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In Death Valley, the sun never shined through the dense fog, nothing grew from the dry, infertile sand and rocks that made up the ground. And at the moment, though no rain hit the dry dirt, thunder rolled and lightning flashed. But she was beyond fearing such things now.

Isadora Danni Rinaldi, for the first time in her life, was going to do something that even her staunch relatives couldn't fault her for. She was going to defeat Satan. As fun as that sounded, she decided she'd rather be doing anything else. Even, God forbid, shop...for dresses...with Lia...Ok, so maybe not that. But pretty much anything else.

While in between places in the portal, she'd summoned up everything she needed, which was practically nothing. All she needed for her powers, really, was her bare hands and a steel will. Not so hard, really.

But there were other things, things that could never be used as weapons, that she had brought. The ribbons that tied back her hair were black and blue, the ones her father had sent her for Christmas after she'd been disowned. That was for Sly. She had around her neck the amulet Ambrose had made her in Lin's world and had laid upon her grave. That was for her brother. Tied around her wrist was a black bandanna, dotted with stars. That was for Night. In her pocket there was a bag of bright stones. That was for Cook. On her right ring finger was a stone shaped like a bright, full moon. That was for Athena. And a single white streak went through her blue hair, a shocking contrast. That was for Ialo. She would fight alone, but she would never be alone. Not again.

And under her shirt, away from view until the time was right, was a golden cross, side by side with a pentagram. Good and evil, balanced together, just like the symbols on her back. Those were for the Ancients.

Even as she stood there, alone in the dimness, three portals appeared on the opposite side of the valley. Arzol, Dunstall, and Gambit appeared in the fog, red eyes gleaming bright.

"Shadow Runner...So you're alive and kicking after all." Arzol stepped forward, wearing the black robes of his position with a black sword sheathed at his side.

"Yeah, more's the pity. Where's your Boss, little bunny?" She asked, saw him sniff in derision at the name.

"He'll be along. It didn't have to be this way, you know. You and me, we used to make a good team in the way back. You never were content to just stick with one thing, though. Always something bigger and better for the Boss's pet." He said, and she shrugged, though her hands were tensed at her sides, waiting.

"It wasn't my choice, Arzol. I had a job, and fate pushed me along in the end. I didn't want this either, but there ya go. This is for me to do, though. I'd rather not have to kill you, since you're cute in your own way. Why don't you just go back home and kick around some minions?" She said, and Arzol rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help ya, Shadow. It's not my fault when you end up roadkill out here in this God-forsaken hell hole. You're the one who chose to keep returning to the Top World instead of reigning beside the Boss. You could've had anything, anything at all, but you gave it up to be with a couple of mortals who couldn't care less about you. You've got nothing here, and you could've had everything with us. And that was your mistake." He said, and she grinned suddenly, as lightning struck somewhere in the distance.

"That's where you're wrong, hon. I've got more people behind me that I'm quite comfortable with, but they're there." She said, and he smirked.

"Yet they abandon you the one time you need them more than ever. Some friends." He said, and she shook her head, knowing when someone was stalling. Looks like Satan wanted to make an enterance.

"Wrong again, old friend. I left them behind, took a portal here so they couldn't follow me. I won't have harm coming to that school, to the people there. This is my fight, and mine alone. I won't ask them to interfere when the fates would merely dispose of them in the end." She shrugged, and Arzol studied her for a moment, and when he spoke again his voice was softer, the sarcasm nonexistant.

"Back then, when we worked together...You were always so distant, so cold. You had nothing, and no one, to fight for, so you fought for the Boss instead...And now you have a family. I've seen them, the strange mix of people you've claimed as your own. I'll only say this once, so pay attention." He cleared his throat, took a step forward, his red eyes dark and emotionless.

"I always thought, when you looked so damned alone in that throne in the castle, that you deserved someone who cared where the hell you went off to for days at a time. It seems you've found it, finally. And I'm sorry that you'll be losing them once you fight tonight." He stepped back again, averting his eyes, and she smiled, remembering a slightly younger demon with dreams of glory in his head and a quick smile. Hell had hardened him, she thought, and forced him to push away what he was. She hadn't allowed that to happen to herself. It was far too late to save him.

"Thanks for that, but I'll see that crazy family of mine again, as soon as I finish defeating the Boss. We'll see who's laughing at the end of the night." She said, and just then thunder rumbled. "Looks like it's about time to party." She murmured, and set her shoulders, preparing to fight for her life.

James nodded, sending the ball of light forward. The little cow was a little... weird. Maybe he should have stuck into the magical creatures class for another year or so, so he actually knew what the thing was. He'd grown up on the streets of New York City, you didn't really get many animals there, never mind magical creatures. The closest to a magical creature he'd ever seen there was one of his neighbor's cats had had two tails. Which was a bit strange he guessed....

"Nice to meet you ma'am," he said, giving her a polite nod. "Quiet?" he asked, thinking for a moment. Around him, it was almost never quiet. He'd just learned to tune out the chattering spirits that he could see. But if someone wasn't looking for them he supposed they couldn't really see those either. "I guess, I'm used to being in the quiet by now," he added with a shrug. "I suppose if you go where there are more students it might get a little louder, I'm usually the only one to be around here," he said thoughtfully.

He looked down, seeing the trail he'd made in the dust with the bottom of the scythe before shrugging and releasing the ball of light. It started down the hallway, leading them toward the headmaster's office. One of the good things about his powers, he didn't get lost all that easily. He might lose his place for a few minutes, but otherwise... well, there were always a few spirits around that he could ask directions from.

"Five years ago, you were trying to kill us all! Besides, you still haven't said that you were going to help." Ialo scowled. "I could get you those swords right now, and you'd probably turn around and toss me back into Hell for getting in your way."

Again, there went his pessimism and paranoia running away. But... now wasn't the time for that.

"Look, you either get me the swords or you let Setsuka or one of her lackeys get them. Your call."

Riser walked towards Athena, bent down, and plopped onto the floor in front of her; he was far too tall to have an eye to eye conversation whilst standing.

"What do you know, and what don't you, lets start with that."

Ialo exhaled, knowing Riser was right. He walked away, locating one of the service doors out of the basement. His mind was too jumbled to teleport right now - he'd mess it up, and get stuck inside a wall or something, instead of squarely in his office.

And that, was where both those swords were. Ialo had them all along, had even taken them out on occasion, simply to use. One was called the Blade of Tempora, and whatever it touched became stuck in time - a wide slash could pause a whole area. As far as Ialo was aware though, it could not go back in time.

The other sword seemed to be a companion to it - the Blade of Verus. Like Tempora, Verus affected whatever it touched. Most notably, it could sever magic and destroy illusions. Ialo did not know much more than that.

But still - now Ialo had reached his office, and had sat down at his desk. Underneath, there were runes carved into the wood. The Headmaster tapped them, and a small portal into a tiny pocket dimension opened up, and a case fell out onto the floor. A quick check verified that the sheaths within were the Blades of Tempora and Verus. After that, Ialo locked them back into the case, and slung it over his shoulder. If anyone asked, he was putting some old swords in the basement (which is almost exactly what he really was doing.)

Athena shook her head softly. "...I refuse to be left out," she said. "If Ialo will fight, if Danni will fight... I will fight." She was confused, but that was one thing she was sure of.

((Finally, someone call me out on the dragon-wolf thing.))

Danni barely held back a shudder as thunder rolled at deafening decibles, and a bolt of lightning hit the ground in the the middle of the valley. Even as electricity sparked the air, great shadows overpowered the brief light, and the dark, menacing aura almost brought her to her knees...almost.

"About time you got here. Kept me waitin' a while." She said, and from the shadows, a not quite human figure strode out, his face completely in shadow, his feet not touching the ground.

Arzol and the others immediately dropped down on their knees, bowing until their noses touched the ground. Danni had never bowed to him, and never would, especially not starting now. She merely crossed her arms, tapping her foot.

"Well, don't you have anything to say for yourself? May very well be your last words, seeing as you won't be leaving this valley." She said, and it was only then that a deep, dark laugh echoed through the valley, chilling her blood and stopping her heart for half a beat.

"Oh, my delightful little pet, you continue to amuse me, even when I'm so furious with you. To think, our pretty little Shadow Runner, my little pride and joy, was out to kill me, of all people, the whole time. You came to us at such a young age, I never guessed. Foolish of me, I suppose. But then, you were never much of a threat to me, so it doesn't really matter." The voice was dark and cold, with fury just under the surface.

The air had chilled with his presence, and the shadows reigned. She let him ramble on, her eyes blank, her expression bordering on reluctant humor. So, he really thought so little of her. So many years, and he still hadn't learned. No wonder they were itching to see him gone.

"Is that so? Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you, ya old fart?" She asked, raising a brow, and swore she saw Arzol's mouth twitch.

The fury came suddenly, but not unexpectedly, so when it crashed over her in waves, she didn't stagger, only straightened her shoulders.

"Oh, how I've always appreciated your humor, Shadow Runner. Such sarcasm inside such a pretty girl. Do you know why I chose you as mine, child? Why I didn't cast you aside with the rest of the dark magic users who come to me begging for power?" He asked, approaching slowly, and she held her ground, though the pressure was almost unbearable, made her her body vibrate.

Without waiting for her response, he continued on, his power rising with every step he took towards her. "You were just a huge mix of contradictions inside such a little body. Inside you were broken, shattered, but your eyes, they were cold and hard, and that little body of yours was so...defiant, so rebellious. There was such power in you, even then, and you asked for none from me. You fought because it pleased you, killed for the same reason, or so it seemed. You had a cold bloodedness about you that I could admire, and a fascination with the darkness. It seemed to surround you, settled on your shoulders quite comfortably." He shrugged, continued as she rolled her eyes.

"You could've been mine, you know. Together we'd have ruled over the realms for eternity, you and me. But it turns out you were nothing, after all, less than nothing. You let foolish sentiment and moronic bonds get in the way of greatness, and now you'll die for it." He smirked, and was still smirking even as the first bolt of pure white energy hit him in the chest so that he staggered back.

"You...you." Even as he gaped, his shadows merging over the gaping hole she'd put in him, she smirked, drew the cross out from under her chest even as the Sword of the Ancients appeared in her hands. Even though the hilt remained black and bloodstained, the black thorny vines running around the blade, the blade glowed bright white.

"I'm the frigging Hero of Prophecy, big guy. And that makes me everything." And with that, she began the fight for her life.