opening the mouth wide a beam of fire emerges from it.
"Brooke, get down!" Following his instructs she dives to the ground. Luckily avoiding the beam as it hits the wall behind them.
"That was too close! If uses fire maybe this is a weakness!" Dusting off her clothes she throws several ice sickles that pierce the front of him. Stumbling back a little it spits out a fire ball, and she holds up her shield to reflect this.
Tightening the grip on it's axe the monster now swings at Sonny. Him barley having enough time to move out the way stumbles backwards. "You really don't like me, do you? All well, it's better this way. Elastic!" The orange rope wraps tightly around his axe and preventing him from being able to attack. "Brooke!"
"Leave it to me!" She uses her light once more and this time the monster drops to his knees.
"Great teamwork. It looks like it's down."
"Yeah, but wait the exit isn't-" she's cut off as the giant's eyes suddenly snap back open. Quickly standing on it's feet and stomps so hard the force knocks them both back.
"This thing doesn't know when to quit!" Going into a fit of rage the blows are coming fast despite it's heavy size. Sonny cleary failing to block them all as a fire attack sends him tumbling across the floor. Left struggling to stand up as drips of blood run down his arm.
He's injured! I need to find a way to distract it somehow.
Raising her swords she sends them blocking the axe just before the beast can hit Sonny again. Now turning attention back towards Brooklynn, as it starts to knock each of her blades to the ground. Concentrating so hard a jolt of pain goes through her head, and the telekinesis suddenly stops working. The last weapon falling down by itself.
With the rock giant closing distance stops right in front of her. It's axe whooshing at her and the burnette doesn't have enough time to fully activate her defense. Such impact shattered the half light shield, and throwing her back against the wall. Zero strength remaining her body falls limp on the ground, so the giant inches foward preparing a follow up blow. If this one lands she'll definitely be dead, or at the very least will wish she could be. Even in her Duclea form the teen can't take anymore damage, and there's just no energy left for her to heal.
"So...nny..." Are they really going to die like this? She'll never see her grandparents or friends again. What about the promise she made to them all? Tears running from now her magenta eyes as her Duclea form is removed. In blurry vision she can barely make out Sonny's hand stretching upwards.
"Duclen." A dark mist forms around his body lifting it up high in the air. His school clothes changing and it all happens so fast her mind can hardly keep up. Landing easily on his feet he charges toward the beast.
"Dark trap." The rock giant frozen in place before it can react with a dark circle appearing under it's feet. She hears footsteps running up as Sonny's lance comes in contact with the head, piercing it with a dark magic spell that inflicts heavy damage. So heavy that the giant falls flat on it's back and vanishes to ashes.
The door reopens but that's the least of her concern. Speechless at the sight as Sonny's eyes slowly meet her own. No longer the nice ocean blue but a chilling glowing red. Dressed in an all black jumpsuit with a short sleeve black and purple jacket over it. The boy standing before her is someone Brooklynn doesn't recognize. How could've she been so stupid? The truth was in front of her the entire time.
No...it's because I didn't want to see it. But now I can't look away with the truth standing right in front of me.
The Felixa forces herself upright refusing to break eye contact with him. "I always knew you were hiding something from me, but I just wasn't sure what it was. Duran, Gores, Cheryl...you. You're all excatly the same. There is no such thing as a chosen guardian and you didn't get your powers from Aine! You're a Fel who possess the power of darkness! You've always been one!"
"Brooke I..." he starts but falls silent. Even his voice doesn't sound normal rather distorted somehow. Or maybe she's just imagining it that way. Her small frame is trembling and she feels tears threatening to spill for many different reasons. Brooklynn had so much trust in him before and now she can't stop her heart from racing. Before he can utter anything else to her takes off running towards the exit. "Brooklynn wait!"
Nonetheless her movement doesn't seize instead going faster. His calls drowning out from her mixture of fear, confusion, and sadness. Outside the sky is so cloudy compared to the ealier sun. Heading straight for the park limo as Jerry's window rolls down.
"What are you doing Brooke and where is Sonny?"
"Did you two know he is Fel?" Their eyes grow wide but she doesn't give them a chance to respond. Transforming back into her other form and takes off towards the skies. Even hearing the agents shout her name she continues to fly on. They were both surprised for one of two reasons. Either they didn't know that fact or wasn't expecting her to.
(Sonny POV)
Standing alone in the empty ruin he can't get himself to move. The pain in her voice keeps echoing through his head. Flashing images of the fear in Brooklynn's eyes at the cursed magic she witnessed him use. This is deja vu like with Ryder though at least she's still alive.
The men pacing comes to stop when seeing him at the entrance. Of course Brooklynn isn't anywhere in sight.
"I didn't have a choice. I'm...sorry."
Overcome with an extreme dizzy spell his knees give way. The red head catching the young teen before he can hit the ground. Clothes changing Ron examines his condition. "He's injured but nothing too serious. Must be exhausted given it's been quite some time since using his Duclen form."
"This is all our fault Sonny, not yours. We're the ones that told you to lie to her. I wonder what will Brooke do now..." Jerry mumbles, face turning grim.
(Brooklynn POV)
The girl nearly reaches the school before her adrenaline runs out. Forcing to change from her form though thankfully no one is around. Still Brooklynn runs on foot the rest of the way ignoring the screaming of her aching limbs. Going inside the dormitory and straight down to her room. She curls up into a ball on her bed wishing this whole incident could be some terrible dream. Noticing the pink elephant beside her and clinging to it tight. "I can't believe Sonny has been lying to me all this time. I thought he was my partner, my friend. I don't know what to think now. What am I supposed to do?"
A/N Here is the sixteen chapter. How will things work out for them now? Can Sonny be trusted and if so why lie to her? More members of the FDO will make a move very soon. Thanks for all who read this far in:)